Celebs Who Live a Humble vs High-Class Life
Stars are just like us, aside from the increased popularity and bloated bank accounts. While fame sounds great (for a little bit), having vast sums of money and notoriety can go to some people’s heads. Others have just grown accustomed to a new way of life. Some even act like they don’t have two pennies to rub together. See? They’re just like us, we just happen to know a lot more about them than they could ever want to know about us. From private jets to million-dollar hair systems, some stars are really living it up. Not all of them though. Believe it or not, some celebs prefer living the simple life!
Curious to see if your fave made the list?
HIGH-CLASS: Kanye West
If you’re looking for someone who’s earned a fortune and likes to live it up then look no further than Kanye West. The rapper and self-proclaimed genius isn’t afraid to shoot for the stars. He also has some interesting taste in plumbing. The musician and Taylor Swift interrupter had four gold-plated toilets installed in one of his mansions!
Not only are they gold-plated, but they’re styled after the same toilets that King Louis XIV used. Plus, they’re not just stupidly specific, they’re also ridiculously pricey. The four porcelain and gold thrones cost around $750,000 to buy and install! That’s a lot of dough to drop on your toilet.
HUMBLE: David Grohl
The Foo Fighters are one of the best bands of all time. We’re not being biased, we’re just stating facts. One of the reasons they’re so fantastic is their fearless leader and founder Dave Grohl! He has the voice of a rock angel and the sensibility of someone who knows his skills. While he’s made a good living off making music, he doesn’t look to live too lavishly.
Grohl may be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, but he prefers to live a much more demure life (on his sprawling estate). Grohl stated in interviews that he doesn’t have any skills outside of music. That means he has to work hard and make sure he saves as much as possible.
HUMBLE: Warren Buffet
When you’re one of the wealthiest people on the planet you may have a hard time figuring out what to do with all of your money. Perhaps you live lavishly and eat grapes while a robot hand-picks them from the vine and feeds them to you. Or, if you’re Warren Buffet, you decide that you’re going to give 99% of your entire fortune away to charity before your life is over.
Not only is he a great philanthropist, but Buffet also lives a pretty modest life (despite being worth over $70B). He still lives in the first home he purchased back in the 1950s! It cost him less than $32,000 and seems to suit him pretty well.
HIGH-CLASS: Miley Cyrus
Our pets are family and family deserves to be as comfortable and stylish as possible. Miley Cyrus is probably one of the most thoughtful (and lavish) pet parents around. She bought her five pooches their very own Range Rover! That seems a bit over-the-top. However, now they always have a ride whenever they get tired of walking around or doing absolutely nothing all day.
This isn’t some cargo hold car for the dogs. They’re allowed to scratch it up, roll around, and just wander while they’re in their (probably) bullet-proof tank. With a cool $125K invested in it, we wouldn’t be surprised if it doubled as a submarine or something.
HUMBLE: Zooey Deschanel
Just because stars are worth a ton of cash and have enough to live off of for the next twenty lifetimes doesn’t mean they like to spend. Some people are like fiscally responsible dragons and enjoy their riches while living a frugal life. During her very public and tense divorce, Zooey Deschanel revealed just how wise and fantastical she is: she barely spent any of her fortune!
When her expenses were disclosed, she only spent around $4200 a month. That’s still a bucket of cash, but for someone worth millions that’s practically pennies! If she decides acting isn’t her full-time gig anymore, she should definitely become some sort of financial planner.
HIGH-CLASS: Rihanna
When you’re the queen of music you need to have a crown that’s just as fantastic as you are. Rihanna knows this all too well. The multi-award-winning artist, business tycoon, and all-around icon loves her hair. She loves her hair a LOT. It’s been reported that the singer spends over a million dollars on her personal hair stylist!
When you’re as talented as Rihanna, that somehow makes sense. With her constant touring, concerts, and events, you have to be ready to change your look at a moment’s notice. When you have her wealth, you can be prepared for those quick changes better than most.
HUMBLE: Jay Leno
Jay Leno is a talk show host legend and pretty talented comedian. He’s entertained millions around the world and has accumulated a lot of wealth over the decades. In fact, his net worth has been valued at around a quarter-billion ($250M) dollars! With that much money, you could pay people to do your favorite hobbies for you.
While it’s known that Leno loves his classic car collection, he says the millions he’s spent haven’t come from his savings! Since he came from more modest beginnings, Leno has learned the value of saving. He also tries to only spend the money he earns from traveling and performing stand-up.
