20 Of The Richest Celebs Of The 2000s: Where Are They Now?
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The year 2000 may feel like yesterday, but kids born around that time are old enough to drive and get married. If you thought the '90s era was 20 years ago, you're a decade behind. The 2000's brought us a lot of confusion. What were we even going to call it? (The noughties.) How were the world's computers going to cope? (Just fine.) Would slow internet be a problem? (We were just lucky to have it.)
Kim Kardashian may not yet have been taking selfies yet, but the 2000's did give us a huge dose of celebs. Add on the rise of the internet, you could say that it was the first decade to really make celeb culture explode. While some of today's biggest mega-stars were just baby-faced youngsters, others were at their prime and ready to go downhill. Of course, this being Hollywood, everyone was still likely on their first marriage back then. The cast of Friends was already earning $1 million an episode, and a fair few celebs on this list were on their way to being worth over half a billion dollars. It's time to take a trip down memory lane. Here are the 20 biggest stars of the 2000s (plus, what they're up to now).
JENNIFER ANISTON IS RICH, BUT HEARTBROKEN
It's a double-edged sword with Jennifer Aniston. The original (and longest lasting) American sweetheart, Jen shot to fame starring in the '90s on the sitcom, Friends. She was in her 20's, absolutely gorgeous, and perfect for the role of the spoiled fashionista, Rachel Green. By 2000, Jen and the rest of the cast were netting $1 million per episode. That was also the same year she married Brad Pitt, and the two enjoyed five years as Hollywood's power couple (before a certain Angelina Jolie got in the way).
After Friends ended in 2004, Jen went on to do a string of high-paying rom coms, and at 49, she's still one of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses.
She's been unlucky in love, though. It fell apart with Brad (and Vince Vaughn, and John Mayer). Just this year, she and now ex-husband, Justin Theroux, got divorced. $200 million to your name is sweet, but Jen's love life has stayed sour.
TOM CRUISE IS NO LONGER JUMPING ON OPRAH'S COUCH
Congratulations, Tom Cruise. You've truly conquered the Mission Impossible, and we're not just talking about the movie franchise. You'd think earning $100 million from one series alone would give you automatic respect, but Tom has spent the last 15 years making sure there isn't a shred of it left.
In 2005, the world watched Tom lose his mind on The Oprah Show. Jumping up and down to declare your love for Katie Holmes is great, but their Scientology-ruled marriage was less easy-going. Since then, Tom's relationship has collapsed and he's aged a fair bit, but he hasn't lost it entirely. Mission Impossible 6 is coming out this year, and 2019 will bring Top Gun 2.
KIM K WENT FROM BEING AN ASSISTANT TO HAVING HER OWN
Kim Kardashian was a bit of a nobody in the 2000's. She certainly had no idea how huge she'd become, and Forbes has predicted that she's set to be a billionaire. Back in the day, before Keeping Up With The Kardashians had even started airing, Kim had a fairly degrading role as Paris Hilton's stylist. The two did go partying, but it was clear that Paris was superior. Oh, how the tables have turned.
Kim K has built herself an empire. Her Instagram following sits at over 100 million. Her KKW Beauty line collections sell out in minutes. In 2016, she famously tweeted that she was "transferring $53 million" into her and husband, Kanye West's joint account.
Kim has clothing lines, video games, paid apps, plus, the $500,000 per sponsored Instagram post her own management company has confirmed she earns. She's also a mom of three and definitely, a celeb who's climbed uphill.
DESTINY'S CHILD FELL APART (BUT BEYONCE DIDN'T)
Aww, old pics, right? The girl band, Destiny's Child, got together in the '90s, but they were active well after the millennium. The famous trio were originally a foursome, although by their split in 2006, only one member was making headlines. Beyonce Knowles was always the band's frontrunner, but it wasn't until after their split that she really found fame. When we say fame, we mean fame beyond belief (and money).
