Major Celebrities That Live Like Average People
When someone becomes a celebrity and starts making more money than they can count, it's easy to lose sight of reality. While some individuals choose to start buying fancy cars, jewelry, mansions, or completely unnecessary things, others remain humble. These people invest in their future, take care of their families, save, or use the money to help others. They chose not to let their money change their lifestyle and would rather live modestly than be remembered as an ostentatious individual. These are those celebrities that decided to live an average life regardless of their wealth or success.
Zooey Deschanel Is As Humble As They Come
You probably know her for starring on the wildly successful show New Girl, acting in the indie hit 500 Days of Summer, or being an icon for quirky individuals worldwide. But despite how successful Deschanel has become, she's managed to stay as humble as she appears to be.
According to the financial documents revealed during her divorce to musician Ben Gibbard, Deschanel is very responsible with her rather large income. She's a surprisingly frugal shopper and spends most of her money on the bare necessities as well as planning for her future. On top of that, she is well-known for her contributions to various charities and organizations around the world.
Jay Leno Knows How To Save
Jay Leno has established himself as one of the most famous talk show hosts ever. Now more than 30 years into his career, it's estimated that he is worth a cool $350 million.
According to Leno, he learned the importance of money at a young age when he worked two jobs — one for spending and bills and the other entirely for savings. Since retiring from being a talk show host, Leno has lived strictly off of the proceeds from his stand-up career. That means he has all of the money that he has made in his life safely locked away somehwere safe. And as for his passion for cars, he has never spent a dime of his talk show money on any of them.
Paul McCartney Is Essentially A King But Doesn't Live Like It
Paul McCartney is one of the most famous people on the planet. He was a member of the Beatles after all. But you wouldn't exactly expect him to be a billionaire based on his behavior and how he chooses to spend his money. Coming from humble beginnings, McCartney has never been known to be greedy but is known for being an activist and a major donator to charities everywhere.
For example, he chose to send his daughter Stella to a state school rather than a private institution designed for students who have as much money as McCartney. On the contrary, he's even been described by some people as cheap, although that could be from people that expected him to pay for everything. Maybe he's trying to teach people the importance of money.
Tyra Banks Remembers What Her Mother Taught Her
Tyra Banks is a Harvard Business School grad, supermodel, and business mogul. With all of her hard work and success, one would think that she deserves to be a little ostentatious. Instead, Banks is pretty reserved when it comes to showing off her success. Banks explains that she learned a lot from her mother who played a significant role in helping her established a career in modeling.
In an interview with The New York Times, she describes herself as "frugal" and that she's been big on saving ever since she was a little girl. Although she does like to pamper herself with trips to the Cheesecake Factory and high-end cosmetics, she still keeps in close contact with her accountant.
Hilary Swank Appreciates Her Success Because Of Her Past
Starring in films such as Million Dollar Baby and Boys Don't Cry, it's no surprise that Hilary Swank is a two-time Academy Award-winning actress. Her life wasn't always red carpets and talk show interviews though. She grew up in a trailer park in Washington. Even after moving to California with her mom, the two still lived in their car.
These memories and life experiences have kept her from ever forgetting where she came from. No matter how successful or popular she has become, she's just happy to be able to live comfortably. Regarding her financial situation, she says she's still always on the hunt for sales and that she prefers to spend her money on her family.
Carrie Underwood Doesn't Let Her Fame Get The Best Of Her
After winning the fourth season of American Idol, country singer Carrie Underwood exploded into popularity. Her rise to fame happened so quickly that nobody would blame her for taking advantage of her new found success. However, she didn't.
In an interview with Rachael Ray, Underwood said that for the most part, she lives like a typical American. While her husband, NHL star Mike Fisher, were dating, she said that they would eat at Subway more than she cared to admit. Also, although she would never have to, she prefers to do her own grocery shopping, revealing that she loves to cut out coupons.
Mark Zuckerberg Is Not Impressed By Wealth
Although Mark Zuckerberg is the founder of Facebook, making him one of the wealthiest and most influential people alive, he lives a surprisingly modest life all things considered. He's often seen wearing typical street clothes and going about like any regular person. You won't see him rolling up to the office in a limo or checking his $100,000 dollar watch either.
