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Ozzy Osbourne's final business ventures: Selling his DNA on tea cans and a makeup collection
Shortly before he died, Ozzy Osbourne embarked on a business venture that could let fans "recycle him forever" — technology permitting.
Osbourne died on Tuesday at the age of 76. Though he was known for his role as the lead singer of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, Osbourne spent the months before his death launching a series of notable brand partnerships.
The so-called "Prince of Darkness" teamed up with the company Liquid Death in June on a product called "Infinitely Recyclable Ozzy." He drank 10 cans of the brand's iced tea, leaving "trace DNA from his saliva" on the now-precious metal, according to the company. Osbourne also signed each package, which originally sold for $450 each. (A six-pack of the teas goes for $13.83 on Amazon). Liquid Death said in fine print that it couldn't guarantee "DNA integrity and cloning results."
At the time of writing, the coveted cans were sold out on Liquid Death's website. One sold on eBay on July 22, the day of his death, for $4,655.
Osbourne, who sometimes wore dark eyeliner, also dipped his toe in the makeup world in the weeks before his death. On July 1, the UK-based makeup brand Jolie Beauty announced it was partnering with the rock legend and launching a limited-edition collection.
Customers could preorder the entire collection, which included brushes, lipsticks, and a makeup bag emblazoned with an Osbourne-esque skull, for $553. The CEO of the Birmingham-based company said in a video on Facebook that the opportunity was an "absolute honor," noting that Osbourne himself was from Birmingham, England.
Representatives for Liquid Death and Jolie Beauty did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
In the early 2000s, Osbourne starred in the MTV reality show "The Osbournes" alongside his wife and kids. His somewhat unconventional business partnerships weren't entirely new, either — in 2003, Chipotle created the Chipotle Celebrity Card for him, which grants unlimited Chipotle for one year. As of 2022, he was the only lifelong cardholder.
Osbourne struggled with Parkinson's disease in the final years of his life, but joined Black Sabbath for a final concert earlier in July in Birmingham. His family said he died while "surrounded by love" in a statement.
