Celebrities often put their names to clothing lines, homeware products, and beauty items. Yet stars who are looking for a foolproof money-maker that will keep bringing returns – even if they step out of the spotlight – are increasingly investing in household-name franchises. After all, by putting their earnings into an established chain, supported by a strong management team, they can feel confident of a good payback. Click or scroll through our gallery to see the famous names who have taken a bite out of franchise opportunities.

He was a genius on the courts – and Magic Johnson is now a shrewd businessman, too. When he retired from professional basketball in the 1990s, the former LA Laker star began investing in urban shopping malls and cinemas. He then partnered with Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, persuading him to go 50/50 with him to open branches of the cult coffee chain in inner city locations with high populations of African-American and Latino residents. Johnson made a few amendments to the new coffee shops, including adding sweet potato pie to the menus.

According to CNBC, Johnson ended up opening 125 Starbucks outlets. Such was the success of them – partly as a result of Johnson's tweaks to the original format – that in 2010, Starbucks bought out Johnson's interest in the branches. The details of the sale are not known but Johnson is believed to have made millions of dollars from the deal. Starbucks is not currently recruiting further franchisees.

Shaquille O’Neal, another former NBA star, is said to own 155 Five Guys burger restaurants. On top of that, the 'Big Aristotle' reportedly owns 40 24-Hour Fitness franchises, 17 Auntie Anne’s Pretzels franchises, and 150 car washes. He also owns a Krispy Kreme location in Atlanta and is reported to be interested in taking on another 99 stores in the future. In March 2019, O'Neal joined the board of directors of pizza chain Papa John's, a deal that saw him invest in nine Papa John's stores in Atlanta. He also become the face of endorsements, with the advertising element of the deal alone due to see him receive $8.25 million (£6.12m) over a three-year period.

Shaquille is thought to have earned around $300 million (£226m) from his basketball career. Post-retirement, he's earning even more thanks to his business interests and is now believed to be worth around $400 million (£297 million). He has even set-up Shaquille O'Meal, a company that focuses on investing and developing his fast food franchises.

American golfer Phil Mickelson owns the franchise rights for the Five Guys burger outlets in Orange County, California. The deal came after Mickelson lost out on a bid he made with two partners for 105 Waffle House restaurants across four different states. In 2010, he told reporters at that year's Players Championship: “I grew up on In-N-Out. I thought that was the best burger until I had Five Guys. That is hands down the best burger I’ve ever had."

While a good business move, the income from Mickelson's Five Guys ventures is arguably small fry (or should that be 'small fries?') compared to the estimated $894 million (£665m) he has made from golf – via prize money, appearance fees, product endorsements, and golf course designs – since turning professional in 1996. Five Guys is currently only open to franchise opportunities in certain international markets.

Controversial R&B singer Chris Brown owns 14 Burger King restaurant franchises. Unsurprisingly, buying into this famous fast food chain doesn't come cheap. It's reported that a successful Burger King franchisee must have a net worth of at least $1.5 million (£1.12m) and have $500,000 (£372k) in liquid assets. 

Aside from an exceptional few, careers in the music industry can tend to be short-lived and so for Brown, pumping money into a proven successful fast food chain offers a comforting security blanket for his future wealth. Interestingly, his investment is likely as close as the star will ever get to Burger King – the singer has previously revealed that he doesn't actually eat beef or pork.

Tennis star Venus Williams is said to have four Jamba Juice franchise stores in the Washington DC metro area. Williams was keen to invest in a product that she felt comfortable promoting. She said: "My goal is to help inspire our nation's youth to become more active and to make better dietary choices. As a recognised healthy, active lifestyle brand that offers simple menu solutions for eating right while engaging in healthy activities, Jamba Juice is a perfect fit."

The initial investment required for building a traditional Jamba Juice unit in the US is estimated as being between $250,500 to $741,500 (£186k-£552k). This won’t have been a huge dent in Williams’ fortune; according to reports, she's raked in around $42 million (£31m) from tennis prize money alone.

Papa John’s became the official pizza of America’s National Football League (NFL) in 2010 and two years later, Peyton Manning, the former football quarterback, signed a deal to buy 31 stores in Denver, Colorado. At the time, Manning reportedly cited the recent law change to legalise the recreational use of marijuana in Colorado as a possible boost to the local pizza industry. 

Papa John's estimates that it should cost around $300,000 (£223k) to set up an average unit, plus a one-time franchise fee of $25,000 (£18k). Manning sold his stores in 2018, a couple of weeks before the NFL and Papa John’s ended their partnership. Despite this, he remains a spokesperson and brand ambassador for the pizza company.

