With celebrities interested in finding side jobs alongside their work as artists, the line between Hollywood and Silicon Valley is beginning to blur. Over the years, celebrities have turned to restaurants, real estate, and royalties to increase their wealth. Today they are moving towards technology investments. Stars find Silicon Valley extremely attractive. Holding an interest in a startup or a tech company has become part of a status symbol as they try to show their relevance and brand themselves through these investments. Tech startups hit a new high in 2022, raising over $330 billion compared to $167 billion in 2020.
From creating venture capital funds that invest in multiple startups simultaneously to investing in AI and green projects, celebrities have diversified their portfolios by making careful investments in funding rounds. In a multi-billion dollar industry that’s increasingly inviting celebrities to invest, let’s look at the stars who have funded tech companies.
10 Gwyneth Paltrow
Jake Arnold, an LA-based designer, received many requests for remote design consultations during the pandemic, which motivated him to start a tech company called The Expert with Leo Siegal. As mentioned by Architecture Digest, the company raised over $3 million during its seed funding round, with Gwyneth Paltrow as one of the investors. In March 2022, the company had series funding, raising $12 million.
9 Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. went one step further to save the plant by forming FootPrint Coalition Ventures. This venture capital company develops solutions that can solve environmental problems. The actor has invested $10 million from his earnings, raising over $50 million through a funding round in Los Angeles.
8th Katy Perry
Katy Perry has recently entered the world of investing and has been pouring her earnings into cryptocurrencies and tech startups. Apeel Sciences, a tech startup using technology to extend the shelf life of citrus fruits, received a series of $250 million in funding in 2020, with Perry making a sizeable investment. The company, which was founded after receiving a $100,000 grant from the Gates Foundation, is currently valued at $1 billion, as reported by TechCrunch.
7 Oprah Winfrey
Like Katy Perry, Oprah Winfrey was one of the investors who contributed to the $250 million raised by Apeel Sciences during its seed funding round. She’s also invested in Weight Watchers along with the tech startup, acquiring a 10% stake for $43 million, which has now been reduced to 7%.
6 Jared Leto
While many fans may know Jared Leto as the Oscar-winning actor and band member of 30 Seconds to Mars, he’s also a savvy startup investor. Corresponding cheat sheet, he made early investments in companies that are now worth billions, such as Airbnb, Uber, Nest, Slack and Spotify. He also funded 3-D rocket startup Relativity Space, which has raised $650 million during its Series E funding and is valued at $4.2 billion.
5 Ashton Kutcher
After several years as a well-funded angel investor, Ashton Kutcher co-founded two venture capital firms: Sound Ventures and A-Grade Investments. Along with Guy Oseary, he invested $500,000 in Uber, $3 million in Spotify, $1.5 million in Houzz, $1 million in Skype, and $300,000 in Warby Parker, among many other companies . In six years he turned a $30 million investment into $100 million.
4 Serena Williams
Tennis star Serena Williams began her career as an investor after founding her venture capital business, Serena Ventures, in 2014. Her company has funded over 61 companies including cryptocurrency resourcing app CoinTracker, Impossible Foods and Tonal. In March 2022, she raised $111 million for her company and made a seven-figure investment in OpenSponsorship, a sports marketing technology startup.
3 Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg co-founded Casa Verde, a venture capital firm focused on developing the cannabis industry. In December 2020, his company raised $100 million after the second round of funding. Within a year, he invested $15 million in AceCann, a medical cannabis company based in Portugal. It uses a unique cultivation technology to extract cannabis.
2 Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen Digital Ventures, which operates under Ellen TV, has made several investments, including the infamous Head’s Up app, and launched a digital network in partnership with Warner Bros. Food Waste. The company has raised $60 million in total funding over three rounds, with cash provided by DeGeneres, among other celebrities.
1 wet
Nasir Jones, better known as Nas, is one of the greatest rappers of all time, and he’s had similar success as a tech investor, funding startups with potential. He founded a venture capital firm Queensbridge Venture Partners with more than 60 investments in notable companies including smart doorbell company Ring, online pharmacy startup PillPack and television service Pluto TV, as stated by celebrity net worth.
Other notable celebrities who have invested in tech companies include Will Smith, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jay-Z. With the tech environment offering low interest rates and high returns, celebrities are drawn to the opportunities they find in startups. In return, they offer these companies advertising that boosts sales.
Sources: Architecture Digest, TechCrunch, cheat sheet, celebrity net worth
Comments are closed.