Business of booze: Celebs who launched alcohol brands

The actor became an owner and creative director of Aviation Gin in February 2018. Now it has been bought by beverage company Diageo (the same company that bought George Clooney's tequila brand) for an upfront payment of US$355 million and a possible $275 million more based on performance, making for a potential total of $610 million.

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George Clooney - The actor had his own tequila brand, Casamigos, which he created with Rande Gerber (left), former model and husband of Cindy Crawford (center), as well as property developer Mike Meldman.

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George Clooney - The billion-dollar sale of their tequila brand was actually the reason Clooney became the richest actor of 2018!

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Adam Levine and Sammy Hagar - The former Van Halen vocalist teamed up with the Maroon 5 front man to launch Santo Mezquila, a mix of tequila and mezcal.

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Matthew McConaughey - The actor has served as the Creative Director of the Wild Turkey bourbon brand since 2016 (after investing a cool US$4 million), and in 2018 he unveiled his first creation: Wild Turkey Longbranch, a bourbon filtered with Texas mesquite and oak charcoals.

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David Beckham - The former soccer star helped launch Haig Club whisky in 2014, giving the single grain scotch whisky a stylish and luxurious air.

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Drew Barrymore - The actress partnered with Carmel Road winemaker Kris Kato to create an offering of Barrymore Wines.

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Justin Timberlake - In 2009, Timberlake launched his own tequila, and five years later he re-launched it with established tequila brand Sauza, calling it Sauza 901 (named after his hometown postal code of Memphis, Tennessee).

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Blake Shelton - The country singer helped develop Smithworks Vodka, which is made with corn from Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma (his home state), and water from Lake Fort Smith.

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Jay-Z - Jay-Z's origin in the liquor industry stems from the Cristal Champagne director's racist remark when asked about the brand's popularity with rappers. Jay-Z immediately removed Cristal from his luxury sports bar, encouraged a boycott, then became the proud owner of his own rival premium champagne, Armand de Brignac.

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Sammy Haggar - Along with his tequila with Adam Levine, the singer also owns Sammy's Beach Bar Rum.

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Francis Ford Coppola - The famed director bought a Napa Valley winery in 1975 and created his first vintage two years later. The Francis Ford Coppola Winery also launched a Gia By Gia Coppola line.

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Bethenny Frankel - The 'Real Housewives' star is also behind the Skinnygirl franchise, which spans wines, vodkas, margaritas, and sangria.

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Baz Luhrmann - The Hollywood director launched Absolute Vodka's first-ever limited-edition brand, Absolut Oz Vodka, back in 2014.

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P. Diddy - Sean "Diddy" Combs, also jokingly referred to as "Ciroc Obama," was the reason Ciroc vodka became number two in the premium vodka category. In 2014, he announced a new brand, DeLeon tequila, of which he owns 50%.

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George Strait -

The country musician owns a part of the tequila brand Código 1530.

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Danny DeVito - The idea for Danny DeVito's Premium Limoncello reportedly came after DeVito got drunk with George Clooney and pulled an all-nighter, then proceeded to appear on 'The View' and bashed George W. Bush while the hosts laughed.

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Channing Tatum - In 2017, Tatum partnered with Grand Teton Distillery to create Born and Bred Vodka. "Now, I'm a stripper that became an actor that I guess is working in vodka," Tatum told Bon Appetit, "Nothing surprises me anymore."

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Drake - Drake collaborated with Deleón tequila creator Brent Hocking to create Virginia Black whiskey.

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AC/DC - The Australian band launched Thunder Struck Tequila in 2016, which comes in silver, reposado, and añejo.

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AC/DC - They also released an AC/DC-themed beer in Europe back in 2013.

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AC/DC - Even before that, they released a wine in 2011. Guess we all know what makes the AC/DC boys tick!

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Marilyn Manson - Manson owns the punny absinthe brand Mansinthe, for which the label artwork is a self-portrait watercolor painting done by Manson titled 'When I Get Old.'

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Olivia Newton-John - The Australian 'Grease' star founded a winery in 1983 called Koala Blue Wines. She later signed a massive US$36 million distribution deal in America.

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Bob Dylan - The Nobel Prize-winning artist launched a range of whiskies in collaboration with liquor entrepreneur Marc Bushala, called Heaven's Door. The range includes a rye, a seven-year-old bourbon, and a double-barreled whiskey.

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Dan Aykroyd - The Canadian comedian, musician, and filmmaker worked with American painter John Alexander to create Crystal Head Vodka, famously sold in glass skulls.

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Dan Aykroyd - In association with Lakeview Wine Company, Dan Aykroyd Wines show off the actor's affinity for a good vintage. The vineyard is in Niagara-on-the-Lake in southern Ontario.

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Usain Bolt - Bolt is the CEO (Chief Entertainment Officer) of Maison Mumm, who makes the champagne G.H. Mumm, which is reportedly the only champagne that can be drunk in space!

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Fergie - Fergie became a partner and part-owner of Voli Vodka after Pitbull told her about his own investment. The company's light vodkas have between 25% and 40% less calories than normal vodkas.

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Robert De Niro -

The legendary actor helped launch the brand Vdka 6100 in partnership with an Australian spirits company called the Artisan Spirits Merchants (ASM).

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Jon Bon Jovi - In February 2018, the singer announced the debut of his rosé brand, inspired by summers spent on the East End and dubbed Diving Into Hampton Water.

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Dave Matthews - The front man of the Dave Matthews Band launched his own line of wines, Dreaming Tree, in 2011. Made in collaboration with Sonoma County winemaker Sean McKenzie, it is named after one of the band's songs.

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Wayne Gretzky - While he doesn't play much hockey anymore, The Great One does have his own winery and distillery. Every bottle created at the Niagara-on-the-Lake estate is branded No. 99, his jersey number.

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Kyle MacLachlan - Actor and grape-lover Kyle MacLachlan created a range of wines called Pursued by Bear in collaboration with Dunham Cellars in the state of Washington.

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Dennis Rodman - The former NBA star launched Dennis Rodman Original Bad A** Premium Vodka.

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Sam Roberts - The Sam Roberts Session Ale, made with Spearhead brewery, won the Best Collaboration Beer at the 2014 Session Craft Beer Festival. According to the experts, the beer has “distinct notes of caramel, subtle undertones of biscuit and a dry, zesty finish that is deliciously refreshing.”

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City and Colour - In collaboration with Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery, Dallas Green created the Imperial Maple Wheat Ale, also known as one of the most Canadian beers ever.

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Mike Weir -

Canada's most famous golfer has his own line of wines. The Mike Weir Wines Estate vineyard is found in the Niagara region of southern Ontario.

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Business of booze: Celebs who launched alcohol brands

LeBron James has just invested in a new tequila company

23/11/20 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Alcohol

Hollywood stars are extremely fun to watch because of the myriad of ways they spend their millions, from lavish lifestyles and opulent mansions to financial scandals and clever investments. A select few celebrities have been investing in alcohol brands, a trend which will likely surge in popularity after the whopping success of stars like George Clooney and Ryan Reynolds.

NBA star LeBron James has just decided to get in on the action with new tequila company Lobos 1707. He reportedly fell in love with their product while on vacation in Italy, and felt a connection to tequila with the property he'd previously bought in Cabo. Ah, to be rich.

Check out the gallery to see which stars are making even more money behind the bar.