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Home · Celebrity

Putting In Work: 15 Celebs with Surprising Side Hustles

"At some point, you have to have an exit strategy," Jay-Z recently told Vanity Fair as he talked about his new life as a sport agent. In this day and economy, everybody needs a side-hustle. Or in a celebrity's case, a sequel to their career. We found 15 celebrities who keep a surprising (and thriving) career away from the spotlight. Take a look.
 

By Yolanda Sangweni and Sylvia Obel · October 11, 2013October 27, 2020
01
Jada Pinkett Smith

Side Job: Executive producer of The Queen Latifah Show

Pinkett Smith and her hubby Will Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment production company is behind Latifah’s new talk show. The company is also behind films like The Pursuit of Happyness and After Earth.

Tim P. Whitby/ Getty
02
Venus Williams

Side Job: Owner of an interior design company and Jamba Juice franchises

The tennis champs owns V-Starr, a full service interior design company for commercial and residential spaces and two Jamba Juice franchises in the Washington, D.C. area. And that’s on top of having her own line of athletic wear called EleVen.

John Parra/ Getty
03
Lance Gross

Side Job: Photographer

Gross is a budding photographer. A quick look at his Instagram feed and you’ll see he’s definitely on to something.

Daniel Zuchnik/ Getty
04
Danai Gurira

Side Job: Playwright

The Walking Dead star is also an award-winning playwright. She won an Obie (the Off-Broadway Theater Awards) in 2006 and an NAACP Award for Best New Playwright in 2011.

Michael Rowe
05
Jay-Z
Jay Z
Getty Images
06
Diddy

Side Job: CEO of Revolt TV

Like pal Jay-Z, Diddy also has many businesses, including his Ciroc vodka, an artist management and marketing firm. Later this month—October 21 to be exact—his new Revolt TV cable network launches. The music lover says the new channel will be a “brand that’s going to focus on music and not reality shows.”

07
Patti Labelle

Side Job: Her own line of marinades and sauces

Ms. Patti loves cooking. This, we know. The singing diva took her passion and turned it to profit with her line of Lady Marmalade marinades and sauces with sassy hot sauce names like “Hot Flash” and “Super Woman.”

Johnny Nunez/ Getty
08
Lenny Kravitz

Side Job: An interior design company

The rocker never ceases to amaze. A decade ago he launched Kravitz Design, a boutique interior design firm with a portfolio that includes luxury hotels, private residences and, most recently, the set of the Queen Latifah Show.

Jim Spellman/ Getty
09
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell
Ethan Miller/ Getty
10
Akon

Side Job: Diamond mine owner?

The enterprising rapper reportedly bought a diamond mine in South Africa in 2007, though he says details of his ownership are “complicated.” But you should know that he only wears bling from his mine.

11
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal
Getty Images/Earl Mcgehee
12
Kandi Burruss

Side Job(s): Clothing boutique owner and Internet radio show host

Besides her super successful line of sex toys, Burruss is the proud owner of T.A.G.S boutique in Atlanta where she also hosts an adults-only weekly talk show Kandi Koated Nights live.

Getty Images
13
Wendell Pierce

Side Job: Grocery store owner

The Wire star and his partners opened a grocery store and convenience store called Sterling Farms in his hometown of New Orleans to give people in underserved neighborhoods access to fresh food.

Rommel Demano/Getty Images
14
Viola Davis

Side Job: Her own production company

Davis and her husband, actor Julian Tennon, started a production house in 2011 with the aim of expanding options for Black actors. JuVee Productions is currently working on a film featuring Jennifer Lopez, and a biopic of Congresswoman Barbara Jordan.

Ray Tamarra/Getty Images
15
Tia and Tamera
(L to R) Tamera Mowry-Housley and Tia Mowry-Hardict
Steve Granitz/WireImage

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