Latest news with #DrDre
Tatler Asia
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
8 famous stars who built and sold high-value celebrity brands
2. George Clooney and Casamigos Tequila George Clooney co-founded Casamigos Tequila in 2013 with Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman, initially intended for personal use among friends. The brand emphasised smoothness and quality, gaining popularity through word-of-mouth and Clooney's celebrity influence. By 2017, Diageo acquired Casamigos for US$1 billion, paying US$700 million upfront and up to US$300 million in performance-based incentives. The acquisition marked one of the largest deals in the spirits industry. The sale only did great things for Casamigos, which continues to thrive under Diageo, maintaining its premium positioning in the tequila market. See more: How celebrities are raising the bar in the spirits industry 3. Jessica Alba and The Honest Company This was honestly one of the earliest celebrity brands to make a killing. Jessica Alba co-founded The Honest Company in 2011, aiming to provide eco-friendly and non-toxic household and baby products. Alba's vision was driven by a desire for safer products for families, and the brand quickly gained traction among health-conscious consumers. The Honest Company went public in May 2021, achieving a valuation of US$1.4 billion. Alba's stake in the company was valued at approximately US$120 million at the time of the IPO. In 2024, Alba stepped down as chief creative officer but remains a member of the company's board of directors. The Honest Company continues to expand its product offerings and retail presence, focusing on transparency and sustainability. 4. Dr Dre and Beats by Dre In 2006, hip-hop mogul Dr Dre teamed up with music executive Jimmy Iovine to create Beats by Dre, an audio brand that would redefine celebrity brands, celebrity-endorsed tech and consumer sound culture. The motivation: while Apple had its white earbuds, Iovine wanted Beats to feel like speakers for your ears. The duo set out to build stylish, bass-boosted headphones that reflected Dre's music pedigree and brought studio-level sound to the average listener. Beats became a full-blown cultural phenomenon. With sleek, oversized designs and aggressive celebrity marketing, Beats became synonymous with cool. From NBA stars to pop idols, everyone wore them. Strategic product placement (see the 2012 Olympics ads) and partnerships with artists like Lady Gaga and LeBron James cemented Beats as the must-have accessory. In 2014, Apple acquired Beats for a jaw-dropping US$3 billion, making it Apple's largest acquisition to date. Dr Dre famously (and prematurely) celebrated the deal on social media, calling himself 'the first billionaire in hip-hop'. While the final valuation post-deductions was reportedly slightly under the US$1 billion net worth mark for Dre, the acquisition was still historic, both in its scale and in what it said about the convergence of music, tech and personal branding. Beats has since been integrated into Apple's hardware ecosystem, influencing the design and sound profile of Apple's AirPods and other audio products. While the Beats brand still exists under Apple, it's shifted toward a sleeker, more minimalist design ethos. 5. Kylie Jenner and Kylie Cosmetics The youngest of the Kardashian-Jenners turned her makeup and fashion tips into celebrity brands, starting with Kylie Cosmetics. Kylie Jenner launched her beauty makeup line in 2015 with the release of the Kylie Lip Kit, leveraging her massive social media following to drive sales. The brand quickly expanded its product catalogue and became a significant player in the beauty industry. In 2019, Coty Inc acquired a 51 per cent stake in Kylie Cosmetics for US$600 million, valuing the company at approximately US$1.2 billion. Jenner retained a 49 per cent stake and continued to be involved in product development and marketing. Kylie Cosmetics has expanded its global presence, with products available in various international markets and continued product innovation. 6. Ryan Reynolds and Aviation American Gin Aviation American Gin was founded in 2006 in Portland, Oregon, by distillers Christian Krogstad and Ryan Magarian. In 2018, actor Ryan Reynolds officially acquired a significant ownership stake in the brand, becoming its creative director. Reynolds aimed to bring a fresh perspective to the gin industry, focusing on quality and unique branding. Reynolds then utilised his celebrity status and marketing acumen to elevate Aviation Gin's profile. He produced a series of humorous and viral advertisements that resonated with a broad audience, effectively distinguishing the brand in a competitive market. Under his influence, Aviation Gin's sales increased significantly, with a reported 100 per cent growth in 2019. One year later, in August 2020, Diageo acquired Aviation American Gin as part of a deal valued up to US$610 million. The agreement included an initial payment of US$335 million, with an additional US$275 million contingent on the brand's performance over the next decade. Reynolds retained an ongoing ownership interest and continues to be involved in the brand's marketing efforts. Despite the shift in ownership, Reynolds remains the public face of the brand, contributing to its ongoing popularity and market presence. 