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Association footballer David Beckham has won titles with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy and Paris Saint-Germain and holds the all-time appearance record for an outfield player in the English national team.
American socialite Paris Hilton is a celebrity who is believed to typify the modern "famous for being famous" paradigm.


Various careers within the fields of sports and entertainment are commonly associated with celebrity status. These fields have produced prominent figures within these two industries.[1][2]

While people may gain celebrity status as a result of a successful career in a particular field (primarily in the areas pertaining towards sports and entertainment), in other cases, people become celebrities due to media attention for their extravagant lifestyle or wealth (as in the case of a socialite); for their connection to a famous person (as in the case of a relative of a famous person); or even for their misdeeds (as in the case of a well-known criminal). Celebrities may be known around the world (e.g., pop stars and film actors), within a specific country (e.g., a top Australian rugby player); or within a region (e.g., a local television news anchor).

Regional and cultural implications[edit]







Fictional implications[edit]

The same phenomenon is true for fictional characters. When most people think of a superhero or a comic book celebrity, Superman, Spider-Man, and Batman will usually be the first that comes to mind. If one has to name a famous wizard, the names would typically be Merlin, Gandalf or Harry Potter. Mickey Mouse is perhaps the most famous cartoon character and fictional mouse in the world. The most famous movie monsters are King Kong and Godzilla, the archetypical detective is Sherlock Holmes and most people's idea of a spy is James Bond.[3]

Becoming a celebrity[edit]







David Letterman, late night talk show host and comedian.



Careers that offer celebrity status[edit]


Since careers in the sports and entertainment industry are highly paid, well exposed yet the extreme difficultly to attain them and the stamina to excel are likely to confer celebrity status in themselves.

Some professional activities in fields such as ones that are commonly associated with celebrity prestige are careers within the sports and entertainment sphere. Having a successful career such as being a professional athlete or an entertainment industry based professionals are careers that many average people can identify with but can only dream about pursuing. Only a very small percentage or a tiny fraction of people can ever make a name for themselves as celebrities in the cultural and entertainment spheres (including music, film, television, radio, theater, modelling, literature etc.) or within the realm of sports.

Quite evidently, careers within the sports and entertainment sphere such as being an elite professional athlete on a sports team, or an entertainment figure such as a musician that dominates the music charts frequently, an A-list movie actor with a lead role in a big budget blockbuster film, or a television actor with lead roles on prime-time shows have a strong likelihood to become celebrities. Informal references by the general public and media have used to refer to celebrities as: The stars, sports stars, rock stars, rap stars, supermodels, movie stars, TV stars, radio stars, music stars, superstars, stardom, and media personalities.

  • Business leaders which include successful entrepreneurs, financially successful investors, and top level CEOs of major corporations that regularly dominate the global business scene, top the daily business headlines and coverage of financial markets have a strong likelihood to become celebrities. High-ranking politicians and top level government officials that dominate global political scene and foreign affairs, headline major current events, play a pivotal role in domestic and international politics have a tremendous impact in day-to-day media have a strong likelihood to become celebrities.[15]
Albert Einstein, typifies the 20th-century symbol of scientific genius.
  • Prominent socialites, elite aristocrats and royal families, top level professional athletes, chart-topping musicians and pop singers, television and film actors with lead roles on prominently scheduled television shows and hit box office movies, internationally recognized supermodels and models are almost invariably celebrities.
  • Individuals (commonly referred as gurus and infotainers) that pass out advice as these specialists play an important role in society, disseminating expert knowledge to those without time or inclination to become the same. Gurus in all areas of life, from fitness to real estate and personal finance hand out advice and offer predictions and advice of authorities have a strong likelihood to become a celebrity. Various examples include personal finance authors and writers such as Robert Kiyosaki, Suze Orman, Jean Chatzky, and Jim Cramer as well as fitness personalities such as Richard Simmons, Jane Fonda, Suzanne Somers, and Tamilee Webb.[16][17][18] At times a person like Birbal Jha who has created a revolution in the field of English Skills training and writing gets a celebrity status across the world.[19]

Behind the scenes[edit]

Actors, musicians, models, directors, producers, comedians, television hosts and other entertainment-industry professionals are some of the highest-earning in America given that the entertainment industry based professional achieves a certain degree of success as a prerequisite. Talent agents, sports agents, publicists, and talent managers of such people get 10 percent of the gross income their successful clients make and these jobs are among the highest paying jobs in the sports and entertainment industries.[20][21] Though it is a potentially a very lucrative field, depending on whom the agent or talent manager signs on as a client, they are less likely to become celebrities.[22][23]

