Let’s talk alcohol and whipped cream. Get your minds out of the gutter, I’m talking about celebrity owned alcohol brands.
There are upwards of 60 different celebrity liquors, wines and spirits out there to choose from. If you’re struggling to keep up with the ever-expanding list of famous faces turned alcohol connoisseurs, there is an app – GrapeStars – designed to inform consumers of all the different brands to choose from.
Celeb Liquor Role Call
The celebrity alcohol scene has a star-studded cast, making it impossible to name them all, but here are a few: Ryan Reynolds, Justin Timberlake, Kendall Jenner, Jamie Foxx, Robert DeNiro, Kate Hudson, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Snoop Dogg, Matthew McConaughey, Rita Ora, Drake, Pitbull, Lil Wayne, Blake Shelton, Kyle Minogue, Kenny Chesney, …. the list goes on and on, proving that this trend knows no bounds.
Why Are Celebs Jumping On Alcohol?
Well, it’s quite straightforward. Unsatisfied with the millions of dollars they already make, they want to diversify their income streams and rake in even more cash outside of their primary revenue sources.
Many celebrities have their own clothing lines, fragrances and makeup. These products are extensions of the celebrities themselves and add to their personal brand. Venturing into the multi-billion-dollar alcohol industry seems like a no brainer, and the market is only set to expand.
When Fame Meets Fail
There’s been many failed attempts from celebrities to bring out new products. One of the biggest failures was the launch of the Kardashian Kard – a prepaid Mastercard that had crazy fees associated with its use and came under fire for exploiting young shoppers.
As many of you probably know, Jessica Simpson has a fashion empire under her name valued at $1 billion. However her early product line “Dessert Beauty” was a massive flop. Supposedly marketed as an edible cosmetic, the line included edible creams, fragrances, shampoos and lip glosses. Yet, it turned out most people don’t want to drink their shampoo or eat their body cream.
Unlike some of these failed ventures, celebrity liquor is a booming industry.
George Clooney made a cool $700 million dollars selling his tequila company Casamigos and will also stand to make an additional $300 million if the tequila brand continues to sell its way to success over the next 10 years.
Similarly, Ryan Reynolds used his star power to purchase the already established brand Aviation Gin back in 2018 and made a cool $610 million in just three years after selling the company, and as part of the deal he remains the face of the brand with the potential to earn up to an additional $257 million – again dependent on the brand’s success over the next 10 years.
At $22.99 per 750ml bottle, Aviation Gin is a lot more affordable than other celebrity brands.
Tesla founder Elon Musk has jumped on the trend and come out with his very own “Tesla Tequila” which will set you back a mere $1,000 per bottle at the current market value. Likewise, if you have expensive taste for tequila, former NBA player Michael Jordan’s Cincoro Tequila can reach upwards of $1,800 a bottle.
Girl Power in Booze
The celebrity alcohol industry is definitely a male-dominated sphere. However there’s been some famous women who have also ventured into the market.
Cardi B gets a special mention for one of the most unique takes on alcoholic products with her flavored whipped cream Whipshots – the brand has just come out with pumpkin spice flavor in time for spooky season.
Kate Hudson noticed a gap in the market for women-owned vodka and introduced King St. Vodka.
Taking a leaf out of her husband’s book and also worthy of acknowledgement is Blake Lively’s non-alcoholic line of mixers aptly named Betty Buzz. Though, in the same vein she’s created Betty Booze which are seltzers that do contain alcohol.
Venturing away from fashion and beauty, Kendall Jenner has been working with family-owned farms in Jalisco, Mexico to create 818 Tequila. Kudos to the brand for their dedication to keeping everything from the agave they grow going to the production of the bottle sustainable.
As the Hollywood invasion of the alcohol industry continues to thrive, it’s clear celebrities are using their status and aptitude for branding as well as marketing to make their mark in the industry.
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