7. Ryan Reynolds and Mint Mobile Ryan Reynolds sure knows how to flip celebrity brands into millions. In 2019, the Deadpool actor acquired an ownership stake in Mint Mobile, a budget-friendly wireless carrier. Similar to what he did with Aviation Gin, Reynolds infused the brand with his signature wit, creating viral advertisements. His authentic and engaging marketing approach helped Mint Mobile stand out in a crowded telecom market. In March 2023, T-Mobile announced its acquisition of Mint Mobile's parent company, Ka'ena Corporation, in a deal valued at up to US$1.35 billion. Reynolds, holding an estimated 25 per cent stake, reportedly earned around US$300 million from the sale. With his marketing agency Maximum Effort, he continues to play a creative role in the company's marketing efforts post-acquisition. 8. Kim Kardashian and KKW Beauty Kim Kardashian launched KKW Beauty in 2017, capitalising on her personal brand and social media influence. The brand offered a range of cosmetics, including contour kits that mirrored Kardashian's signature look. In 2020, Coty Inc acquired a 20 per cent stake in KKW Beauty for US$200 million, valuing the company at US$1 billion. However, Kardashian rebranded her beauty brand to skincare with SKKN by Kim by 2022. In March 2025, Kardashian's SKIMS company acquired 100 per cent of SKKN, edging Coty out.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Compton High School unveils news $200 million state-of-the-art campus, receives $10 million gift from Dr. Dre
Grammy-award-winning rapper and producer Dr. Dre and community leaders gathered on Thursday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiling Compton High School's new $200 million state-of-the-art campus. School board president Micah Ali told the crowd that the new campus was not only a celebration for the school but for the entire community. Ali said the project wouldn't have been possible without people believing that students in Compton deserve the best. Ali was standing in front of the new modern high school facility that spans across 31 acres and will serve more than 1,800 students. The school will include a half-size Olympic pool, a more than 36,000 square foot gymnasium and a 140,000 square foot academic building. Also at the ceremony was Compton native, Andre "Dr. Dre" Young. He was not only recognized at the event for being one of Compton's most prolific music moguls, but he was also recognized for his $10 million donation to the project. His donation went toward the Andre "Dr. Dre" Young Performing Arts Center, which features a state-of-the-art recording music studio and dons a mural of his face. "This is the type of building I would've loved to go to when I was growing up," he said. "Unfortunately, it wasn't here, but it's here now." Dr. Dre recalled being at the groundbreaking event three years ago. He said being able to see the idea come to fruition was special. "Compton is a breeding ground for talent," Dr. Dre said. "I'm standing here as literal proof that coming from Compton, that there is nothing that can stop me and everything and anything is possible." He encouraged students to take advantage of the new opportunities at the school, like the technological advancements. The newly completed high school replaces the previous one, which was almost 120 years old, officials said. The school will open for students in the fall.
Powys County Times
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
‘Exstraw-dinary' versions of Dumbledore and Stephen Hawking at scarecrow event
Straw versions of Dumbledore, Professor Stephen Hawking and Dr Dre have taken over a village in Wiltshire. Urchfont Scarecrow Festival returned on Saturday with around 55 unique offerings to go with this year's theme of titles. Villagers spent hours making 'brilliant and artistic' recreations of everything from Professor Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter to Count von Count from Sesame Street to physicist Prof Hawking. Many took a sustainable approach with old curtains used to make the robes worn by the Dumbledore scarecrow, and pieces of straw plaited together to make his hair and beard. Count von Count's organ was made using recycled items including carpet tubes and a pallet, and the head for Prof Hawking had previously been Robocop, Sir Cliff Richard and Michael Eavis. For the Marie Antoinette scarecrow, Parisian grain sacking was used to pay homage to the crop failure that led to the famine which triggered the French Revolution. Steve Osborne, 50, chairman of Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Charity, told the PA news agency: 'All of the scarecrows for this year will have some kind of title in them, so they could be a dame, a professor, a doctor, a sir, a princess. 'We have quite a big range – we've got Doctor Who, Professor Stephen Hawking, Dame Kelly Holmes and Dr Dre.' Mr Osborne said the festival committee decided on the theme in September and villagers worked on their scarecrows from December. Each scarecrow comes with a clue so attendees can guess who it is. Mr Osborne made his own take on rap star Dr Dre this year. 'I used someone else's scarecrow and adapted it and I'm quite pleased with it overall, but he's clearly a bit too short for Dr Dre,' he said. 'My scarecrow is probably about 5ft, but my children are quite into hip-hop and they thought that was quite a cool one to do. 'My daughter helped to do the face.' This is the 26th edition of the festival, with some years missed due to events including the Covid pandemic. Previous themes have included icons of the silver screen, to mark the festival's 25th anniversary last year, as well as occupations and adverts. Mr Osborne said the quirky event has a 'positive' effect on villagers and people further afield. 'The festival's just grown and grown and grown,' he said. 'It's such a pleasure going around the festival incognito and listening to people trying to figure out the clues and just getting really positive reactions from them.' Thousands of people have visited this year's festival from across Wiltshire, as well as Bristol, the South Coast and London.
