It can be easy to forget that celebrities are real people, too. They come from all different backgrounds and can have vastly different mindsets when it comes to things like money and saving for the future. In fact, some celebs are known to be frugal or even just plain cheap. That doesn't necessarily mean they're miserly, but quite a few stars are well aware that wealth can be fleeting, and that despite how much money they earn now, they may not always be raking in the dough. Hollywood is notoriously fickle, after all.
It's probably safe to assume that some celebrities also want to make sure that the benefits all of their hard work and fame bring go a long way for their families even once they're gone. Honestly, though, if we counted ourselves among the rich and famous, it would probably be hard not to want to splurge sometimes, so we can imagine it's no small feat for these famously cheap celebs not to want to spend to their heart's content.
But some people are just born practical, and these 20 money-minded celebrities fit into that category. Keep scrolling to find out which of your favorite stars are known for being thrifty and can't seem to let go of their penny-pinching ways — no matter how big their bank accounts grow.
Ed Sheeran
Hit maker Ed Sheeran told the Irish Examiner several years ago that he gives himself an allowance to avoid spending all of the money he earns. In fact, the "Bad Habits" singer said, "You never want to be wasteful," going on to explain that he doesn't spend much money so he hasn't even upgraded to a fancy no-limit credit card.
Sarah Jessica Parker
No matter how hard it is to believe, the ever-glamorous Sarah Jessica Parker is actually quite thrifty. Unlike her Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw — who would happily drop a month of Manhattan rent on a single pair of shoes — Sarah grew up poor. She learned to make the most of what she has from her mother, who shopped at thrift stores and took her kids to free events and activities for entertainment.
Carrie Underwood
Country music superstar Carrie Underwood may have a net worth of about $140 million, but she doesn't take it for granted. Carrie also comes from humble roots, and growing up she learned not to waste money. In 2012, she told Rachael Ray Every Day magazine that she even still clips coupons.
Kristen Bell
As if we needed another reason to adore the down-to-earth Kristen Bell, when we learned that the Good Place actress buys most of her daughters' clothes secondhand, we began to relate to her on a whole new level. It's so common to see celeb kids wearing insanely expensive designer duds, so this fact is a true testament to her thrifty — and practical — ways.
Leonardo DiCaprio
OK, we're not saying that Leonardo DiCaprio doesn't spend a ton of money. He definitely lives in the lap of luxury, but his commitment to conservation and eco-friendly practices has actually made him unexpectedly thrifty. He typically flies commercial, and his preferred vehicle for everyday needs is a Toyota Prius.
Warren Buffett
Despite being worth about $100 billion and one of the richest people in the world, businessman Warren Buffett has lived in the same home in Nebraska that he bought for $31,500 in 1958. It's worth less than .001% of his fortune, but he sees no need to move. We bet his lucky heirs will never have to work a day again.
Jay Leno
One of the things retired night show host Jay Leno is best known for is his expensive car collection, so no one would guess that he's actually quite budget-minded. Jay made a habit of always having two jobs from the beginning of his career, and he would always put the entirety of the larger of the two incomes into savings. Talk about building a nest egg!
Tiffany Haddish
The beautiful and hilarious Tiffany Haddish has spent much of her life in poverty, and she was even homeless at one point. Now she has plenty of money, but she chooses not to spend extravagantly and to shop for discounts because she knows that can change at any moment. "Yeah, it's here now but will it be here in five years? I don't know," she told People in 2017.
Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence does not believe in spending money frivolously. In an interview with the UK magazine Fabulous, the Hunger Games actress once said, "I was raised to have value for money, to have respect for money, even though you have a lot of it." She went on to explain that she also avoids hotel minibars and doesn't drive an extravagant car.
Paul McCartney
That's right, the billionaire Beatle was called cheap by his own daughter, fashion designer Stella McCartney. She says he didn't send her to private school because he didn't see the sense in paying so much money for it, which made her think he was "tight." But celebrity or not, if the local school offers a good education, this is just basic financial responsibility.
Rob Gronkowski
This one sounds almost too hard to believe, given the lavish lifestyle most famous NFL players live, but Super Bowl champ Rob Gronkowski said in his 2015 book, It's Good To Be Gronk, that he hadn't spent any of his New England Patriots signing bonus or NFL contract. He saves all of it and lives off of his income from endorsement deals, of which he has many — but still. He also explained that he doesn't spend his money on things like cars, jewelry, and clothes.
Katie Couric
The former Today show anchor admits to being quite frugal. In 2013, she opened up to Women's Day readers about her commitment to saving, bargain shopping, and donating generously. She credited her budget-minded mother and grandmother with teaching her their thrifty ways.
Dave Grohl
Is it weird that this one actually makes sense to us? Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has said himself that he's not one to waste money. He once told the now-defunct newsletter for the New York Red Bulls soccer team that he puts most of his money in savings. He also said he drives a family car and lives in a house that's just big enough for his family. "It goes straight into my bank account, where it turns all moldy and smelly," he explained.
Queen Elizabeth
That's right, it's true! The Queen of England can be a cheapskate. At nearly a century old, she has lived through many financial crises, and while she never suffered, she's witnessed many people throughout the world succumb to hard financial times. In the book Young Elizabeth: The Making Of Our Queen by Kate Williams, it's noted that the Queen's thrifty ways include saving used wrapping paper and ribbons, using only low-wattage light bulbs, and repurposing old newspapers as horse bedding.
Ashley Greene
Twilight actress Ashley Greene is nothing if not practical. At the peak of her fame, she told Marie Claire that she had no plans on switching to flying first class because it's not worth the money. "I'm lucky because my dad taught me to be frugal and save. And that's important because I want to know that I don't have to take an acting job for two or three years if I don't want to and that I'll still be able to make my house and car payments and buy food for my dogs," she said.
Tyra Banks
Model and TV personality Tyra Banks is rich rich. Her net worth is sitting at about $90 million, but that doesn't mean she takes money for granted. "I saved, saved, saved. But I saved to a fault. About 15 years ago, my accountants pulled me aside, and they were like, 'Tyra, you're not spending money. Nothing. You're just giving it away to the government. You need to spend some damn money!'" she told Money in 2018.
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis is another one of those celebs we think we could totally be besties with, and she wouldn't shame us for shopping the clearance rack. In 2016, she revealed to Conan O'Brien that she bought her wedding ring on Etsy for $90. And her husband, Ashton Kutcher, once said that they agreed not to set up trusts for their children, and instead planned to donate their money because they want their kids to know the value of a dollar and the meaning of hard work.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Gellar has on multiple occasions discussed her frugal ways. From clipping coupons to shopping around for the best gas prices and eventually going electric to save a few bucks there, too. She doesn't like to spend money she doesn't have to. Seriously, why pay full price?
Keira Knightley
Actress Keira Knightley once gave herself a budget of just $50,000 for an entire year, according to an interview she did with Glamour in 2014. "I think living an [expensive] lifestyle means you can't hang out with people who don't live that lifestyle. It alienates you. Some of my best, most hilarious times have been in the least luxurious places," she said.
Halle Berry
For Halle Berry, there's no shame in fessing up to being cheap — and we totally understand why she feels the way she does. "I am pretty frugal. I save a lot because I am always worried about when this trip is going to end," she told Daily Record in 2012 when she was pregnant with her first child.