Zuckerberg was married in his own backyard and has made it clear that his work is more important than his outer appearance. According to Business Insider UK, he is unimpressed by wealth and plans to donate 99 percent of his Facebook shares during his life. In 2014, he even traded in his $30,000 Acura for a Volkswagon hatchback.
Mariska Hargitay Is Always Thinking About The Future
Mariska Hargitay is best-known for playing the lead role as Lieutenant Olivia Benson of the NBC police procedural show Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. At one point, it was reported that she was making up to $400,000 an episode, with Forbes ranking her the second-highest-paid actress in the world in 2014. Although she's got an enviable salary, that doesn't mean she goes around buying unnecessary things.
She admitted that she struggled with money for years and just because she is comfortable now doesn't mean she will be in the future. Aware that Hollywood doesn't keep people forever, she is very money conscious and saves for the future.
Tobey Maguire Would Rather Have Nothing Than Have A Reputation Of Being Ostentatious
Although the Spider-Man star has been the butt of more than enough jokes throughout the years, people forget that he made a nice chunk of money making the movies. By the third film in the franchise, Maguire had made over $36.5 million for his work. The fact that people don't think Maguire is that well-off is a testament to how careful and private he is about his money.
In 2007, he told Parade magazine that his tough upbringing taught him the value of money and how to be conservative with it. He claims that material possessions are nothing to him and that he'd rather have little to nothing and work incredibly hard to stay afloat than live an ostentatious lifestyle.
Leonardo DiCaprio Cares More About His Future Than His Money
Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the most respected and celebrated actors in Hollywood. All of his success and hard work has also come with a big paycheck. With his money and influence, DiCaprio has chosen not to use it on himself, but on projects that he believes are important. Owning three Teslas, DiCaprio is a huge environmental conservationist.
His Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation has raised nearly $3 million for the World Wildlife Fund's tiger habitat. He has also donated $15 million in grants to organizations for environmental projects around the world. He even helped produce and fund the documentary Before the Flood, warning about the dangers of global warming.
Shailene Woodley Believes In Taking Care Of The Environment And Using Only What She Needs
Shailene Woodley is the star of the Divergent series, one of the best-selling young adult sci-fi franchises of all time. So it's safe to say that Woodley is doing just fine for herself. Being as famous and successful as she is, she is still known to buy used clothes and is a fervent supporter of environmental activism.
In a THR profile, 'the most popular descriptors for her used by her co-workers is 'grounded' and 'authentic.'" At the level she's at she has also admitted that she's yet to splurge on something. She still likes to make her own beauty products and try to live off the land the best she can.
Kristen Bell Says She Is a Hillbilly At Heart
Kristen Bell started out playing small roles until she eventually became an incredibly successful actress starring in hit movies on the big screen. She's starred in films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Frozen, Get Him to the Greek, and more. She's currently married to Punk'd host and actor Dax Shepard, and the two have a combined net worth of over $20 million.
Despite their enviable salaries, the duo claims that their wedding costed a total of $142 including gas and that neither care for over extravagance. Bell even admitted that the two describe themselves as "hillbillies at heart' and is proud of her coupon skills. A pro tip from the coupon queen herself is that the best coupons around are those from Bed, Bath & Beyond.
Shia LaBeouf: Millionaire or Homeless?
For someone that prefers to look homeless the majority of the time, it's clear that Shia LaBeouf is anything but flashy. He's been hard at work since he was ten years old and has never let his prosperous career get the best of him or his morals. In an interview with Parade magazine, he credits his distaste for materialism or fame to his parents.
LaBeouf grew up in a family full of starving artists which made him grateful for his success and sees no reason to flaunt it to others. He's said in interviews, "If I have enough money to eat I'm good."He's also been very clear about his disgust for the upcoming generation of stars that worship greed and vanity. These are the kind of things that makes him wear paper bags over his face that says "I'm not famous anymore."
Halle Berry Is Very Self-Aware
Halle Berry is another mega-successful actress that has even taken home an Academy Award. Although she wouldn't have to work another day in her life if she didn't want to, that's not her style. She lives a simple life and intends to keep doing so while doing what she loves.
She told The Daily Record that she's not someone that needs numerous cars and diamonds. She also notes that she is continuously saving since life in Hollywood is a risky one. She witnessed abuse at a young age which drove her to become an independent woman both emotionally and financially as well.
