Hailey Bieber, Ryan Reynolds & More Who Sold Their Brands for Billions

What’s sweeter than glazed donut skin?

Hailey Bieber discovered that the sale of her Rhode skincare line to e.l.f. Beauty had sealed a billion-dollar agreement.

The 28-year-old didn’t necessarily deposit a massive check into her bank account, but rather, she became one of the celebrity entrepreneurs with business acumen, who identified an opportunity in the market and received substantial earnings as a result of their forward-thinking.

For years, I’ve harbored grand aspirations for our company,” the mother of 9-month-old Jack Blues Bieber proudly expressed on Instagram May 29. “My ultimate goal is to continue expanding Rhode to diverse locations around the world.” (Note: ‘Rhode’ refers to a skincare brand co-founded by Justin Bieber and his manager Scooter Braun.)

As the Chief Creative Officer and Head of Innovation at rhode, she will continue to be actively involved. Additionally, she has taken on a strategic advisory position at e.l.f., who are excited about their recent acquisition and look forward to her insights.

According to the CEO of e.l.f., Tarang Amin, in conversations with the New York Times, it’s rare to find another brand that boasts communities eagerly waiting or hosting pop-up events in L.A., even willing to camp out for 14 hours straight, not merely for the product, but to embrace the entire lifestyle associated with it.

Given that Rhode products tend to be priced affordably within the skincare market, they are being purchased in large quantities.

Within just under three years, they’ve skyrocketed from no sales to a staggering $212 million in direct-to-consumer net sales, all with only 10 products. Frankly, I never thought this kind of success was achievable, but it has certainly grabbed our attention as a level of disruption that’s truly remarkable, Tarang shared with CNBC.

Just as Ryan Reynolds, George Clooney, Kylie Jenner, Jessica Simpson, Bethenny Frankel, and others might put it, disruptive strategies are key to success. How many Mint Mobile advertisements have you encountered today?

And the prize money just might be worth it.

Check out the stars who’ve sold their brands for massive amounts of money:

In 2017, George Clooney and Rande Gerber created quite an impression in the world of celebrity beverages when they successfully sold their Casamigos Tequila company to a large British alcohol conglomerate named Diageo, for a whopping $1 billion.

Four years ago, if someone had asked us if we owned a billion-dollar company, I don’t think we would have answered affirmatively. However, as Clooney, who co-founded Casamigos (meaning “house of friends”) with Gerber and Meldman in 2013, stated then, this sale to Diageo demonstrates their faith in our company, and similarly, our confidence in them.

Gerber expressed on Good Morning America, “To be honest, we were taken aback because we never intended to establish a tequila company. We produced Casamigos just for our personal consumption. After four years, when someone offered us a billion dollars to buy the company, yes, we were definitely surprised.

They had decided to continue operating Casamigos, with Gerber emphasizing that their main priority was their passion for the business and the product. They wanted to keep enjoying the drink and maintaining the team’s camaraderie.

When Ryan Reynolds sampled Aviation Gin for the first time in 2017, an idea took flight.

The star of Deadpool repeated his order for the same Negroni multiple times and couldn’t understand why it tasted so great until August 2018, several months after investing in a Portland-based distillery, Davos Brands’ small batch label. It turned out that the key ingredient was Aviation Gin; once he recognized this, he understood that what he truly appreciated wasn’t just the Negroni cocktail, but the gin itself.

He made that shot, he clarified, as they’re in the early stages of what seems like a contemporary era of gin popularity. It’s millennials and younger generations who are consuming it, not toddlers, though.

Moreover, Reynolds quipped, “Like a lot of people, I’m inspired by George Clooney.”

In 2020, Diageo, much like it did, acquired Aviation Gin and various other Davos Brands for a total of $610 million.

A considerable amount, yet a mere fraction of the $1.35 billion deal T-Mobile sealed in 2023 to purchase Mint Mobile, an enterprise still endorsed by Reynolds in ads emphasizing transparency on fees and affordable pricing for customers.