With Forbes reporting Beyonce's 2017 earnings to be upwards of $104 million, there's no arguing that Queen Bey has earned her status.
The music mogul collaborates with everyone from Eminem to her husband, Jay-Z, and they're one of the few celeb couples who seem truly happy. Beyonce is now a mom to twins, and thanks to her paychecks, she can afford to spoil her kids with the $80,0000 diamond-encrusted barbies, which People reported she'd gifted daughter, Blue Ivy.
SHAGGY DISAPPEARED OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH
Remember Shaggy? You probably do now, but admit it, you'd forgotten he even existed before we mentioned him. The Jamaican musician made big bucks from tracks like, "It Wasn't Me" and "Angel," back in the day, but we haven't heard much since.
Aside from collaborations with the rapper, Sean Paul, his music is now virtually unknown. According to Billboard, Shaggy "took a step back for a few years."
The good news is that he's put a lot of his earnings towards charitable foundations, and his 2016 concert raised money for a children's hospital back in his native Jamaica. Great, but we're not sure how many people actually attended...
ANGELINA JOLIE ISN'T ENJOYING THE BEST PUBLICITY
People don't forget a face like Angelina Jolie's, and at 42 years old, this actress is still topping "most beautiful woman in the world" lists. What Angie probably didn't expect though, was the decidedly downhill direction her image has taken. The 2000's were hugely lucrative for Angie. She was being cast in movies like the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider franchise and Mr. & Mrs. Smith (where she claimed she fell in love with Brad Pitt).
Fast-forward 18 years though, and Angie is likely feeling some rejection. Most of the world is solidly #TeamJen after Angelina reportedly broke up Brad and Jennifer Aniston's marriage, and even she and Brad didn't last. Rumors about the rules she made Brad follow have made her more unpopular than ever, and the only thing Angelina seems to have control over are the movies she's directing. Talk about a fall from grace...
CHRISTINA AGUILERA GETS PAID $17 MILLION TO JUDGE
Christina Aguilera was huge in the 2000's. Yes, she was neck and neck with Britney, but we needed someone who could really sing, and, boy, did Christina give it to us. Music videos set in boxing rings gave this powerful voice a racy edge, and while her outfits were sometimes questionable, her whistle register and insane vocal skills weren't.
15 years on, Xtina is still recording albums, but her opinion is worth way more than her songs. Her guest judge fee on the TV show, The Voice, is $17 million according to People, is probably how she could afford her $10 million Beverly Hills home.
Sure, you can buy Christina's fragrances, but it's that powerful voice we still can't get over. Seriously, just watch the woman "give advice" on-screen. No one can match Christina.
DWAYNE JOHNSON JUST KEPT BULKING UP
Dwayne Johnson (a.k.a. The Rock) pretty much introduces himself. The man is a veritable muscle machine. Celebs might ramble on about downing protein shakes or post pics of their grueling workouts on Instagram, but they've got a long way to go before they look like this guy. The actor, producer, and semi-retired wrestler was named Muscle & Fitness' "Man of the Century" in 2015, although, fame never went to this guy's head.
Dwayne can rake in $5.5 million for movies, but we've seen him take in stranger things. Ten egg whites and the 5,000 calories this bodybuilder needs per day is what The Daily Mail reported to be his diet. Still, his fun persona and awesome Instagram photos don't say "high maintenance." As you can see, Dwayne has gotten bigger, bulkier, and given his net worth of $150 million, a whole lot richer.
PARIS HILTON STILL ISN'T MARRIED
For this heiress and socialite, the 2000's were a chance to party, party, party (although, to be fair, has anything changed?) Paris Hilton hit our screens in 2003 with her BFF, Nicole Richie. Their show, The Simple Life, gave us the first taste of reality TV. Of course, there were multiple spin-offs, but by that time, Paris was making a name for herself as Hollywood's most-enthusiastic party queen.