HIGH-CLASS: Lady Gaga
Little Monsters, it’s time to rise up and help defend Lady Gaga! She’s being haunted by the ghost of some dude named Ryan. Why? We don’t know. She claims the paranormal experts she hired told her so. They also get paid to de-ghost venues and make sure places are safe from unseen beings. Maybe they don’t buy tickets so they can’t see the show? Regardless, Gaga doesn’t just trust professional ghost-hunters.
She has gone so far as to invest in an electromagnetic field reader! What does it do? Probably something with magnetic waves. Does it sound like something a legendary singer needs or even should have? Who knows. It seems pretty lavish to have money to help fight your worry against the ghostly otherworld.
HUMBLE: Sarah Michelle Gellar
Being a savvy shopper doesn’t mean just hunting for the best deal. Some people want to make sure they really need whatever it is they’re potentially purchasing. Maybe they’ll even window-shop for the same thing repeatedly just to give themselves enough time to think things through. One of the biggest stars on the planet to do this is Sarah Michelle Gellar! The Buffy star doesn’t stop there.
She also has a reluctance to write big checks! If we had millions in the bank we’d be nervous about our checkbooks, too. When you’ve accumulated as much cash as Gellar, it pays to think your large purchases through. While you gotta spend money to make it, sometimes being a quiet saver is an even better option.
HIGH-CLASS: Paris Hilton
It’s no secret that Paris Hilton lives a not-so-simple life. The business mogul, DJ, and heiress has multiple products on the market. With all the sources of income coming in, she’s able to splurge on some truly outrageous things. It’s also no secret that Hilton LOVES her pets. Each of her pooches is family and she believes in keeping family as comfortable as she is.
She’s even gone so far as to have a custom dog house mini-mansion made for them. While that doesn’t sound ridiculous it’s the amenities that are mind-boggling. Complete with air conditioning, custom dog furniture, and a crystal chandelier, this house has it all! With a little readjusting we’d be willing to pay rent to live there (the dogs can stay, too).
HUMBLE: Kristen Bell
We hope that everyone reading this is in a good place. Some stars already in one know that it doesn’t take money to make people happy. It’s coupons. Superstars Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard may have a mountain of cash, but that doesn’t stop them from being frugal. Money may not last forever, but what does are coupons (until they expire). Bell is no stranger to making sure her coupon book is always packed and ready to help her out in a pinch.
Both Bell and Shepard make sure they get the best deal possible with the help of coupons! Plus, they didn’t have the standard “total blowout blockbuster Hollywood wedding”. Instead, they opted for a toned-down and lovely ceremony at their local courthouse!
HIGH-CLASS: Justin Bieber
Baby, baby, baby, Biebs has a sick grill! Justin Bieber’s ridiculous and near-light-speed ascent to fame has been astounding to witness. Not only has the young pop star reached insane heights with his music, but his wild antics outside of the studio have been selling tabloids for years. When you’re young and worth so much (over $250+ million) you’re bound to make some dumb decisions with your money.
Well, they’re dumb to us, but to Beiber, dropping serious cash on jewelry is an everyday occurrence. Not only has he spent $5,000 on a gold and diamond grill, but he’s also tripled that with an even more expensive one! One fancy grill isn’t enough. The second one cost him over $15K and has pink sapphires dotting the entire thing! Can you even eat in those? Who cares, if it gets damaged he can just buy another!
HUMBLE: Ashley Greene
After the explosively successful Twilight franchise dropped in theaters, a ton of stars found themselves with a pretty big pile of cash. Despite all of her success, Ashley Greene says she’s not just taking every job she can to acquire more. As long as her bills are paid, Greene says she only takes roles that really have an impact on her.
Plus, to help cut down on extra costs, she’s not booking fancy private jets to get around. She’s not even flying first class! Greene has no issue booking a flight in coach or business to get from point A to B. She probably acquires a LOT of bonus miles that way.
HIGH-CLASS: Beyoncé
Long gone are the days of Destiny’s Child. Back then, Beyoncé, Kelly, and Michelle wore whatever was sewn for them. While the outfits were beautiful (most of the time) it was clear they weren’t walking red carpets in haute couture. Now that Queen Bey can buy and sell stadiums as she sees fit, her tastes and closet have expanded and become more expensive.
For a single show, she wore a pair of $100,000 leggings! Once the number was over they disappeared and she’s never been seen in them again. Even though performance clothes can get worn down quickly, we think something that costly deserves to be used more than once.
HIGH-CLASS: Kesha
Before she dropped the $ from her name (if it ever left), Kesha wasn’t afraid to live loud and bright. No matter the cost, she wanted to make sure she always sparkled for her fans and herself! While most stars have stylists and hair people, Kesha has a glitter guy! His whole job is to make sure she always has a supply of glitter to cover herself in!