While it’s true that the top television and film actors have become movie and television stars, musicians and pop singers that become pop stars, or athletes that become sports stars often become celebrities, the other professionals that play a more peripheral role in the entertainment sphere, such as television, music, and film directors and producers, screenwriters, playwrights, and animators are less likely to attain celebrity status (albeit there are some exceptions, such as directors Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino and animator Walt Disney). Entertainment based occupations that are not as well known in the general public or are simply antiquated (e.g. magicians, photographers, and some visual artists such as painters and potters) relative to the present day mass media industry are less likely to become celebrities (though there are exceptions such as illusionists David Copperfield and Criss Angel, or photographer David LaChapelle).

In other sub-fields within the entertainment industry, there is a similar situation. For instance, in the music industry, the top-selling pop singers have a strong potential to become celebrities, but the behind-the-scenes professionals tend to remain little known to the general public (e.g. dancers, disc jockeys, record producers, and composers); though in recent years, Club DJs such as David Guetta, Skrillex and Deadmau5 or composer David Foster have achieved worldwide fame for their respective work in the music industry. High-end fashion and jewelry designers are likely to become celebrities but will not garner the same and equal importance in the entertainment sphere compared to a successful film or television actor or a widely known musician.

A similar phenomenon is also true within the field of professional sports as professional athletes who are directly involved directly with the competition, the physical aspects of scoring and defending, as well as being widely spectated by fans are more than likely to become celebrities. However, other professionals that play a more peripheral role in the field of professional sports (e.g. coaches, general managers, referees, commentators and announcers, sports team owners and executives, sports commissioners) who are more active in the internal aspects of field tend to remain in obscurity and are less likely to achieve celebrity status.[24]

Outside of the sports and entertainment sphere, the top inventors, entrepreneurs and businesspeople, professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and scientists, etc. are unlikely to become celebrities even if they are enormously successful in their field due to the general public and society's disinterest in science and technology, invention, entrepreneurship, business and courtroom law which is not fictional. Maurice Hilleman, an American microbiologist and medical scientist, is credited with saving more lives than any other medical scientist of the 20th century.[25] After Hilleman's death Ralph Nader wrote, "Yet almost no one knew about him, saw him on television, or read about him in newspapers or magazines. His anonymity, in comparison with Madonna, Michael Jackson, Jose Canseco, or an assortment of grade B actors, tells something about our society's and media's concepts of celebrity; much less of the heroic."[26]

Celebrity wealth[edit]

Forbes Celebrity 100[edit]


For instance, Forbes ranked media mogul and talk show host, Oprah Winfrey as the top earner "Forbes magazine’s annual ranking of the most powerful celebrities", with earnings of $290 million in the past year. Forbes cites that Lady Gaga reportedly earned over $90 million in 2010.[27] In 2010, golfer Tiger Woods was one of highest-earning celebrity athletes, with an income of $75 million and is consistently ranked one of the highest paid athletes in the world.[27] In 2013,the queen of pop and the biggest pop icon in the world,Madonna was ranked as the fifth most powerful and the highest earning celebrity of the year with earnings of $125 million.She has consistently been among the most powerful and highest earning celebrities in the world occupying the third place in forbes celebrity 100 2009 with $110 million of earnings and getting the tenth place in the 2010 edition of the list with annual earnings equal to $58 million.[28]

Entrepreneurship and endorsements[edit]

Beyoncé is well known for her House of Deréon clothing line.[29]

Celebrity endorsements have proven very successful around the world where, due to increasing consumerism, an individual is considered a status symbol when they purchase a celebrity-endorsed product. On August 1, 2007 laws were passed[where?] banning health care professionals and public figures such as movie stars or pop singers from appearing in advertisements for drugs or nutritional supplements.