As for investing, I’m no magic-maker – at least, that’s what I, the storyteller, humbly assert. My focus remains on crafting tales, leaving finance matters to others with more expertise in that domain.

Speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box in 2023, he noted that while a gin company, a wireless company, and a Welsh football club might seem unrelated at first glance, they share robust brand fundamentals.

The title of “world’s youngest self-made billionaire” given to Kylie Jenner by Forbes in March 2019 stirred debate, as her background was not entirely humble, being a well-known member of the Kardashian family.

At that point, I hadn’t anticipated anything. I didn’t have a crystal ball, as they say,” Jenner shared with Forbes. “Yet, receiving such recognition feels fantastic, it’s like getting a warm compliment.” She expressed her belief that her brand would achieve great things. “I put in a lot of effort,” she added.

In 2015, Kylie Cosmetics, the business she launched with Lip Kits and ambition, was valued at an impressive $1.2 billion. Later that year, Coty Inc. purchased a 51% share in the company for $600 million, securing redemption for her.

Hailey Bieber aimed to make ‘glazed donut’ complexion popular through her skincare line, rhode – named after her middle name Baldwin – and it appears the desire for that radiant look was genuine.

In May 2025, e.l.f. Beauty purchased rhode in a potential billion-dollar deal: $800 million paid immediately in cash and stocks, with an extra $200 million dependent on the brand’s growth over the next three years. This growth bonus is contingent upon the brand meeting its sales targets, as it had reported $212 million in net sales during the previous 12-month period ending March 31.

Speaking about @rhode which I co-founded in 2022, my ambition for the company has always been grand. What matters most to me is expanding rhode’s reach across various locations worldwide. This sentiment was expressed by Bieber on Instagram. In el.f. Beauty, I discovered a fellow visionary with aspirations similar to mine, who aims to build an exceptional company that embraces bold concepts and technological advancements, just like I do. This partnership will undoubtedly aid in the growth of our brand.

In the agreement, she will continue her role at Rhode as both the Chief Creative Officer and Head of Innovation, while also providing strategic guidance for ELF.

What, like it’s hard to sell your company for $900 million?

Not for Reese Witherspoon, anyway.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: In my professional opinion, the esteemed figures Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, backed by the influential private equity firm Blackstone, appraised Reese Witherspoon’s creative powerhouse, Hello Sunshine, at an impressive valuation of over $900 million. This momentous acquisition, which took place in August 2021, grants them a majority stake in the production company behind hit shows such as “The Morning Show” and “Big Little Lies”, among others.

From the outset, we shared a clear and unified vision regarding our brand’s creation – a platform that empowers women to share their stories in their unique voices. As Witherspoon, who stayed actively involved, explained to The Hollywood Reporter a year after the sale, Hello Sunshine has consistently delivered value by focusing on self-expression and showcasing the full range of the female experience. This can be achieved through various mediums such as books, podcasts, or social media posts.

Lauren Neustadter, president of film and TV at Hello Sunshine, expressed her pride in the innovative strides made by the company during its first five years. She added that it now seems as though there are even more possibilities ahead. It’s like they had many planes waiting to take off on the runway, and now those planes are about to start their journeys.

Looking up “mogul” in a dictionary might show an image of Jay-Z nearby, given that the co-founder of RocNation initially showed keenness towards the liquor industry.

In 2006, the rapper known as Shawn Carter decided to create his own champagne brand, Armand de Brignac (or Ace of Spades), as a response to a negative comment made by the CEO of Cristal about the brand’s association with the hip-hop community. This move came after he called for a boycott of Cristal.

In the year 2021, Jay-Z parted with half of his ownership in Armand de Brignac (a champagne brand that significantly contributed to his wealth), selling it to Moët Hennessy, a division of LVMH, for approximately $630 million, as estimated by Forbes.

