Is it just us, or is it rare these days for a celebrity to have only one gig going at a time? Sure, we've seen so many of our favorite multitalented stars dabble in acting, music, and other art forms over the course of their careers, but some have started side projects that we definitely couldn't have predicted based on what we know about them.
In recent years, it's been the norm to see stars launch their own beauty brands, perfumes, and fashion lines, but what we're talking about goes a little beyond that. For example, both Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have founded their own companies in the beverage space. And then there's Kris Jenner, who — despite her momager duties — somehow found the time to create her own cleaning products (yes, really). And what's more interesting is that many fans probably don't even know that some of these side projects even exist.
Read on to find out the truly random (and kind of awesome) side projects these major celebrities have been working on. Warning: You might end up being tempted to check them out for yourself.
Blake Lively's Soda Brand
Blake Lively founded her own brand of drink mixers — that can also be consumed alone as nonalcoholic drinks — called Betty Buzz, which she has said is named after her grandmother, Betty, just like her daughter, who also shares the name. On the brand's website, Blake explains that she doesn't drink alcohol and wanted to create something that would prove that "clear mixers are the unsung heroes of the drink world and deserve just as much love as alcohol."
Many Betty Buzz mixers can be found in grocery and liquor stores, as well as purchased from the brand's website, and so far the brand has launched five flavors.
Kris Jenner's Cleaning Products
Something tells us that Kris Jenner very likely doesn't clean her own house, but that didn't stop her from launching a cleaning company, Safely, which sells products that are plant-based and contain "clean" ingredients. It seems to be going well so far, since the line can now be found at Walmart.
The Candy Store Split by Multiple Celebs
Here's a celebrity collab that many people don't even know exists. Paul Rudd (along with his wife, Julia) teamed up with celebrity couple Hilarie Burton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan to open Samuel's Sweet Shop in upstate New York. After the original owner died, the famous friends decided to save the store from closing, and they've been keeping it running ever since.
Scarlett Johansson's Popcorn Shop
Scarlett Johansson opened her own popcorn shop, Yummy Pop, in Paris in 2016. As The Hollywood Reporter shared when the store debuted, it features six special flavors of popcorn, including truffle Parmesan, which is said to be the actress' favorite.
Susan Sarandon's Ping Pong Bar
Susan Sarandon is not just an actress — she's also, apparently, a ping pong mogul. She helped found an international chain of ping pong bars and social clubs called Spin in 2009, and franchise locations are now open in several cities across the United States and Canada, including in New York, Seattle, and Toronto.
Ryan Reynolds' Gin Brand
Even though Blake Lively's drink mixers all come alcohol-free, husband Ryan Reynolds is doing the opposite with his Aviation gin brand. Now widely available both online and in liquor stores, Aviation seems to have really taken off (pun intended) and Ryan never misses an opportunity to promote it, usually in a pretty hilarious way.
Sandra Bullock's Deli
It's super random that Sandra Bullock actually owns a deli called Walton's Fancy & Staple in Austin, Texas, but it certainly does seem to be working out well for her. These days, it sounds like it's more of a combination flower shop and restaurant, with happy hour happening every Thursday through Sunday.
Tom Selleck's Avocado Farm
Despite the fact that Tom Selleck doesn't even like avocados, he does own an avocado farm on his ranch in Ventura, California, where he actively works. He even sells the avocados that he grows.
"I do grunt work and I make the rounds. I like watching things grow. It's a retreat," he once told People.
Michael Jordan's Steak House
It's not enough that Michael Jordan is a legendary NBA player — he also had to add restauranteur to his résumé. Now with multiple locations in Illinois, Connecticut, and Washington, Michael Jordan's Steak House serves up a wide (and slightly pricey) menu ranging from steaks to cocktails to desserts.
Kanye West's School
Kanye West's school, Donda Academy, has been making a lot of headlines lately — and not in a good way. The rapper's attempt at educating the masses is, unfortunately, unaccredited, but nearly 100 parents to children between kindergarten and 12th grade still chose to enroll their children there. Reportedly, tuition runs about $15,000 a year at the private school.
Lenny Kravitz's Interior Design Company
It turns out that Lenny Kravitz is, somehow, even more talented than we originally thought. He has his own interior design company that claims to have a "a modern sensibility and a focus on interiors, industrial design, branding, and graphic design." This is pretty cool!
Tom Hanks' Typewriter App
Tom Hanks has always struck us as an old-fashioned guy, and his app proves that he's willing to take what he loves about the good old days and bring them current. The app is called Hanx Writer, and makes your phone or iPad look like a typewriter as you compose whatever it is you want to write about.
Akon's Diamond Mine
If you ever see rapper Akon covered in bling, just know that it came from the diamond mine that he owns in South Africa — though he's had to defend his ethics because of the purchase.
"They are talking about it and haven't even been there," he said in 2007, when asked if he was worried about supporting "blood diamonds." "They are talking about what they heard in the press and on TV, what they are seeing in the movie."
The Jonas Brothers' Popcorn
The Jonas Brothers recently launched their own brand of popcorn called Rob's Backstage Popcorn — named for a family friend who created his own seasoning blend that the brand promises is "the perfect mix of sweet and savory." Want to try it for yourself? You can buy it online or at Walmart.
Steve Carell's General Store
Comedian Steve Carell and his wife, Nancy, own Marshfield Hills General Store in Massachusetts, which is close to where Nancy grew up.
"Nancy's sister, Tish Vivado, visited the couple at their California home in October 2008 and mentioned that the historic general store was up for sale," says the store's official website. "By November, Carell had cinched a deal to purchase the business and the ownership changed hands on New Year's Day in 2009."