Even after reigning in her look, she still will go out for manicures and other spa treatments and insist on having some glitter included. Hopefully, it’s all eco-friendly because that stuff gets EVERYWHERE. It also never seems to ever go away completely. Her poor pores…
HUMBLE: Jennifer Lawrence
Just because a star has made it big doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten where they’ve come from. It’s not just Jenny from the block who’s not afraid to admit she didn’t come from wealth. Jennifer Lawrence, everyone’s favorite tribute, is a pretty humble star. When she’s not busy making people laugh at awards shows, she’s usually seen cruising around in a very practical Chevy!
Plus, she’s not just going out and buying mansions for fun. She’s making sure her pennies stay pinched so that she can save for a rainy day! Not only is she a well-known coupon clipper, but she also loves a bargain and maintaining a not-so-lavish lifestyle.
HIGH-CLASS: Nicholas Cage
Despite being known for his meme-worthy face and performance, Nicolas Cage isn’t joking around with his over-the-top purchases. The star has been no stranger to the occasional odd purchase here and there. One of his most well-known, and expensive, acquisitions is pretty unique. Cage is one of the few people in the WORLD to own a tyrannosaurus rex skull.
No, it’s not a replica. The actor spent almost $300,000 on a T-Rex skull at an auction! Unfortunately, he had to return it for a full refund. Why? As it turns out, the skull had been stolen prior to being put up for auction! We can imagine that was a huge letdown for the actor, but those things belong in museums.
HUMBLE: Shailene Woodley
Shailene Woodley is a pretty down-to-earth actor. If her name wasn’t a giveaway, then just take it straight from the mouths of her fans and colleagues. The actor reportedly tries to be as eco-friendly and modest as possible. Without putting on a lot of airs, she’s been known to recycle jars to use them as drinking glasses.
Not only that, but she’s an avid recycler and lover of vintage clothing. When you claim loving the Earth as a religion as well as a way of life, then good vibes must follow. If Woodley is a poster child for a more earth-friendly lifestyle then we’re signing up to learn her ways.
HIGH-CLASS: Magic Johnson
Once you reach a certain level in your career you gotta start thinking about diversifying your assets. That way, you can have your money work for you. Plus, if one venture fails, the others are safe from sucking away all your cash. Magic Johnson isn’t just a wizard on the basketball court. He also has a great eye for business!
The sports legend knew exactly what he wanted to do after becoming one of the greatest basketball players in the world. He invested in over thirty Burger King franchises! This guy went from king of the court to the king of fast food! Not only that, but those franchises alone are enough for Johnson to retire and live comfortably (not counting his ridiculously large net worth thanks to his other businesses).
HUMBLE: Renee Zellweger
Some stars act like total primadonnas when they’re on set. They have fancy trailers, refuse to sit and eat with the rest of the cast and crew, and maybe even insist on splurging for ridiculously overpriced stuff just because they can. Thankfully, Renee Zellweger isn’t like that. Not only is she super humble, but whenever she’s working on a shoot she chooses to spend her downtime with everyone else!
Just because she’s the lead actor in a film doesn’t mean she’s above anyone else. She’s also been known to joke around and be extremely approachable to almost everyone who’s had the pleasure of working with her. Someone give her an award for being one of the most relatable actors in Hollywood, please.
HIGH-CLASS: Katy Perry
When you’re part of a Hollywood power couple you almost have external pressure to give each other gifts as wild and outlandish as your lifestyle affords. Katy Perry and former husband Russel Brand knew this game all too well. While they were sharing the limelight with their whirlwind romance, Perry gifted Brand something that most people can’t even begin to dream of having.
She gave him a ticket to ride on a trip to OUTER FREAKING SPACE! How do you top that gift? At this point, her gifting game is so strong that she doesn’t need to buy anyone a gift ever again! Unless of course, she wants to buy one of us a space station or something…
HUMBLE: Tyra Banks
Smizing has really paid off for top model, talk show host, and business genius Tyra Banks. When she’s not busy building her media empire to reach even loftier heights, she’s filling her time with DIY projects! Not only are they a great way to keep your hands busy and learn some new skills, but it also helps save a ton of money.
When her company moved into new offices, she opted to paint them herself to save on costs! Plus, she has a pretty great (and cheap) secret to help keep her expensive good looks fresh: don’t pay for shampoo or conditioner. Like the rest of us, Banks is no stranger to swiping a few complimentary toiletries from whatever hotel she’s staying at.
HIGH-CLASS: Celine Dion
When you have a voice that transcends generations, space, and time, you can get away with some ridiculous requests. Once Celine Dion announced her Vegas residency, the Canadian singer made sure her stage and theater were set up in a specific way. She didn’t want her voice damaged by the desert city’s dry heat and air.
