Celebrities sure lead great lives because their careers (which can lead to a huge net worth) allow them to live in extreme luxury. Despite this, many famous people actually still live simple lives. Yes, they have access to the best in life but it seems like staying in touch with their lifestyle before fame is what they prefer.
From wearing simple outfits to doing errands any regular person will do, we’re certain that a lot of you will be shocked to find out that these stars are living modest lifestyles. Let’s take a look at some celebs who are very smart and practical in handling their fortune.
Lady Gaga – $300 Million
Lady Gaga continues to be a well-known celebrity, especially because of her success in both her music and acting career. When she’s not working, she knows how to enjoy simple and quiet living, despite her seemingly extravagant and outlandish style.
Aside from dressing down, she has also shared in the past that she knows how to bargain when she is shopping and she likes using coupons when she does her groceries. It’s safe to say that Gaga is just like many of us! She is quite busy these days as she’s working on her new album and she has a residency show titled, Enigma.
Halle Berry – $80 Million
Halle Berry has a huge fortune in the bank, thanks to the success she has had in her acting career over the years. She can easily hire someone to do her groceries for her but as you can see above, she loves doing it herself even if she is a public figure.
She doesn’t do her groceries alone because her daughter usually accompanies her. Berry has remained in-demand until today and is consistently booking new projects. She is currently set to star in two new movies called Bruised and Jagged Edge.
Matthew McConaughey – $95 Million
Like many famous people, actor Matthew McConaughey can invest in any kind of prime real estate his heart desires. What may shock you is that he actually has an Airstream trailer and this is where he sometimes stays when he is in Malibu.
The trailer is parked near the beach so he can easily go for a surf whenever he wants to. Sources say that he has invested in getting more Airstream trailers and having them customized. In 2019, McConaughey starred in a film called The Beach Bum. He will be appearing in a new movie titled The Gentleman in 2020.
Sarah Jessica Parker – $100 Million
Most of you know Sarah Jessica Parker for being one of the main stars of S** and the City. In the show, she was often seen wearing very expensive clothes which every girl could only dream of wearing. Things are different for her in real life because she sports simple and laid-back outfits.
As you can see above, she is okay with stepping out in public with just a sweater, jeans, and a bare face. She also makes sure that her kids go through a modest upbringing. Parker still appears on TV these days and she has been starring in the series Divorce since 2016.
Keanu Reeves – $350 Million
As of 2019, actor Keanu Reeves possesses a net worth estimated at $350 million but he is actually a celebrity who is popular for his simple lifestyle. There have been many photos posted online where he’s seen riding public transport. He was also spotted wearing inexpensive outfits that he apparently got on sale.
Keanu is known to donate a huge portion of his pay from acting jobs to charitable causes and it just shows you how big of a heart he has. It will still be a long time before Reeves retires and he reportedly has six upcoming projects.
Renee Zellweger – $60 Million
Renée Zellweger is well recognized for her performances on Chicago, Nurse Betty, and the Bridget Jones Diaries movies. She is well aware of how it feels like to not have much money so she has been wise with her spending.
She sets a certain budget for herself and she also loves making use of coupons. She is also into recycling and saving electricity in any way possible. Zellweger hasn’t done a TV show in a long time. However, she’s made a comeback in 2019 after starring as Anne Montgomery in a new show called What/If.
Julia Roberts – $200 Million
Julia Roberts is an award-winning actress who you must have watched in movies like Erin Brockovich and Pretty Woman. As you can see above, she prefers comfy outfits rather than designer clothing. Sources also say that some of her kids’ outfits were knitted by her.
She also loves taking her dog out for a walk without fixing herself that much. Roberts is so low-profile that some of you might not have guessed that she is worth $200 million as of 2019. Her latest role was on Homecoming and she already started working on a new film called Little Bee.
Ingvar Kamprad – $42.5 Billion
If you are someone who loves buying furniture, then you most probably know about IKEA. Ingvar Kamprad was the businessman who was the founder of the famous multinational retail company. Despite having a $42.5-billion fortune, he never stopped living a simple lifestyle.