Though become the commonplace for celebrities to place their name with endorsements onto products just for quick money. However, some celebrities have gone beyond merely using their good names and have decided to put their entrepreneurial spirit to work by becoming entrepreneurs. Along with investing their salaried wages into growing business endeavors, a number of celebrities have become innovative leaders in their respective industries, gaining the admiration of their peers and contributing to the country’s economy. Numerous celebrities have become budding business moguls and established themselves as entrepreneurs, idolizing many well known business leaders such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Donald Trump. For instance, basketball legend, Michael Jordan became an active entrepreneur involved with many sports related ventures including investing a minority stake in the Charlotte Bobcats, Paul Newman started his own salad dressing business after leaving behind a distinguished acting career, or rap musician, Birdman started his own record label, clothing line, and an oil business. Other celebrities such as Tyler Perry, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg have become successful entrepreneurs through starting their own film production companies and running their own movie studios.[32]


Celebrity Net worth (2013) US$ Sources of wealth
Oprah Winfrey IncreaseUS$2.9 billion[33] Main sources are television, radio, and film. Additional business holdings in Harpo Productions and the Oprah Winfrey Network with interests in film, television, magazines, books, motivational speaking, and publishing.[34][35]
Madonna IncreaseUS$1 billion [36]


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2300526/Madonna-joins-billionaires-club-thanks-lucrative-MDNA-world-tour-savvy-investments.html#ixzz2njodLyB6

Jay-Z IncreaseUS$475 million[39] Main sources mainly stakes in Roc Nation, Carol's Daughter, the Brooklyn Nets, and more significantly, the Barclays Center itself—while adding new partnerships with the likes of Duracell, Budweiser and Bacardi’s D’ussé Cognac.bars and nightclubs, books, clothing line Rocawear, real estate development which includes the Barclay's Center, to which sold his 1.5 million stake in September 2013,[40] music touring, music publishing, casinos, advertising, and other investments within his conglomerate (Gain Global Investments LLC).
Sean Combs IncreaseUS$580 million[41] Main sources mainly in television, film, and music. Other holdings include the record label Bad Boy Records, fashion designing and the Sean John Clothing Line, namely his deal with Diageo ’s Ciroc, restaurants, vodka, television production, business education, and fragrances.
Arnold Schwarzenegger IncreaseUS$100–$800 million[51][52][53] Main sources include film and bodybuilding. Minor holdings in various global businesses, restaurants, real estate, Planet Hollywood, and other investments.


In addition to various endorsements, a number of celebrities have been involved with some business and investment related ventures also include: and toddler related items, sports team ownership, fashion retailing, establishments such as restaurants, cafes, hotels, and casinos, movie theatres, advertising and event planning, management related ventures such as sports management, model management, and talent management, record labels, film production, television production, publishing such as book and music publishing[disambiguation needed], massage therapy, salons, health and fitness, and real estate.[54]


As a mass media phenomenon[edit]

Kim Kardashian, reality TV star.



Famous for being famous[edit]

Famous for being famous, in popular culture terminology, refers to someone who attains celebrity status for no particular identifiable reason, or who achieves fame through association with a celebrity.[60] The term is a pejorative, suggesting that the individual has no particular talents or abilities.[61] Even when their fame arises from a particular talent or action on their part, the term will sometimes still apply if their fame is perceived as disproportionate to what they earned through their own talent or work.



Another example of celebrity is a family that has notable ancestors or is known for its wealth. In some cases, a well-known family is associated with a particular field. For example, the Kennedy family is associated with US politics; The House of Windsor with royalty; The Osbournes, The Jacksons, Chaplin, and Barrymore families with entertainment. Other well-known families include the Hilton family, the Bush family, and the Kardashian family.

Restricted access[edit]

Access to celebrities is strictly controlled by their entourage of staff which includes publicists, agents, personal assistants, and bodyguards. Even journalists find it difficult to access celebrities for interviews. An interview with writer and actor Michael Musto cites:



Celebrities also typically have security staff at their home, to protect them from similar threats.[63][64]

15 minutes of fame[edit]

See also: 15 minutes of fame, One-hit wonder

Andy Warhol coined the phrase "15 minutes of fame".


One example: in 2004 British television personality Ahmed Aghil became so famous by appearing in Big Brother, that Now magazine stated "Ahmed our BB God", and a cult was created Ahmania short for Ahmed mania. Further, the quality newspaper The Guardian wrote a whole page about Ahmed Aghil, titled "Ahmania Rules". But after 9 years Ahmed Aghil disappeared and only few fans remember him.[66]


Social networking[edit]

Celebrities have been flocking to social networking and video hosting sites such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and MySpace.[67] Social networking sites allow celebrities to communicate directly with their fans, removing the middle-man known as traditional media. Social media humanizes celebrities in a way that arouses public fascination as evident by the success of magazines such as Us Weekly and People Weekly. Celebrity blogging have also spawned stars such as Perez Hilton who is well known for not only blogging, but also outing celebrities.[68] Celebrities are now much more accessible to the public, through social media and also via celebrity databases, which provide their agent and manager details.


