Hollywood’s appeal tends to cloud another aspect of its biggest star: business ambitions. Acting is a major source of stardom, but many actors and celebrities have dabbled in a variety of ventures, including casinos, restaurants, fitness, technology, and health. For some, they have turned into a global empire, but for others, they face set-offs that suggest that stardom is not a business success.
Jay-Z and rejected casino bids
In September 2025, Jay-Z’s famous bid to build the New York Times Square Casino was rejected by the state advisory board. Jay-Z was supposed to a huge entertainment complex with Caesars Entertainment and SL Green Realty, and with casinos, hotels and nightlife spots under the ROC Nation brand. Jay-Z may have 99 issues, but running a big casino is no longer one.
The bid was turned down amid protests by Broadway theatre owners and local leaders about the potential impact of the bid on the balance of culture, traffic and community in the neighborhood. Despite the turndown, the bid highlighted how celebrities are attracted to entertainment and amusement park-based businesses. Modern casino culture can also be found online. Coin Poker au By combining poker and blockchain, we are breaking new ground for online gaming. With Jay-Z’s bid being rejected, more New York residents may have to stick to playing online for now.
Francis Ford Coppola and the World of Wine
The legendary film director Francis Ford Coppola is an example in terms of Hollywood stars who pursued personal interests and made them into money spinners. His Sonoma County winery is currently a major tourist attraction and offers both fine wine and tourist attraction status. Coppola’s love for wine is part of his desire to combine storytelling with the culture of his host to create art that goes beyond the screen.
Robert de Niro and Nobu restaurants
Robert De Niro is always well known for his on-screen strength, but his business tactics are also calculated. He joined forces with Nobu, the iconic restaurant chain that prepares Japanese cuisine. From its New York roots, Nobu is spread across the world, with dozens of restaurants and luxury hotels. De Niro’s taste for talent and the support of his chef, Master Matsui, transformed one dining area into an international giant.
Mark Wahlberg: From hamburgers to shapes
Mark Wahlberg is the most visible example of an actor who has diversified into a variety of fields. Together with his brothers Donnie and Paul, he founded the Whirlbergers. Wahlburgers is a casual restaurant chain that has grown to have locations in the US, Canada and overseas. The chain produced reality television shows and added them to their exposure.
In addition to burgers, Wahlberg is marking the global fitness industry. His F45 training investment is an international chain of high-intensity athletic fitness gyms and is a sign that his celebrity persona is a self-disciplined and physically committed persona. Through Wahlburgers and F45, Wahlberg shows how celebrities can leverage their brand and use it to build successful businesses that resonate with popular consumers.
These may be the most notable businesses, but Wahlberg owns it, but he actually does. Owns several other businesses And from his own clothing lines to bottled water. His reach has been far beyond Hollywood these days.
Honest company with Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba co-founded Honest Company with the vision of providing non-toxic and environmentally friendly cleaning products to the home. It began as a niche company that branched out into popular brands in response to baby and wellness products. Honest Company was released in 2021, and Alba was not only a great actress, but also a serious entrepreneur who rode into the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly toxin-free products.
Ashton Kutcher and venture investments
Ashton Kutcher may have started on a sitcom, but his post-acting investor career made him a nominee as one of Hollywood’s most successful investors. Through his A-grade investments and recent sound ventures, he has invested in early-stage businesses such as Airbnb, Uber, and Spotify. The bet was a huge reward, and Kutcher became one of Silicon Valley’s most well-known figures. His story proves that when celebrities are open to experimentation and discovery, they can succeed in ventures that are far from the entertainment field.
Ryan Reynolds and the Air Gin
Ryan Reynolds, one of Hollywood’s biggest starstransforming the niche gin brand of the time into a global brand through smart marketing and his signature humor. Given his active engagement in brand strategy and campaigns, his collaboration with Aviation Gin was incredible. The business was sold to Diageo in 2020 for transactions worth up to $610 million. Reynolds’ story reveals that the charm and storytelling grown in Hollywood are strong enough weapons to bring about great business success.
Hollywood Entrepreneurs: Life Lessons
The ventures of Jay-Z, Robert de Niro, Mark Wahlberg, Jessica Alba, Ashton Kutcher and Ryan Reynolds demonstrate the opportunities and dangers of celebrity entrepreneurship. Celebrities open the door and attract investors, but longevity requires the commitment, vision and unmistakable understanding of the selected industry.
As Jay-Z’s failed casino attempt clearly shows, not all businesses work, but failure is part of the entrepreneur’s journey. Bound by these stars is the desire to get a chance to wager beyond the film set. Their transformation has spread across the globe to boardrooms, dinner parties, vineyards and even fitness studios that permeate Hollywood’s influence.
Hollywood actors and celebrities are no longer satisfied with relying solely on the unpredictable nature of their film careers. By forking into diverse industries like casinos, restaurants, fitness, wellness and technology, it demonstrates that creativity and ambition can transcend screens. Not all ventures are successful, but these star stories encourage audiences to see them as more than entertainers. They are entrepreneurs, innovators, risk takers, and prove that reinvention is as much part of Hollywood as its own actions.