The Independent
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
‘Exstraw-dinary' versions of Dumbledore and Stephen Hawking at scarecrow event
Straw versions of Dumbledore, Professor Stephen Hawking and Dr Dre have taken over a village in Wiltshire. Urchfont Scarecrow Festival returned on Saturday with around 55 unique offerings to go with this year's theme of titles. Villagers spent hours making 'brilliant and artistic' recreations of everything from Professor Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter to Count von Count from Sesame Street to physicist Prof Hawking. Many took a sustainable approach with old curtains used to make the robes worn by the Dumbledore scarecrow, and pieces of straw plaited together to make his hair and beard. Count von Count's organ was made using recycled items including carpet tubes and a pallet, and the head for Prof Hawking had previously been Robocop, Sir Cliff Richard and Michael Eavis. For the Marie Antoinette scarecrow, Parisian grain sacking was used to pay homage to the crop failure that led to the famine which triggered the French Revolution. Steve Osborne, 50, chairman of Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Charity, told the PA news agency: 'All of the scarecrows for this year will have some kind of title in them, so they could be a dame, a professor, a doctor, a sir, a princess. 'We have quite a big range – we've got Doctor Who, Professor Stephen Hawking, Dame Kelly Holmes and Dr Dre.' Mr Osborne said the festival committee decided on the theme in September and villagers worked on their scarecrows from December. Each scarecrow comes with a clue so attendees can guess who it is. Mr Osborne made his own take on rap star Dr Dre this year. 'I used someone else's scarecrow and adapted it and I'm quite pleased with it overall, but he's clearly a bit too short for Dr Dre,' he said. 'My scarecrow is probably about 5ft, but my children are quite into hip-hop and they thought that was quite a cool one to do. 'My daughter helped to do the face.' This is the 26th edition of the festival, with some years missed due to events including the Covid pandemic. Previous themes have included icons of the silver screen, to mark the festival's 25th anniversary last year, as well as occupations and adverts. Mr Osborne said the quirky event has a 'positive' effect on villagers and people further afield. 'The festival's just grown and grown and grown,' he said. 'It's such a pleasure going around the festival incognito and listening to people trying to figure out the clues and just getting really positive reactions from them.' Thousands of people have visited this year's festival from across Wiltshire, as well as Bristol, the South Coast and London. Over the years, the event has helped to raise around a quarter of a million pounds for charities including the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity and Devizes Opendoors, which helps people in the Wiltshire town to find solutions to homelessness.
The Herald Scotland
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
‘Exstraw-dinary' versions of Dumbledore and Stephen Hawking at scarecrow event
Villagers spent hours making 'brilliant and artistic' recreations of everything from Professor Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter to Count von Count from Sesame Street to physicist Prof Hawking. Count von Count from Sesame Street scarecrow (Richard Hawkins/Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Charity/PA) Many took a sustainable approach with old curtains used to make the robes worn by the Dumbledore scarecrow, and pieces of straw plaited together to make his hair and beard. Count von Count's organ was made using recycled items including carpet tubes and a pallet, and the head for Prof Hawking had previously been Robocop, Sir Cliff Richard and Michael Eavis. For the Marie Antoinette scarecrow, Parisian grain sacking was used to pay homage to the crop failure that led to the famine which triggered the French Revolution. Marie Antoinette scarecrow (Richard Hawkins/Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Charity/PA) Steve Osborne, 50, chairman of Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Charity, told the PA news agency: 'All of the scarecrows for this year will have some kind of title in them, so they could be a dame, a professor, a doctor, a sir, a princess. 'We have quite a big range – we've got Doctor Who, Professor Stephen Hawking, Dame Kelly Holmes and Dr Dre.' Mr Osborne said the festival committee decided on the theme in September and villagers worked on their scarecrows from December. Scarecrow versions of Princess Diana and a photographer (Richard Hawkins/Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Charity/PA) Each scarecrow comes with a clue so attendees can guess who it is. Mr Osborne made his own take on rap star Dr Dre this year. 'I used someone else's scarecrow and adapted it and I'm quite pleased with it overall, but he's clearly a bit too short for Dr Dre,' he said. Dr Dre scarecrow (Richard Hawkin/Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Charity/PA) 'My scarecrow is probably about 5ft, but my children are quite into hip-hop and they thought that was quite a cool one to do. 'My daughter helped to do the face.' This is the 26th edition of the festival, with some years missed due to events including the Covid pandemic. Professor Dumbledore scarecrow (Richard Hawkins/Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Charity/PA) Previous themes have included icons of the silver screen, to mark the festival's 25th anniversary last year, as well as occupations and adverts. Mr Osborne said the quirky event has a 'positive' effect on villagers and people further afield. 'The festival's just grown and grown and grown,' he said. Professor Stephen Hawking scarecrow (Richard Hawkins/Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Charity/PA) 'It's such a pleasure going around the festival incognito and listening to people trying to figure out the clues and just getting really positive reactions from them.' Thousands of people have visited this year's festival from across Wiltshire, as well as Bristol, the South Coast and London. Over the years, the event has helped to raise around a quarter of a million pounds for charities including the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity and Devizes Opendoors, which helps people in the Wiltshire town to find solutions to homelessness.
