20 failed celebrity business ideas

Andreas Rentz // Getty Images From Jessica Alba’s compostable baby wipes to Mark Wahlberg’s contribution to the casual burger scene, celebrities have successfully brought us some of the most seemingly unrelated goods and services. For every celebrity venture that proves the influence of star power, however, there are several more celebrity business ideas that just stop shining. Brands often use celebrity spokespersons or funds to gain traction while marketing their business. Not all celebrity endeavors are a success, however, and many have missed the mark with misguided attempts in their business pursuits. These businesses fail for various reasons, including legal proceedings, shady financial dealings, and marketing practices disconnected from the public’s wants and needs. A successful business often depends on the necessity it fills for consumers, and these celebrity businesses may have missed their mark. Stacker scoured resources and publications covering celebrity stories and their various enterprises, including Business Insider, Vogue, and Eater. The 20 businesses on this list all failed within three years, with some never even making it to opening day. The celebrity names associated with these businesses may surprise readers, as many have never publicly commented on their unsuccessful entrepreneurial ventures. Some have since gone on to launch multimillion-dollar businesses, exhibiting their professional knowledge and prowess despite stumbling in past enterprises. Keep reading to see which celebrity business ideas didn’t last very long. You may also like: Celebrities you might not know are LGTBQ+ Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson, and Claudia Schiffer: Fashion Cafe Allan Tannenbaum // Getty Images Brothers and co-owners Tommaso and Francesco Buti premiered the ill-fated Fashion Cafe in New York City in late 1994, with supermodels Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson, and Claudia Schiffer joining the debut as brand advisors and the faces of the restaurant. The beautiful women and celebrity following weren’t enough to distract from the brothers’ shady business dealings, with their model spokespersons severing ties with the restaurant before it was shut down in 1998 due to various nefarious financial withholdings. Blake Lively: Preserve Jamie McCarthy // Getty Images Blake Lively’s lifestyle website Preserve tapped out of the e-commerce market after just over a year. In a 2015 interview with Vogue, the actress said the site was “not making a difference in people’s lives, whether superficially or in a meaningful way.” The site offered Lively’s aesthetics and lifestyle through clothing, food, and knick-knacks. The business never quite found its niche, and the meaning of the site felt lost from the get-go after a confusing editorial letter from Lively upon its debut. Jay-Z: J Hotels Lawrence Lucier // Getty Images In 2002, pop star Britney Spears teamed up with restaurateur Bobby Ochs to open their New York Cajun restaurant Nyla, with the name deriving from the acronyms for New York and Spear’s hometown of Louisiana. The restaurant faced a host of troubles upon opening and faced possible bankruptcy before its closure the same year. Spears eventually severed ties and departed from the business before it closed its doors. Nicky Hilton: Nicky O Hotels Gustavo Caballero // Getty Images Although Nicky Hilton carries the infamous Hilton name, her foray into the luxury hotel business in 2006 never quite got off the ground. The proposed Nicky O Hotels promised a luxury guest and residential experience; however, the project never came to fruition due to Robert Falor Investments pulling its backing amid continued delayed construction. The development group subsequently sued Hilton in early 2007, claiming she and her manager, Paul Fisher, had funded frivolous personal expenses like parties and luxury cars with company funds. You may also like: 25 celebrities whose stars were defaced on Hollywood’s ‘Walk of Fame’