Sarah Michelle Gellar Is Like Any Other Mother
Successful actress, Sarah Michelle Gellar, is best known for her star role as Buffy in the wildly successful television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. After the show, she went on to act in a series of other films and shows until she finally decided to settle down. Although Gellar is sitting on some serious wealth, she revealed that she lives a rather average life.
She spends her days raising her two sons and shopping at Whole Foods like everyone else. Gellar learned to be appreciative and economical thanks to growing up with a single mother after her father left the family. She says her mother wouldn't ever allow her to be pretentious even if she wanted to.
Dave Grohl Is Cautious About Spending His Money
Ex-drummer for iconic grunge band Nirvana and now frontman for Foo Fighters, one of the most popular rock bands in the world, Dave Grohl has done alright for himself. Over the course of his musical career, he has made an estimated $225 million through his musical talents and marketing abilities. However, he is still concerned about spending too much money too fast.
Although it's clear that he has enough, he has a hard time spending it and is afraid to go broke considering he never graduated high school. He also has a family to take care of which makes him especially financially conservative.
Jennifer Lawrence Still Lives In Her Same Apartment
Jennifer Lawrence is one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood. She made a fortune starring in the Hunger Games franchise and proved her acting abilities in films such as Silver Linings Playbook. Although she now has enough money to live like a queen, she chooses not to.
With an Oscar on her mantle, she lives in the same apartment she did before she became famous. In an interview with Fabulous magazine, she said that "I was raised to have value for money, to have respect for money, even though you have a lot of it."
Sarah Jessica Parker Is Much Different Than Carrie Bradshaw
While her character Carrie may have been a tad showy and not the best with money, the same can't be said about Sarah Jessica Parker, the actress that played her. In a 2008, interview, Parker spoke out about the importance of working hard for money and the equal importance of being responsible with it.
She grew up wearing hand-me-downs and today is a still a fan of thrifting and finding good deals. Growing up on welfare, she had a humble beginning which also taught her how to handle money appropriately.
Mick Jagger Rubs Pennies More Than You'd Think
As the frontman for the Rolling Stones, one of the most iconic rock and roll band of all time, one would think that Mick Jagger would prefer a life of luxury. Apparently, although he likes to party, Jagger is always aware of how much he's spending and considers things before making purchases.
He has been described by his ex-wives as "pretty tight" in comparison to how other people might imagine he'd be. He explains that he was taught to fix things rather than throw them out and not to take everyone that they know out on vacation to France like celebrities do today.
Ashley Greene Still Flies Economy
Ashley Greene's performance in Twilight turned her into one of the most popular stars in Hollywood. With the amount of money that she's made over the years, nobody would think twice if she went on a spending spree and showed off all of her earnings. However, she has managed to stay humble which she says is thanks to the help of her father.
She says that her father told her she shouldn't take acting jobs that aren't important to her just for the money. That she needs to learn to be frugal with her money and save, that way she can survive while waiting for a project that she's passionate about. Today, she still keeps track of the bills she has to pay and supposedly won't spend extra for a first class airline ticket.
Brandon Boyd Keeps It Simple
When you think of rock stars, you probably picture them living in the lap of luxury, but Brandon Boyd prefers to keep it simple. Lead singer of the band Incubus, Boyd could have purchased a huge home, but he instead lives in a bungalow in Santa Monica, California.
Built in 1923, the home cost Boyd $3.5 million, so it’s still pretty nice despite the small size. The bungalow has original hardwood floors, antique moldings, and high ceilings. The house is a piece of history. Boyd also has a large backyard and a swimming pool so he’s living well but his house is still a far cry from a mansion.
Keanu Reeves Acts Like An Average Joe
Over the years, actor Keanu Reeves has made it clear that he isn't one that enjoys the luxuries of wealth and fame. After making it big The Matrix movies, it turns out, he has already given away almost 85% of his earnings to the special effects and costume design team.
Reeves notes that "Money is the last thing I think about. I could live on what I have already made for the next few centuries," He is also seen riding public transportation, eating at common restaurants and hanging out at the park. Being so casual has even made him into a global meme.