From secondhand clothing to economy flights, it seemed that he was living the life of an average joe. He also preferred to drive a 1993 Volvo over a lavish automobile. Reports said that his lifestyle had earned him the nickname, Mr. Scrooge. Kamprad passed away in 2018 due to pneumonia.
Dave Grohl & Jordyn Blum – $280 Million
Singer David Grohl rose to fame in the music scene back in the ’90s, thanks to the success he had with first Nirvana and then his own band, Foo Fighters. To this day, his big fortune is still intact and this is probably because of how much he values his savings.
He doesn’t spend on unnecessary things and his property in Encino, California is an example of that. He has settled for a plain and simple house instead of buying a huge mansion with amenities he wouldn’t be using daily. He will probably still be wealthy long after he retires. Grohl’s most recent album with his band was 2017’s Concrete and Gold.
Sarah Michelle Gellar – $20 Million
Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar is best known for the roles she had on Cruel Intentions, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I Know What You Did Last Summer. She is yet another celebrity who has a frugal lifestyle and she is not ashamed of it.
She loves heading to a department store when it’s a rewards day and she takes advantage of her dry cleaning coupons. When she goes to the grocery, she makes sure she brings her own reusable shopping bags. Gellar still acts these days and she has an upcoming mini-series titled, Sometimes I Lie.
Lauren Conrad & William Tell – $25 Million
Lauren Conrad used to be one of the most popular reality stars in America because of her show called The Hills. These days, she is a successful fashion designer who gets to enjoy having a lavish lifestyle. The modest condo above was the place that she used to rent for around $15K monthly.
It was said that Conrad had spent some time living there with her husband, William Tell. Of course, the couple is already living in a more spacious home now that they have a growing family. And speaking of growing, Conrad and Tell announced in 2019 that their second child together was already on its way.
Mariska Hargitay & Peter Hermann – $60 Million
Actress Mariska Hargitay is popularly known for being one of the stars of the long-running show, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She has been married to actor Peter Hermann since 2004 and they have a joint net worth estimated at $60 million.
Despite being wealthy, they have revealed that they prioritize growing their savings for the future. It seems like they also want to teach their kids how to be wise and smart with their finances. Hargitay still stars in Law & Order: Special Victims as of today while Hermann appears on Younger.
Vincent Kartheiser & Alexis Bledel – $18 Million
Most of you recognize Alexis Bledel for starring in Gilmore Girls while her husband, Vincent Kartheiser, is known for his role on Mad Men. Despite having millions in their joint bank account, the couple seemed not to have minded living in a small home together.
Photographed above is their former small apartment. Kartheiser reportedly just paid $547K for the one-bedroom home but he later had a ton of renovations done to it. In 2014, they listed it for $808K. Bledel’s most recent role was on The Handmaid’s Tale while her husband last starred in Proven Innocent.
Meredith Vieira & Richard Cohen – $40 Million
Meredith Vieira is best known for the years she hosted The View and The Today. She is happily married to Richard M. Cohen who was once CNN and CBS News’ senior producer. While they can easily afford a cool mansion, it seems like settling for a $1.1-million house is totally fine with them.
Their affordable home can be found in Hollywood Hills and it has three bedrooms. Not spending that much on one estate allows them to invest in more homes in other parts of the country. In 2019, Vieira was a guest 4th Hour co-host on Today.
Kourtney Kardashian – $45 Million
Kourtney Kardashian became a famous TV personality ever since she and her family began doing Keeping Up with the Kardashians. We know some of you are aware that their whole family enjoys having an opulent lifestyle but one side of Kourtney that you can consider modest is her love for coupons.
In the past, she even kept a ton of her coupons arranged in a binder. We doubt she needs any of these because she can easily buy anything she wants with her $45-million fortune. In 2019, Kourtney released her own website called Poosh.
Mark Zuckerberg – $50 Billion
Mark Zuckerberg is the Facebook co-founder who is one of the wealthiest people in the world. According to the latest reports, his net worth is said to be at a whopping $50 billion. But even if he is a billionaire, he definitely doesn’t look like one because of the super simple outfits he wears daily.
He ditches all the suits for a simple T-shirt or hoodie. You will also catch him in sandals most of the time. When he and wife Priscilla said their I Dos, their big day wasn’t extravagant at all and they just had a simple ceremony in their backyard.