Before you judge her, Paris does earn a reported $10 million a year from her fragrances according to US Magazine, although, fans have gotten somewhat tired of this 37 year-old's twenty-something dress sense (and airbrushed Instagram). Despite multiple relationships, Paris is still unmarried, although, she is currently engaged. She has a career as a semi-successful DJ. You'll see her commenting on Kim K's Instagram, but if anything, that's a sign that she's gone downhill.
BRITNEY SPEARS IS PUSHING 40
Yes, we all get older. Britney Spears remains one of the biggest icons of the 2000's and it all started in 1999, with what remains one of the world's most-watched music videos. "...Oops, I did it again" hit us like a bomb, and that was Britney's cue to start knocking out album after album. Britney remains one of the highest-paid musicians in the industry, with a staggering $58 million income in 2012, according to Forbes.
Now aged 37, Britney is a twice-divorced mother-of-two. She's also had her fair share of scandal, like the infamous pics of her driving with her baby, Sean Preston on her lap. Unlike other 2000's celebs though, she's kept her career strong. Britney gets a lot of hate, but we love her deep down.
SCARLETT JOHANSSON IS A SUPERHERO
What, you thought a face like Scarlett Johansson was going to disappear? No way. The American actress was already landing big roles in the 2000's, like starring alongside Penelope Cruz in the movie, Vicky Christina Barcelona. In 2008, she married Blake Lively's current guy, Ryan Reynolds, but like most Hollywood marriages, that didn't last. What did last though, was her career–or should we say "exploded."
Getting hired by Marvel is a huge deal, and big surprise, it comes with a huge paycheck. With a net worth of $80 million according to Forbes, Scarlett has been raking it in.
Her salary in 2015 was a staggering $35.5 million, so you could say this Avengers star is literally the Captain America she was cast in.
GWYNETH PALTROW IS GIVING US NUTRITION ADVICE
And it's not going down very well. Gwyneth Paltrow earmarked her status as a Hollywood actress back in the '90s. The 2000's were really her breakthrough time though, as she starred in movies like The Royal Tenenbaums and Shallow Hal. Gwyneth has won an Emmy and been the face of beauty giant, Estee Lauder (although, Kendall Jenner quickly pushed her out).
Following her failed marriage to the Coldplay frontman, Chris Martin, Gwyneth is now running the lifestyle advice website, GOOP. It's giving us plenty of nutrition tips, but with The Daily Mail reporting the average subscriber's income to be $100,000 a year, the macrobiotic concepts are kind of alienating us. Gwyneth is also kind of being outshone by her beautiful (but strangely named) daughter, Apple. At 45, Gwyneth may be rich, but she's not what she used to be.
MARIAH CAREY REFUSES TO AGE GRACEFULLY
Having the voice of an angel will get you a long way in celeb land. Having a net worth of $535 million will also let you shop til' you drop— which seems to be Mariah Carey's favorite pastime. The music star has been reported by The Daily Mail to spend $250,000 a year having exotic flowers flown out to wherever in the world she is, and it's a similar deal with the $100,000 she dropped on a nursery for her twins.
Here's the problem, though. At 47, Mariah is still dressing like she's 22, and the bodycon dresses and clingy outfits aren't exactly appropriate for a mom. Mariah is still earning millions in royalties, and according to her Instagram, she's still in the studio. Her appeal has fizzled out though, and aging gracefully doesn't appear to be on her agenda.
EMINEM IS STILL RAKING IN MILLIONS
If anyone deserves total respect, it's the rap king, Eminem. When you start out broke in a trailer park only to become the best-selling artist of the 2000's, there's no arguing that you've earned your status. Eminem hasn't earned a dime from endorsements— this guy is all about the music. The Real Slim Shady is now 45. He's definitely lost his baby-face looks, but when you're a serious artist worth $190 million, who cares?
Eminem has taken his solo work onto collaborations with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Beyonce, and we haven't forgotten his "Love The Way You Lie" track with Rihanna.