Rapper Rick Ross is said to own 25 Wingstop franchises, mostly in the south of the United States. He even mentions his love for the chicken wing outlet's lemon pepper wings in his music (having referenced it multiple times in his songs) and the power of his brand endorsement is said to have increased sales; some of his eateries have reportedly seen sales jump by 50% since he took them over.

To qualify as a Wingstop franchisee, the company requires a minimum net worth of $1.2 million (£892k), of which $600,000 (£446k) must be in liquid assets; Rick Ross's net worth was estimated to be around $9 million (£6.7m) by Forbes in 2015. Franchisees also need to commit to a three-store minimum requirement for development. With the average Wingstop thought to bring in $200,000 (£149k) a year in profit, Ross' sideline restaurant business is more than paying its way.

Kanye West has franchises with two fast food giants – yet despite having tweeted “McDonald’s is my favorite restaurant” in 2018, the chain with the golden arches isn’t one of them. Fatburger is another one of the musician’s favourites and in 2008, West brought the brand to his hometown Chicago, opening 10 outlets in the area through his food company KW Foods LLC with mixed results. The flagship Orland Park location closed in 2011 and his current involvement in the chain is unclear.

West has his fingers in multiple pies – or burgers – though, and reportedly bought 10 Burger King outlets in 2010. The move wasn’t purely financial, as the rapper is said to have bought the restaurants as a second anniversary gift for his then-fiancé, reality TV star Kim Kardashian. 

Singer Pharrell Williams is also a fan of Fatburger and allegedly opened the brand’s first China franchise in the late 2000s. The company is currently looking to extend its global reach, expanding into Singapore and France alongside its locations in California.

For a US location, franchisees need to have a minimum net worth of $1.5 million (£1.15m), of which $500,000 (£372k) needs to be in liquid assets. Wannabe owners of a Fatburger eatery also need to find a suitable location, which is typically 1,500 to 2,300 square feet for a restaurant and 800 to 1,000 square feet for a food court or kiosk location.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees enjoyed Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches so much that he bought a few franchises in Louisiana. He’s also a fan of Dunkin' Donuts, and in 2017 announced plans to join a partnership set that would see 69 stores opening in the state. The move came as part of his plan to expand his business portfolio, in preparation for his retirement from football.

Anyone looking to open a Dunkin’ Donuts franchise must have at $250,000 (£186k) in liquid assets and have a net worth of at least $500,000 (£372k). For a Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches franchise, you must have $200,000 (£145k) cash and a minimum net worth of $1 million (£744k). Brees had a net worth of $44.8 million (£33.3m) in 2020 according to Forbes, so it’s safe to assume that he can afford a portion of both companies' outlets.

Kanye West isn’t the only celebrity with a taste for Burger King. Michael Strahan, the former New York Giants American football defender turned media personality, is said to have invested in several of the fast food chain’s franchises. He was part of a group that invested in 18 Burger King franchises across Virginia; the restaurants are predominantly based in urban areas, where they help to boost local employment opportunities.

Burger King has been franchising for more than 60 years and with an ever-expanding number of branches, the fast food giant is a big money-spinner. With an estimated net worth of $65 million (£48m), it's likely that Strahan's share in any Burger King franchise is little more than pocket money to the star.

LeBron James doesn’t just love basketball – he’s also a big fan of pizza. The NBA legend invested $1 million (£744k) in Blaze Pizza in 2012, with the company having since become the fastest-growing food chain in the US. In fact, by 2017, James' stake in the business was reported to have grown to $35 million (£26m) and it’s believed that he currently owns 19 of the company’s pizza outlets.

Starting up your own Blaze Pizza empire doesn’t come cheap. There’s an initial franchise fee of $30,000 (£22.3k) and it typically costs between $319,800 and $858,000 (£238k-£639k) to get an eatery up and running. Prospective franchisees also need a minimum of $500,000 (£372k) in liquid funds per restaurant to be developed. The financial side of things won’t have been a challenge for James though, who Forbes reports is currently worth a cool $88.2 million (£65.6m).

Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett is best known for his 1977 song, Margaritaville. Popularity for the chart-topping track quickly snowballed into an entire brand, including a restaurant chain, lifestyle products, and holiday resorts in six countries. Buffett broke into the doughnut market when he became Krispy Kreme’s West Palm Beach franchisee and in 2002, he expanded his involvement with the company across the South Florida market. 

Opening a Krispy Kreme store requires a large amount of cash, with the initial investment costs ranging from $275,000 to $1.9 million (£205k-£1.4m), according to Top Franchise. Franchisees are also expected to have liquid assets of at least $300,000 (£223k). Thanks to his ever-expanding empire, this won’t have been an issue for Jimmy Buffett, who was worth $50 million (£37m) in 2019, according to Forbes. 