Jamie Kern Lima demonstrated her courage by joining as a contestant in the inaugural season of Big Brother on CBS in 2000, and she ended up placing fourth overall.

However, the ex-Miss Washington USA didn’t stop at daring ventures. In 2008, she co-founded IT Cosmetics and became her own primary endorser for more than a thousand appearances, promoting concealers and creams on QVC.

2016 saw me becoming the pioneering female CEO of a brand acquired by the venerable L’Oreal Group, with IT Cosmetics changing hands for a whopping $1.2 billion. Quite an achievement, I must say!

She shared with Vanity Fair in 2017 that she managed to maintain her faith greater than her fear throughout a lengthy journey to achieve her success. “I learned how not to internalize ‘no’ and persistent rejection as self-doubt,” she added. “In my view, these are two crucial factors behind IT Cosmetics becoming the remarkable success it is today!

When asked about the secret behind her brand’s prosperity, Kern Lima responded, “The foundation is undoubtedly offering a product that delivers results.

I couldn’t care less about the true identity of Chicken of the Sea when I’m focused on crafting my own powerhouse brand.

In 2005, Jessica Simpson introduced her self-named fashion line, and through a partnership with Vince Camuto, began offering shoes, handbags, sunglasses, fragrances, bedding, and various other items. This expansion significantly boosted the company’s sales to over $1 billion before Sequential Brands Group purchased 62.5% of the Jessica Simpson Collection (from Vince Camuto) for $117 million in 2015.

However, with the company not flourishing under its current parent, Simpson looked to regain control a few years down the line. In 2021, she enlisted Threadstone Capital to facilitate the necessary funding.

A judge approved her purchase of Sequential’s stake in her brand for $65 million that November.

William Susman stated to Bloomberg Businessweek in 2022 that Jessica’s message has been consistently clear: ‘I want my name on the company, I want control over it.’ For her, this is a significant aspect of her personal identity.

As a self-proclaimed lifestyle aficionado, let me share a personal anecdote: I emptied my savings to acquire something truly valuable. Yet, I view this purchase not as a financial drain, but as an investment into myself – a belief in my own potential greatness. I’m a firm believer that the impossible can become possible with unwavering conviction and determination.

In 2009, Bethenny Frankel found the profits from her initial creation, Skinnygirl Margarita, to be somewhat meager compared to her preferences. This was the signature flavor in a series of pre-mixed, low-sugar cocktails she later expanded into a full product line.

To be honest, I hadn’t earned more than my assistant until just two years ago,” the former star of Real Housewives of New York City shared with Forbes in 2011, following the sale of Skinnygirl Cocktails for $100 million to Fortune Brands’ Beam Global.

However, what stood out most was that during her 2023 Instagram Reel reflection, she highlighted a significant aspect from her initial Bravo contract for RHONY in the first season – despite earning only $7,250, this agreement did not require her to hand over any portion of what she earned independently.

Following her Skinnygirl sale, she clarified, “They established what’s commonly known in the industry as the ‘Bethenny agreement,’ which requires anyone appearing on reality TV to share a portion of their earnings with those in control.

Frankel emphasized that he wasn’t versed in business matters, lacking both institutional knowledge and experience in these areas. A contract he read raised suspicions, prompting him to withdraw from it. This decision ultimately reshaped the entertainment industry and their practices. In essence, he advised never underestimate your own intelligence.

Back in the year 2006, “Beats” was just another new product hitting the market, but fast forward a few years, and it’s become synonymous with headphones, thanks to the visionary duo – none other than Dr. Dre (real name Andre Young) and record executive Jimmy Iovine. Together, they orchestrated an exclusive line of premium audio products and a subscription service called Beats Music that oozed style and sophistication.

In 2014, Apple purchased Beats Electronics for an impressive $3 billion, which remains its biggest takeover to this day.

2025-05-31 14:17

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