Selena Gomez to Beyoncé: Celebrities who built beauty and fashion empires

Some stars have proven they can build empires far beyond the screen and stage. 

Here’s a look at how Selena Gomez, Kylie Jenner, Drew Barrymore, and Beyoncé turned their star influence into successful businesses.

Drew Barrymore:

Drew Barrymore has been ahead of the celebrity-brand game for decades. At just 19, she co-founded Flower Films, a production company that went on to back cult-classics like Never Been Kissed and Charlie’s Angels.

In 2013, Barrymore brought her creative energy into cosmetics with Flower Beauty, a brand carried in CVS and Ultra stores. By 2018, it was generating $50 million annually in retail sales.

But she didn’t stop at beauty. In 2021, Barrymore launched Beautiful and affordable kitchenware line.

Selena Gomez:

Selena Gomez has come a long way since her Disney Channel days.

She founded Rare Beauty in 2020 which is ahead of “unrealistic standards of perfection."

The top product of Rare Beauty is its liquid blush, which alone brought in $70 million in 2022, according to Bloomberg. With sales projected to triple, Gomez’s brand shows no signs of slowing down.

But Rare Beauty isn’t just about makeup, it’s a movement with a mission. Gomez pledged 1% of all proceeds to the Rare Impact Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to expand mental health services and education.

Kylie Jenner:

Kylie Jenner dropped her Kylie Lip Kits in 2015 and changed the beauty industry forever. The combination of liquid lipstick and lip liner became a viral sensation.

Shortly after, Kylie Cosmetics grew into a billion-dollar powerhouse. Jenner expanded her offerings with eye shadow palettes, highlighters, and skincare.

By 20, Forbes estimated her net worth at $900 million.

She didn’t stop there. Jenner went on to launch Kylie Skin in 2019, Kylie Baby in 2021, and her clothing line Khy in 2023.

Beyoncé:

Beyoncé co-founded Ivy Park in 2016, which is a chic activewear line originally created with Topshop. By 2019, she took full ownership and got a major deal with Adidas.

In 2021 alone, Ivy Park earned $93 million. However, sales later dipped, leading to Beyoncé’s split with Adidas in 2023. But Queen Bey was already onto her next project.

In May, she teased fans with a handwritten note: “Having learned so much on my hair journey … I can’t wait for you to experience what I’ve been creating.”

Then, in October, she unveiled her luxury perfume Cé Noir, priced at $160.

“It’s finally here after years of work,” Beyoncé said, marking yet another chapter in her brand empire.