Chauncey Billups played 17 seasons in the NBA before retiring to the world of coaching – and fast food. The basketball player teamed up with fellow NBA player Junior Bridgeman to buy 30 Wendy’s restaurants in 2013, and has since built an impressive entrepreneurial portfolio that also includes independent stylist franchise, Salon Plaza.

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Wendy’s has a long list of requirements for prospective franchisees, who need a minimum net worth of $5 million (£3.72m) and liquid assets of at least $2 million (£1.48m). Other costs include an application fee of $5,000 (£3.7k) and a technical assistant fee of $50,000 (£37k) per restaurant, to cover a 20-year term. The total cost of starting up your own Wendy’s tends to fall between $2 million and $3.5 million (£1.49m-£2.6m).

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Rapper and actor Ludacris launched his very own restaurant, Chicken + Beer, in 2016. However, this isn’t the Fast and Furious star's first foray into food. He owns several franchises, including Einstein Bros. Bagels, Charley’s Philly Steaks, and TGI Friday’s.

Opening your own TGI Friday’s franchise comes with an extensive list of conditions, including proven success of opening and managing a restaurant, as well as the financial capability to open five further restaurants within five years. Candidates are also expected to submit a five-year marketing plan. With an estimated net worth of $35 million (£26m), financing a franchise will undoubtedly have proven a piece of cake for Ludacris. 

Jamal Mashburn, the former NBA player and prolific goal scorer, created a name for himself on the court during the 1990s and early 2000s. However, even the best athletes' careers come to an end eventually, and when he retired from basketball, Mashburn successfully turned his hand to business. He owns several franchises, including three Dunkin' Donuts outlets, 40 Papa John's pizza restaurants, and 38 Outback Steakhouse restaurants.

Opening an Outback Steakhouse franchise comes at a hefty cost. The total initial investment is in the region of $1.6 million (£1.2m) and a potential franchisee must have liquid capital of at least $500,000 (£372k), according to Top Franchise. This is no issue for Mashburn, who has an estimated net worth of $55 million (£41m) thanks to a lucrative sporting career and savvy business moves made following his departure from the court.

While some celebrities are choosing to invest in established brands, others are banking on the magnetism of their star power to set-up their own. One example is Spy Kids star Danny Trejo, who opened the first Trejo’s Tacos in Los Angeles back in 2016. Today, the restaurant is available in eight locations, including pop-ups across America. The late chef Antony Bourdain gave the brand his seal of approval, describing the food as "just really good."

While Trejo’s Tacos aren’t currently recruiting further franchises, the Machete actor did voice his desire to expand the brand across America. In 2017, he also launched Trejo’s Coffee and Donuts in Los Angeles.

When they're not acting, famous siblings Mark and Donnie Wahlberg can be found working at the family burger restaurant, Wahlburgers, alongside their chef brother, Paul Wahlberg (pictured center). As of January 2021, there are 49 Wahlburger restaurants across the USA, as well as two in Canada and one in Germany, with additional plans to expand into Australia and New Zealand. The brothers also set up a London restaurant in May 2019, although it was forced to close due to finance issues in June 2020.

Anyone wishing to open their own Wahlburgers franchise must be wealthy – a minimum net worth of $5 million (£3.7m) is required. The development fee is $10,000 (£7.4k) per location, and there is an additional franchise fee of $40,000 (£29.7k).

He's made a fortune from the silver screen but actor Robert De Niro has also made millions in the kitchen thanks to his culinary prowess. In 1994, the Raging Bull star teamed up with renowned sushi chef, Nobu Matsuhisa, to create iconic restaurant chain, Nobu. Today, it boasts 47 restaurants and 13 luxury hotels, spread across five continents.

While it doesn’t appear that Nobu is recruiting further franchisees, the cost of developing a restaurant or hotel certainly wouldn't be cheap. Nobu is far from a fast-food joint; everything about the brand is high-end and luxurious. It’s reported that an average meal at Nobu costs $135 (£100) per person. Nobu is a household name thanks to a string of A-list diners who frequent its establishments, including the Kardashian-Jenner clan, Jennifer Lopez, and Leonardo DiCaprio, to name a few. Talk about free publicity...

Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, members of the 1970s band Kiss, swapped rock for restaurants when they launched their franchise, Rock & Brews. Their first location opened its doors in California in 2012, and there are now 19 Rock & Brews venues across America (as well as one in Mexico), all offering 'scratch-prepared American food' according to the brand's website.

The pair are keen to expand the business and are currently taking applications for new franchisees. Potential candidates must have a net worth of $1.5 million (£1.2m) per store, as well as liquid assets of $500,000 (£372k) per location, excluding their primary residence.  

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