She requested that a multi-million dollar humidifier be installed above the stage! Why? The soft gentle cascade of mist would protect her vocal cords! You can even see it working during her performances! Just watch her past shows and you can see a delicate shimmer descending onto the stage.
HUMBLE: Vincent Kartheiser
Mad Men took the world by storm when it premiered! It’s a great show that highlights the gradual social changes throughout the 60s, all from the perspective of wealthy ad men. Of course, one thing was certain: everyone starring in it was set for life. It was just too big of a show not to guarantee a fortune for the stars. However, that doesn’t mean they can spend spend spend!
Vincent Kartheiser knows that and actually may be one of the most frugal actors to come off that set. Instead of immediately jumping into some swanky digs, he decided to stay in his small apartment and save his cash. Plus, when he’s done wearing or using something, he doesn’t throw it away. Instead, the actor donates it to charity so other people can enjoy it!
HIGH-CLASS: Kelly Rowland
Music superstars live on a completely different planet than the rest of us. After they start making platinum albums, no price tag is too big and no gift is too outlandish to purchase. Destiny’s Child superstar Kelly Rowland may just take the award for the weirdest and most ridiculous gift ever purchased for a kid. When Beyoncé gave birth to Blue Ivy, a lot of stars bathed the family in gifts and adoration.
Rowland went one step further and bought something so unique that showed Queen Bey just how excited she was for the new arrival. The singer reportedly bought a crystal-studded bathtub for the baby that was valued at over $5,000!
HUMBLE: Sarah Jessica Parker
Carrie Bradshaw isn’t afraid to drop some serious coin on high-end fashion. We’re not sure what her finances looked like before she met Mr. Big, but some of her buys seem extremely out there. Thankfully, that’s all a show. The actor behind Bradshaw, Sarah Jessica Parker, isn’t a copy of her Sex and the City character.
When Parker became a mom, she said she didn’t want her kiddos to grow up with a sense of entitlement due to their mom’s success. Instead, she wanted them to appreciate what they have. So instead of brand-new clothing, she opted for hand-me-downs from family and vintage finds! We’re sure her kids will grow up to be as humble as she is.
HUMBLE: Mark Zuckerberg
It’s time to talk about Mark Zuckerberg. The founder of Meta, formerly Facebook, is one of the wealthiest people on the planet. He’s also one of the most influential (what with the whole changing humanity thing). Despite his power, money, and ability to (probably) download himself into a digital form, Zuck lives pretty simply.
He normally dons the same t-shirt and jeans every day. Plus, his super fancy wedding was actually a simple and private ceremony in his own backyard. During his honeymoon, he wasn’t whisking his partner around to fancy restaurants. Once they landed in Rome they went straight to McDonald’s to wolf down some cheap and filling grub.
HIGH-CLASS: Victoria Beckham
Posh Spice has lived up to her name since she first stormed the stage. Even after she gave up the moniker, she continued to live it up as poshly as she could. When the iPhone became big, Victoria Beckham wanted a custom one that would help her stand out. With the help of designer David Hughes, Beckham bought a one-of-a-kind solid gold-plated iPhone!
The device set her back well over $30,000! Plus, without it being upgradable, she’s holding on to the most expensive, but not-newest, device around. If it eventually gives out then it’ll become the world’s most expensive coaster. But isn’t that even more of a flex?
HIGH-CLASS: Leonardo DeCaprio
We’ll never let go of our fascination with the eternally dreamy and ridiculously talented Leonardo DiCaprio. Not only is he an incredible actor (who deserves way more Oscars than he has) but he’s also pretty frugal. Despite his massive wealth, DiCaprio doesn’t have a huge vehicle collection like other celebs. He likes to get around his private island with just a standard Toyota Prius!
We guess that contradicts the modest car aspect… We reckon he’s not much of a boat person, but not even a plane? Good for him, we guess. He must have his own gas station there as well.
HIGH-CLASS: Donald Trump
Donald Trump isn’t known for having the classiest taste. The reality star turned politician is just as gaudy as he was made out to be on television. Since his taste seems to be” gold and tons of it” there’s a very specific color palette that all of his acquisitions must adhere to. After purchasing yet another massive plane, Trump was worried it wouldn’t make him look rich enough. We’re not sure where that idea came from, but them’s the facts.
After buying the plane, to ensure that even the wealthiest of the wealthy knew how much cash he had, the Donald gave the aircraft a complete renovation. What did he change? He installed gold-plated fixtures, paneling, and just about anything else he could find that would shine! How many people got to see it? Probably not many.