Photo by Josh Redd on Unsplash
The worlds of celebrity and big brands have frequently collided to deliver powerful campaigns that catch shoppers’ attention and prove incredibly lucrative for both celebrities and brands. There are too many celebrity endorsements out there to count, but when it comes to some of the biggest and most influential deals, these ten stand out.
1. Kim Kardashian & SKIMS
Kim Kardashian co-founded the SKIMS brand and has actively promoted and endorsed its products using her far-reaching social presence. The success SKIMS has seen has set it apart from these other celebrity brands because it’s now moving from a solely digital presence to having brick-and-mortar locations.
The brand and the Kardashian are all about body positivity and loving yourself, a focus that has helped the brand become a huge success. Kim Kardashian earned $600 million from the brand in 2021. Since then, the brand’s value has reached $4 billion, so her earnings likely far exceed what she gained in 2021.
2. Drake & Stake.com
From Degrassi to rapper stardom, Drake has managed to stay relevant while building an impressive career. In recent years, his endeavors have embraced the world of online betting, earning him a role as an ambassador for Stake.com. From this endorsement alone, Drake earns an impressive $100 million per year.
While Drake is rumored to have bet over $1 billion on the site, the rest of us may be more inclined to wager with gold coins and sweeps coins on an online gambling platform (though if we had Drake net worth of $250 million, we might feel differently).
3. George Clooney & Nespresso
George Clooney has been an ambassador for the Nespresso brand for almost two decades now, having begun in 2006. Since 2013, he has been a co-partner of Nespresso, indicating that this pairing has been a lucrative couple of decades for both parties and not just this well-known celebrity.
4. Amy Schumer & Tampax
In 2020, Procter & Gamble partnered with comedian Amy Schumer to bring us a series of hilarious and informative commercials promoting Tampax. It’s unknown exactly how much Schumer made from this endorsement, but given that her commercials and promos are being blamed for a nationwide tampon shortage, it’s safe to assume it was no small sum.
5. Michael Jordan & Nike
The longest-running partnership on this list is Michael Jordan’s endorsement of Nike. The partnership began in 1984 and has brought sneakerheads one of their biggest obsessions: Air Jordans. Even 40 years later, this partnership is still going strong, with Air Jordans remaining top sellers and highly valuable, even after more than 30 editions of the sneakers have made it to market. The partnership is estimated to have delivered $1.6 billion to the basketball superstar.
6. Rihanna & Louis Vuitton
Rihanna became the face of Louis Vuitton’s menswear line developed by Pharrell Williams, the music sensation and now creative director of menswear for the Louis Vuitton brand. In the ads, Rihanna’s arms and hands are saddled with the new line of bags, and her pregnant belly is on full display. It was a unique and bold decision that the Louis Vuitton brand described making because Rhianna is “a symbol of human empowerment and the quintessential everyday icon.” The campaign took over headlines and social media.
It’s unclear how much Rihanna earned from this endorsement, but considering that Louis Vuitton’s parent, LVMH, also backs her Fenty brand that’s helped her reach an estimated $1.4 billion net worth, it’s safe to say she earned a pretty penny.
7. Timothée Chalamet & Chanel
Timothée Chalamet became the brand ambassador for Chanel’s men’s fragrance, Bleu de Chanel. Chanel’s choice is believed to be inspired by Chalamet not fitting into the stereotypical masculine mold. He’s unafraid to show femininity, something that’s becoming more commonplace among men in the beauty and fashion worlds. The choice to use Chalamet has paid off for Chanel and earned the actor a significant paycheck of $35 million.
8. Selena Gomez & Rare Beauty
Selena Gomez is one of the most-followed people on Instagram, and thanks to this, she has earned huge partnerships with major brands like Louis Vuitton, Coach, Puma, and Coca-Cola. However, one of her biggest and most successful endorsements has been for her beauty line Rare Beauty.
Gomez showcases and promotes her products through social media and focuses on a growing customer demand: the desire for ethical and inclusive products. Through Rare Beauty, Gomez delivers cruelty-free, vegan, and accessible makeup so everyone, including those with impaired mobility, can feel beautiful.
Her first year of launching and promoting the brand brought in $60 million in revenue, and the years following have seen even more financial growth.
9. Dua Lipa & Versace
Dua Lipa, the pop icon who regularly tops the charts, also dabbles in another creative venture: clothing design. This has led to Lipa partnering with the iconic luxury brand Versace. Together, they developed a summer women’s clothing collection that debuted in 2023. While it’s unclear how much this collaboration earned the singer, the collection paid homage to her work for the Barbie movie soundtrack (with butterfly embellishments and plenty of colorful pieces) and garnered attention across news networks and social media.
10. Ryan Reynolds & Mint Mobile
Ryan Reynolds influence raised Mint Mobile from obscurity to fame by collaborating with the brand since its early days. He helped raise the company’s revenue by more than 50,000%, and, a few years after becoming an ambassador, he became an owner. His decision to work with the company was financially smart because it earned Reynolds $300 million.
The Power of Celebrity is Undeniable
For these brands, leveraging celebrity influence and talent has allowed them to make waves and see immense success. Celebrity endorsement is a powerful marketing tactic that shows no signs of going anywhere anytime soon.