As celebrities are interested in creating a side hustle away from their work as artists, the line between Hollywood and Silicon Valley is slowly blurring. Over the years, celebrities have turned to restaurants, real estate, and royalties to grow their fortunes. Today they are turning towards technology investments. Stars find Silicon Valley very attractive. Being involved in a startup or technology company has become part of a status symbol as they try to show their suitability and branding through these investments. Tech startups reached a new high in 2022 and raised more than $330 billion compared to $167 billion in 2020.
From creating venture capital funds that invest in several startups simultaneously to investing in artificial intelligence and environmentally sound projects, celebrities have diversified their portfolio by making micro-investments through funding rounds. In a multibillion dollar industry increasingly inviting celebrities to invest, let’s take a look at the stars who funded tech companies.
10 Ghouinith baltrow
Jake Arnold, a Los Angeles-based designer, has received many requests for remote design consultancy during the pandemic, which has given him the impetus to start a tech business with Leo Siegal called The Expert. As mentioned Architectural DigestThe company raised more than $3 million during its initial funding round, and Gwyneth Paltrow was one of the investors. In March 2022, the company received a chain financing of $12 million.
9 Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. has taken his efforts to save the plant a step further with the launch of FootPrint Coalition Ventures. This venture capital firm develops solutions that can solve environmental problems. The actor invested $10 million of his income and raised more than $50 million through a funding round in Los Angeles.
8 Katy Perry
Katy Perry recently got into the world of investments and funneled her earnings into cryptocurrency and tech startups. Apeel Sciences, a tech startup that uses technology to extend the shelf life of citrus fruits, has seen a $250 million series of funding in 2020, with Berry making a major investment. The company that took off after receiving a $100,000 grant from the Gates Foundation is currently valued at $1 billion, she said. Take Crunch.
7 Oprah Winfrey
Like Katy Perry, Oprah Winfrey was also one of the investors who contributed to the $250 million that Apeel Sciences raised during its seed funding round. Alongside the tech startup, it also invested in Weight Watchers by acquiring a 10% stake for $43 million, which has now been reduced to 7%.
6 Jared Leto
While many fans know Jared Leto as an Academy Award-winning actor and troupe member for 30 Seconds to Mars, he’s also a savvy investor in a startup. to me cheat sheetHe made early investments in companies that are worth billions of dollars today, such as Airbnb, Uber, Nest, Slack, and Spotify. He also funded 3D rocket startup Relativity Space, which raised $650 million during Series E funding and is valued at nearly $4.2 billion.
5 Ashton Kutcher
After being a cash-rich investor for several years, Ashton Kutcher co-founded two venture capital firms: Sound Ventures and A-Grade Investments. Besides Guy Oseary, he has 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. Within six years, he turned investments from $30 million to $100 million.
4 Serena Williams
Tennis star Serena Williams began her journey as an investor after launching her venture capital venture, Serena Ventures, in 2014. Her company has funded more than 61 companies, including crypto resource app CoinTracker, Impossible Foods, and Tonal. In March 2022, she raised $111 million for her company and invested a seven-figure sum in OpenSponsorship, a sports marketing 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 a second round of financing. He invested $15 million in AceCann, a Portugal-based medical cannabis company, within a year. A unique cultivation technique is used to extract cannabis.
2 Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen Digital Ventures, which operates under Ellen TV, has made several investments, including the popular Head’s Up app, and launched a digital network in collaboration with Warner Bros. In 2021, it invested in Shelf Engine, a grocery order automation technology aimed at eliminating food waste. The company received $60 million in total funding through three rounds, with DeGeneres providing cash among other celebrities.
1 People
Nasser Jones, better known as Nas, is one of the greatest rappers of all time, and has achieved similar success as a tech investor by funding startups with potential. He founded venture capital firm Queensbridge Venture Partners, with more than 60 investments in notable companies such as smart bell company Ring, Internet pharmacy startup PillPack, and television service Pluto TV, as previously reported. celebrity net worth.
Other notable celebrities who have invested in tech companies include Will Smith, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jay-Z. Since the technical environment offers low interest rates and high returns, stars are attracted to the opportunities they find in startups. In return, they give publicity to these companies which boost sales.
sources: Architectural DigestAnd Take CrunchAnd cheat sheetAnd celebrity net worth