Leonardo DiCaprio – $260 Million
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio probably won your hearts ever since you saw him act in movies like Titanic, The Wolf of Wall Street, and The Aviator. Yes, his affluence has allowed him to buy his own island but he is still quite frugal in some ways.
One example is the fact that he would rather go on a commercial flight than fly a chartered aircraft. He also keeps a low profile by driving an affordable Toyota Prius. We’re guessing that he has more important things to spend his fortune on. DiCaprio is set to star in a new TV show called The Devil in the White City.
Warren Buffett – $89.9 Billion
Warren Buffett’s enormous $89.9-billion fortune comes from the success he’s had as the big boss of Berkshire Hathaway. The photo above shows his simple home in Omaha, Nebraska which he purchased for $31.5K back in the late ’50s. He never saw the need to move to a new property because he was happy living in this home.
He also doesn’t drive high-end vehicles because modest ones are already fine with him. It is also said that he enjoys meals from McDonald’s. As of 2019, Buffett is said to be in the third place when it comes to the wealthiest people across the globe.
Keira Knightley – $60 Million
Beautiful actress Keira Knightley is best known for her performances on Pride & Prejudice and the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. She has already shared in the past that she isn’t fond of spending money on herself and she enjoys living an uncomplicated life.
When she and husband James Righton got married back in 2013, she didn’t even have a gown made for she just recycled an old designer outfit she had. She actually opts for very simple outfits, like the one above, when she is out in public. Knightley is currently set to star in a new film called Misbehaviour.
Kristen Bell & Dax Shepard – $32 Million
Another celebrity pairing who chose to have a very simple wedding was Kristen Bell and Dax Shepherd. Sources said that their big day at the courthouse back in 2013 was only worth $147. What they wore on that day were also nothing special and it seemed like their love for each other was the only thing that mattered. How romantic!
Bell isn’t new to donning simple outfits. It was reported that, in the past, she wore an outfit to an event that she got from Target. Bell currently appears on Veronica Mars while Shepard’s latest acting stint is on the TV sitcom, Bless This Mess.
Tobey Maguire – $75 Million
Tobey Maguire became a very popular actor in Hollywood ever since he starred in the Spider-Man movies. He had a difficult upbringing and this led him to practice proper wealth management. He doesn’t do unnecessary spending and he often just makes use of simple things.
He is 44 years old and how he manages his fortune will definitely allow him to remain wealthy until he grows old. Maguire hasn’t done any new projects since The Boss Baby in 2017. But he did appear in an episode of The CBeebies House Show in 2019.
Hilary Swank – $40 Million
Hilary Swank spends her earnings wisely. This might be attributed to her childhood where her surroundings and lifestyle were far from being luxurious. Acting has turned her life around but it’s nice to see how she has remained simple and humble after all these years.
As you can see above, she often wears modest outfits. She is also a smart shopper who reportedly uses coupons. Swank is worth around $40 million as of today but you can expect this to get higher since she continues to book a lot of projects. She currently has an upcoming show called Away.
Nicole Scherzinger – $12 Million
Nicole Scherzinger’s time as part of The Pussycat Dolls was what made her famous but she also established herself as a solo artist and TV personality. Some of you might not have known this, but she still uses coupons for her groceries even with her fame.
She was never privileged growing up so she learned how to be smart when spending for her needs. Her humble beginnings have made her appreciative of and thankful for what she has now. As of 2019, you can catch Scherzinger as a judge on shows like Australia’s Got Talent and The Masked Singer.
Kate Middleton – $10 Million
Kate Middleton became the Duchess of Cambridge after she married the second in line to the British throne – Prince William, in 2011. What might come as a shock to many of you is that she actually likes doing her own groceries. Being a Royal, you’d expect that she doesn’t do any kind of chores.
Sources also have mentioned that she and William do the cooking at home from time to time. Middleton has always been a humble woman and this is why many people love her. As of today, her personal net worth is estimated to be around $10 million.