Jose Mujica Is Known As The "Poorest President"
Jose Mujica is Uruguay's former ruler, he is also known as the "poorest president." During his presidency, he refused to live in the official presidential residence and opted to move to a farm where he grows flowers that he sells.
He donates 90% of his 12,000 salary in order to support charities in the area in order to help those that need it the most. He comments that I’m called ’the poorest president,’ but I don’t feel poor. Poor people are those who only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle and always want more and more."
Ellen Page Stays Modest
In case you missed the memo, Ellen Page is kind of a big deal. The Hollywood star made it big in Juno and since then she has seen more and more success. Despite that, she isn’t exactly going for the fanciest house on the market. In fact, until 2014, the actress was living in a small Hollywood Hills home with just two bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms!
She purchased the small home for less than a million dollars and invested some money in it, renovating the bathroom. When she put it on the market a few years ago, it was listed for almost a quarter of a million dollars more than she paid for it. It sounds like Ellen Page could have had a successful career in real estate if she hadn’t pursued acting (although we’re glad she did!)
J.K. Rowling Is A Humble Billionaire
Author of the world renown Harry Potter series, today, J.K. Rowling is worth over $1 billion. It wasn't long until she realized that she had no need for such a large amount of money, and began donating it to various charities and noble causes.
She even claims that "Many parts of my life are perfectly ordinary, one could even call it boring, but that’s what I like about it." Typically, there's nothing that separates her from the average person. She wears normal clothes, is frugal with money, and even uses her husband's name in her private life.
Vincent Kartheiser
The famous Mad Men actor is known for living in a one-bedroom apartment while he was working on the wildly popular show. After he became incredibly successful, he decided to stay in his apartment and make a few renovations including a fireplace and a bed that comes down from the ceiling.
Like a sensible person, he wanted to make a profit off of his property. He bought the $457,000 in 2014 and ended up selling it for $808,000. For people that aren't concerned with money, this may seem like a rather strategic financial move that also took a little elbow grease.
Britney Spears Frequents Target
While Britney Spears may be one of the most famous people in the world, when she isn't performing on stage, she tries to live a rather simple life. She can be seen frequenting normal stores such as Target and Walmart. Here, she's been known to buy items such as cosmetics, holiday toys, and everyday items.
The surprising part is that she doesn't have anyone doing her shopping for her, she'd rather brave the potential crowds of fans and shop like a normal person. Of course, she usually grabs a drink from Starbucks on her way out.
Matthew McConaughey Likes Easy Access To The Waves
Known for his laid-back, Southern drawl, Matthew McConaughey is one of the stars of the screen. His easygoing ways were evident when he was living in an Airstream trailer near the beach, so that he could surf whenever he wanted.
He’s been quoted as saying that the small space was ideal because “It’s two seconds from making your bed to putting your coffee on the stove.” Of course, once he got married (breaking the hearts of fans all over the world) and had kids, he was forced to move from his trailer into a real house for the sake of his family.
Clint Eastwood Doesn't Need A Flashy Car
Considering his films such as Dirty Harry and Gran Torino, you would assume that Clint Eastwood would enjoy his expensive classic cars. However, that's not the case. Even though he has made hundreds of millions of dollars over the course of his career, he prefers to drive around in his old GMC Typhoon.
This limited edition SUV was made between 1992 until 1993 and looks closely similar to the GMC Jimmy SUV. The engine on it isn't bad either. But then again, of course, Clint Eastwood has a fast car. However, the car is still only worth a mere $20,000.
Warren Buffett Is Just Another Normal Guy
We're not sure Warren Buffett knows he's worth $70 billion considering the modest way he lives. Despite being the 2nd richest citizen in the United States, Buffett still lives in the $31,000 home he bought in 1950.
For this classic American, the more simple his life is, the better. If reports are true, he doesn't even like having money to begin with. Some estimates claim the wealthy billionaire gives most of his money to charity. And b,y most we mean up to 90 percent of what he earns!
You Would Never Guess How Much Money Katie Couric Is Worth
During her illustrious journalism career, Katie Couric earned $55 million. She achieved national fame on The Today Show and CBS Evening News but refuses to live like a queen. She doesn't like shopping at high-end stores or going out for expensive seafood.