Health implications[edit]

Common threats such as stalking have spawned a term called celebrity worship syndrome, which a person becomes overly involved with the details of a celebrity's personal life.[70] Psychologists have indicated that though many people obsess over glamorous film, television, sport and pop stars, the disparity in salaries in society seems to value professional athletes and entertainment industry based professionals.[71][72][73][74][75] One study found that singers, musicians, actors and sportspeople die younger on average than writers, composers, academics, politicians and businesspeople, with a greater incidence of cancer and especially lung cancer. However, it was remarked that the reasons for this remained unclear, with theories including innate tendencies towards risk-taking as well as the pressure or opportunities of particular types of fame.[76]

See also[edit]


  3. ^ Moran, Lee (February 6, 2012). "Iran bans the Simpsons". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved May 18, 2012. 
  15. ^ "Celebrities, politicians and businessmen on social media | The NewsMeBack Blog". Newsmeback.com. 2011-04-27. Retrieved 2011-12-03. 
  16. ^ "Famous Fitness Gurus". 
  17. ^ Rivers, Jonathan. "Hall of Shame: 12 of the Worst Financial Gurus". Shrinkage is Good. Retrieved May 5, 2012. 
  18. ^ "The Worst Financial Advise You Shouldn’t Take". August 4th 2011. Bankaim. 
  19. ^ http://www.biharplus.in/news/press-release/birbal-jha-figures-in-world-celebrity-list/
  20. ^ Sports Agent Fees Sports Agent Blog, Dec 11, 2007
  21. ^ Band Manager Info at Media Positive Radio
  22. ^ MusicBizAdvice Q&A January 2008
  23. ^ Garrison, Larry. Breaking Into Acting for Dummies, Wiley Publishing Inc., 2002, p. 34.
  24. ^ "Professional Athlete". Bls.gov. 2010-03-19. Retrieved 2011-12-12. 
  25. ^ Maugh, Thomas H. II (2005-04-13). "Maurice R. Hilleman, 85; Scientist Developed Many Vaccines That Saved Millions of Lives". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-20. 
  26. ^ Nader R (2005-04-16). "Scientists or celebrities?". Counterpunch. Retrieved 2009-11-13. 
  28. ^ Pomerantz, Dorothy (August 26, 2013). "Madonna highest earning celebrity of 2013". Forbes. Retrieved october 13,2013. 
  29. ^ "Beyonce Flaunts Baby Bump During House of Dereon Launch". Celebbuzz. September 19, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2012. 
  35. ^ "Hotbox". 2008-08-05. 
  36. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2300526/Madonna-joins-billionaires-club-thanks-lucrative-MDNA-world-tour-savvy-investments.html.  Missing or empty |title= (help)
  37. ^ "Hip-Hop's Wealthiest Artists – Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson". Forbes. Retrieved 2013-10-29. 
  38. ^ "50 Cent – Page – Interview Magazine". Interview Magazine. circa 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2011. 
  39. ^ "Hip Hip's Wealthiest Artists". Forbes. Retrieved October 29, 2013. 
  40. ^ Mike Ozanian (9/17/2013). "Jay Z Set To Get $1.5 Million For His Barclays Center Stake". Forbes. Retrieved 30 October 2013. 
  41. ^ "Hip-Hop's Wealthiest Artists – Sean "Diddy" Combs". Forbes. 
  42. ^ Forbes estimate of Stewart's net worth
  43. ^ "From model to mogul: Martha Stewart's 1956 Unilever ad resurfaces". Daily Mail (London). June 28, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2011. [dead link]
  49. ^ "The Richest African Americans". Richest. Retrieved 30 October 2013. 
  50. ^ Morgan Whitaker (09/07/13). "Magic Johnson: ‘I grew up poor, but I didn’t have poor dreams’". MSNBC. Retrieved 30 October 2013. 
  62. ^ en.wikinews.org
  63. ^ International Association of Close Protection Officers
  66. ^ Now magazine June 2004, by Federico Martone
  71. ^ Horovitz, Bruce. "The good, bad and ugly of America's celeb obsession". USA Today. Retrieved May 5, 2012. 
  74. ^ "Books for Dummies Why are you such a idiot". Oprah.com. Retrieved May 5, 2012.  Unknown parameter |accomplished= ignored (help)