George R.R. Martin – $80 Million
George R.R. Martin is the talented author who is basically the brains behind The Songs of Ice and Fire novels on which the series the Game of Thrones was based. His fortune is already at $80 million these days but it seems like he still prefers to live in a very simple house.
He also isn’t a fan of modern technology because he uses an old DOS computer to type his novels! Martin’s most recent release was Fire & Blood and it was confirmed that he would be releasing two new novels titled The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring.
Bill Gates – $100 Billion
Another guy with billions in the bank who still does normal things is Microsoft founder Bill Gates. He loves takeout food, reads books, and watch DVDs. In one interview he had in the past, he mentioned how he did his own dishes at home.
There was also a time when he was spotted wearing a watch worth only $10! It’s safe to say that Gates gives a whole new meaning to the “billionaire lifestyle.” As of today, his total fortune is estimated to be at $100 billion and is so far the second richest man in the world, according to Forbes.
Jay Leno – $400 Million
Jay Leno is a popular TV host who most of you watched on talk shows like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Jay Leno Show. When it comes to his fortune, he makes sure his earnings from comedy shows are what he uses for spending.
The rest of what he earns from other projects all goes to his savings. This is probably why he’s been able to maintain his $400-million fortune all these years. Of course, his only extravagance must be his vehicle collection! Leno is currently set to appear in a new documentary called One Nighters.
Zooey Deschanel – $25 Million
A lot of you have surely watched actress Zooey Deschanel on the show, New Girl. The paychecks she receives in her acting career are quite big but she actually makes sure that she gets to save a lot of it. She does her own groceries, as you can see above, and she goes to thrift shops.
She also doesn’t mind wearing a simple outfit and having no makeup at all when she’s doing errands. New Girl ended in 2018 and Deschanel has no upcoming projects yet. Although, she did guest on WGN Morning News in 2019.
Jennifer Lawrence – $130 Million
Jennifer Lawrence might already be a big star in Hollywood but she is still the same coupon-using girl that she was back then. Aside from her car being a Volkswagen, she is also known for having a lot of very simple pieces in her closet.
Lawrence’s big break in Hollywood came when she was cast as the lead in The Hunger Games movies. These days, she is pretty in-demand and she is set to star in two new movies. She is also happily engaged to her boyfriend, art gallery director, Cooke Maroney.
Eric Clapton – $300 Million
Eric Clapton is a well-established and prominent singer/guitarist who has had an amazing solo career. But he also became popular for being a part of bands like Cream and The Yardbirds. He might be worth $300 million but he chooses to wear simple clothes. He also doesn’t like throwing luxurious parties.
Clapton is already in his mid-70s but it seems like retiring is not in his plans yet. In 2018, he was able to release a new album called Happy Xmas. This was actually the first Christmas album he had ever made in his career.
Ashley Greene – $8 Million
Most of you know actress Ashley Green for starring in the Twilight movie franchise as Alice Cullen. In one interview in the past, she shared that her family had really taught her how to be wise with her spending. She flies economy instead of first-class because to her, the extra cost is not worth it.
She prioritizes building her savings account so that she doesn’t need to constantly be doing new acting projects just to make ends meet. In 2019, Greene will be starring in the Untitled Roger Ailes Project. She is also set to start filming for a new movie called Snowblind.
Robert Pattinson – $100 Million
Another star from the Twilight franchise that makes it to this list is actor Robert Pattinson. He is very different from other heartthrobs in Hollywood because he doesn’t really need to be seen driving a luxury car all the time. In fact, he prefers affordable rides from Craigslist.
As you can see above, what he drives isn’t the typical choice of someone who is very famous in Hollywood. Pattinson has been making a lot of headlines in recent times after he was named as the next face of Batman on the big screen. Unfortunately, he decided to drop out of the project because of his schedule.
Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis – $265 Million
All of us first saw Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher together when they starred in That ’70s Show back in the late ’90s but they only ended up dating in 2012. Today, they are married and have been enjoying a frugal lifestyle together.
When they got married back in 2015, the wedding rings they used were just purchased for $190 on Etsy. They have also made sure to pass on their frugal habits to their kids so that they don’t grow up spoiled. Kunis has two upcoming projects while Kutcher has one movie in the pipeline.