GIve her a good steak and Target and Couric is one happy camper! For how long she has lived in the spotlight, it's pretty amazing that she has never let herself get caught in the luxurious lifestyle of the rich and famous!
Renee Zellweger Stays Down To Earth
Renee Zellweger was born to immigrant parents who came to the United States with nothing. She knows what it means to work hard for every penny. Since becoming a world-famous actress her life has become much easier, but she still lives by the morals instilled in her by her parents.
Zellweger is so frugal, in fact, that she shops for groceries using coupons despite being worth a reported $45 million. Sure, she could afford to splurge but she would rather spend her money on what she needs, not what makes her happy.
Eric Clapton Is Over Living The Rock Star Life
This one makes a lot of sense if you think about it. Eric Clapton used to live fast and was on a path to die young. After suffering a terrible tragedy with the death of his son, Clapton slowed things down and cleaned himself up. Today, even though he's worth $250 million, he lives like he's worth a few thousand.
Clapton prefers wearing comfortable clothes that will last more than one wash cycle and stays away from lavish parties filled with alcohol. If there is one vice Clapton has, it's that he loves art and maintains a fairly large collection.
Darius Rucker Never Changed His Lifestyle
Darius Rucker grew up a humble country boy and still lives that way today. He may have been apart of Hootie and the Blowfish, but the former rock star is happy living the simple life with his wife and kids these days. Perhaps that's what inspired him to go solo and become a country artist!
Rucker still records albums and goes on tour but makes sure to make time for his family. Whatever his next big project is going to be, it's good to know it won't affect what kind of person he strives to be.
Eva Longoria Prefers Staying Home Than Going On Vacation
Eva Longoria made $375,000 per episode of Desperate Housewives and has made over $35 million in her career. Still, most weekends she'd rather stay home and relax than fly to France or Spain and frolic the beaches while eating expensive foods.
It helps that she's invested in the restaurant. Who needs Uber Eats when you can get your own restaurant to cater to needs? She's also busy being a dedicated mother and doesn't have time for big parties. It's backyard bbq or bust for this famous actress!
Steve Carrell Loves Cargo Pants From Target
Steve Carrell might be known as a funnyman, but his love for Target is no joke. You might even call him obsessed. He claims he can't go inside the store without buying something. Same for us Steve!
And what's Carrell's favorite thing to buy at Target? Cargo pants, of course! He calls the pants "comfy but uncool." At this point in his life, we think he's won enough cool points with his fans that it's okay to comfortable once in a while.
Jimmy Kimmel Wishes He Could Marry Costco
Jimmy Kimmel might love Costco more than his wife. He's openly admitted that he wishes he could have gotten married there instead of whatever beautiful location the ceremony happened. He's also admitting to losing his wedding band and going to Costco to have it replaced.
This might be an unhealthy relationship, but it's good to know us normal people aren't the only ones roaming the aisles of Costco for the next great free sample then wandering to the food court for a frozen yogurt.
Martha Stewart Shops At Big Box Stores
You never know where home living guru Martha Stewart is going to make her next big living discovery. An icon in the industry for years, would you be surprised to find out Stewart frequents big box stores like Costco?
While it is true that she has a line of foods associated with Kirkland (Costco's name brand), she has also been spotted as a customer waiting in line at the bulk store. From Kimmel to Stewart, everyone loves Costco and we're okay with that!
Dakota Fanning Takes Photos With Fans At Walmart
Dakota Fanning has been famous since before she was ten-years-old. She really left an impression with her role in the Twilight movies. However famous she gets, though, she won't stop shopping at Walmart and doesn't care if you see her.
While she was filming Breaking Dawn in Baton Rouge, for instance, she didn't try to hide at all while shopping at the chain store. When fans stopped and asked to take pictures, she also gladly said yes. Turns out this young starlet is both down to earth and kind.
Colin Farrell Drives A Bronco
Colin Farrell didn't know how to handle his fame when he broke onto the Hollywood scene. He took to partying and ended up in rehab. These days he's living the low-key life, driving around town in a mid-nineties Ford Bronco instead of a top-down convertible.
Trust us, his car isn't worth a whole lot of money and could break down on him any day. He doesn't care though. So far in his life, it's been one of the most reliable things, so why abandon it now?
