Celebrity Investment Index: Which Celeb makes 2023’s best investor?

In the world of fame and fortune, some celebrities go beyond the spotlight, strategically building wealth through diverse investments.

On average, celebrities invest $38 million per investment venture and a third have invested over $100 million in a single business investment.¹

As we wrap up into the final weeks of 2023, FOREX.com set out to uncover the ultimate celebrity investor of the year.

To do so, the finance and trading experts analysed celebrity investments across various assets, including luxury properties, business ventures, intellectual property, financial instruments and collectables, to uncover the true scale where celebrities invest their money

Key findings:

• Singer and songwriter, Babyface has the highest return on net worth at 134.40% 

• Out of all professions, YouTubers have been found to have the best return on their investments at 13.6% return on net worth

• Athletes have the highest average net worth at $905 million but only make 9.84% return on investments

• Social media influencer, Bella Poarch is the top female on the list, making a 51% return on net worth?

Top 10 celebrities generating the biggest returns on their net worth

The 90s superstar Kenneth Brian Edmonds, better known by his stage name Babyface, far ahead as the celebrity who makes the highest return on their investments — with over 134.40% return on his net worth. This is over double the return (120.89%) than what singers typically make on average compared to their net worth (13.51%). Babyface owns more than 20 properties across the globe, including a $7 million New York property and a $3 million mansion in Paris. The star is also known to own at least five vehicles, including a Bugatti Chiron, worth a staggering $3 million. 

One of the youngest celebrities in the ranking, TikTok star Chase Hudson (Huddy) ranks second, with a whopping 68.70% return on his net worth of $11 million. Huddy has invested his wealth into real estate and luxury vehicles, including a 6-bedroom luxury home in California valued at $9 Million and an impressive car collection which includes two Jaguars and a $590,000 Ferrari F8.  

Billy Joel, the iconic musician with a net worth of $225 million, has proven to be a savvy investor – his 52.20% return on net worth earns him a third place in the rating. His impressive real estate portfolio includes a 14,000 square-foot mansion in New York, and a Manhattan apartment. Notably, his New York mansion has been listed for sale with an asking price of $49 million, showcasing his keen eye for valuable real estate. Beyond music and property, Billy Joel’s financial empire extends to his record label and publishing company, stocks and various other lucrative ventures. 

Celebrity professions with the highest return on net worth

FOREX.com can reveal that out of 233 celebrities analysed, YouTubers were found to generate the best return on their investments. Whilst typically having the lowest net worth to initially invest, YouTubers generate a 13.60% return on their net worth on average.This is almost 7% higher return than comedians, who tend to have the lowest returns at 6.62% of their net worth, on average. 

Despite having the highest average net worth, athletes are not the most successful investors, with a below-average return on net worth of just 9.84%.

 
Methodology:
 
FOREX.com commissioned this research which explores celebrity investments in various asset categories such as luxury properties, business ventures, financial instruments, vehicles and collectables, intellectual property, and endorsement deals.
 

1. Firstly, a comprehensive compilation of celebrities encompassing investments, assets, and other related aspects was gathered across diverse professional domains.

2. Cross-validating sources and incorporating previously unmentioned names to compile headline articles about their assets, investments, and related information.

3. A profile was established for the top celebrities, which underwent cross-validation to ensure accuracy. The profile encompassed essential information such as net worth, monthly income, and more.

4. Falcon 40B Large Language Model (LLM) was used to analyse all sources and create a ranking order based on article celebrity ranking, article sentiment, investment types, cars & collectables etc. Cross-referencing of cars & collectables was performed.

5. Return on net worth was calculated by dividing the individuals’ monthly income by their overall net worth.

6. Please find the full dataset here. 

[1] Wealth Professional | Who is the most successful celebrity investor?