In the world of fame and fortune, some celebrities go beyond the spotlight and strategically build wealth through diverse investments. After all, versatility is key in the entertainment industry—just as much as it is in the bank. On average, celebrities invest $38 million per investment venture and a third have invested over $100 million in a single business investment.
Top celebrity investors of 2024
Celebrity investors are continuing to knock it out of the park, according to a study conducted by FOREX.com, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the StoneX family—a Nasdaq-listed company with assets of $7.8 billion that provides an institutional-grade financial services network to connect people to the global markets. Their finance and trading experts analyzed celebrity investments across various assets, including luxury properties, business ventures, intellectual property, financial instruments, vehicles and collectibles, as well as endorsement deals to uncover where celebrities invest their money.
Babyface
The ’90s superstar Kenneth Brian Edmonds, better known by his stage name Babyface, is far ahead as the celebrity who makes the highest return on their investments—with an over 134.4% return on his net worth. This is over double the return (120.89%) singers typically make on average compared to their net worth (13.51%). Edmonds owns more than 20 properties across the globe, including a $7 million New York property and a $3 million mansion in Paris. The star is also known to own at least five vehicles, including a Bugatti Chiron, worth a staggering $3 million.
Chase Hudson
One of the youngest celebrity investors in the ranking, TikTok star Chase Hudson (Huddy) ranks second, with a whopping 68.7% return on his net worth of $11 million. Huddy has invested his wealth into real estate and luxury vehicles, including a six-bedroom luxury home in California valued at $9 million and an impressive car collection that includes two Jaguars and a $590,000 Ferrari F8.
Billy Joel
Music icon Billy Joel has a net worth of $230 million and has also proven to be a savvy celebrity investor. His 52.2% return on net worth earns him a third place in the rating. His impressive real estate portfolio includes a 14,000-square-foot mansion in New York and a Manhattan apartment. Notably, his New York mansion has been listed for sale with an asking price of $49 million, showcasing his keen eye for valuable real estate. Beyond music and property, Joel’s financial empire extends to his record label and publishing company, stocks and various other lucrative ventures.
Which celebrity career path generates the best returns?
From these findings, it’s interesting to not only highlight who is a great investor but also which professions are making the smartest financial decisions and bringing in the dough. For example, out of 233 celebrities analyzed, YouTubers were found to generate the best return on their investments. While typically having the lowest net worth to initially invest, YouTubers generate a 13.6% return on their net worth on average. This is almost a 7% higher return than comedians, who tend to have the lowest returns at 6.62% of their net worth, on average.
On the other hand, despite having the highest average net worth, athletes are not the most successful investors, with a below-average return on net worth of just 9.84%.
Key findings:
- Singer and songwriter Babyface has the highest return on net worth at 134.4%.
- Out of all professions, YouTubers have been found to have the best return on their investments at 13.6% return on net worth.
- Athletes have the highest average net worth at $905 million but only make a 9.84% return on investments.
- Social media influencer Bella Poarch is the top female on the list, making a 51% return on net worth.
This article originally appeared in the May/June 2024 issue of SUCCESS magazine. Photo by Shutterstock.com