His later albums poked fun at his humble beginnings, but yep, if you listen carefully, "I've got an elevator in my house." Well-deserved, Eminem, well-deserved.
MEGAN FOX CHANGED SOMEWHAT
What is it with celebs changing the way they look? Particularly ones who were already pretty to start with! Megan Fox started out as a bit of an Angelina Jolie lookalike. The Transformers actress has earned millions, but her natural beauty has changed a bit.
Megan's estimated net worth of $11 million according to The Sun is largely thanks to her movie roles, although Megan has also been the face of designer brands like Giorgio Armani (take notes, Kim K, who famously couldn't spell the designer's name on Twitter).
Something about Megan doesn't exactly say "respect," although, she is now a mom of three. Let's hope she's bringing a more wholesome image to her kids than she does to us.
LINDSAY LOHAN HAD A TOUGH TIME
This one kind of makes us sad. Lindsay Lohan enjoyed a lot of fame in the 2000's, as her rise from a child star to an acting sensation made her a household name. We'll always remember Lindsay from movie, Mean Girls, but it looks like life has been a little mean to this freckled starlet.
Lindsay has faced a lot of demons and a lot of scandal. She's had money troubles, personal troubles, and her Wikipedia entry is more about her legal issues than anything else. Lindsay also looks a fair bit older than her 31 years, so we're hoping she gets a few more early nights.
JANET JACKSON BECAME A MOM AT 50
Having babies well into your 40's has become pretty standard. Gwen Stefani, Halle Berry, and Tori Spelling have all done it. Getting pregnant when you're 50 is kind of pushing it, although, Janet Jackson didn't seem to have an issue with it. The singer and sister of Michael Jackson made huge headlines in 2016, as she appeared unrecognizable in paparazzi photos.
Janet has earned a reported $81 million from sponsorships according to Forbes, and that's not including the millions she'd made from her music career. At the age of 51, Janet has slipped out of the limelight, although presumably, that's to raise her healthy baby boy.
MISCHA BARTON IS NO LONGER AN "IT" GIRL
Mischa Barton literally could have had "envy" as her middle name in the 2000's. The boho-chic beauty was all over our screens, as the star of the TV show, The O.C, and she was an "it girl" for quite a while. Whatever Californian restaurant she was brunching at would become a hip space overnight, and Mischa was still enjoying a lucrative modeling career.
After a string of personal issues, she is looking a little worse for wear at her 32 years. Mischa isn't quite the fresh-faced beauty that landed her contracts with Calvin Klein and Neutrogena.
Her last Fashion Week invite was in 2011, but you only need to look at the front-row seats these days to see that Beyonce and the Kardashians have replaced her.
MANDY MOORE HAD A BRIEF STINT ON GREY'S ANATOMY
Remember Mandy Moore? Just about... maybe. Mandy Moore was a pretty big deal in the 2000's. The sweetheart face landed her roles in The Princess Diaries, and she sold a decent amount of records. The singer started taking her acting more seriously as the 2000's wore on, and if you remember Grey's Anatomy in 2010, you might recall her role as Mary Portman.
Unlike other celebs on this list though, Mandy's fame hasn't exactly gone uphill. She was the voice of Rapunzel in the blockbuster movie, Tangled. While she is currently starring on This Is Us, we're kind of wondering if "this is it" for Mandy.
HILARY DUFF JUST GOT MORE POPULAR
Hilary Duff is definitely more famous now than she was in the 2000's. The former Disney star landed a string of movie roles in the 2000's, alongside earning a decent chunk of money from her music. Hilary's a smart girl, but she's also incredibly beautiful. Her Instagram gives us a ton of natural, wholesome shots of her sipping coffee (or waking up to it), and there's something really laid-back that gives Hilary loads of appeal.
15 years later, Hilary is the star of the TV show Younger. Despite a divorce, she's completely reinvented herself, and she's done it well.
You know you recognize most of the people on this list (even if it makes you feel old). Leave us a comment on your faves, and hit share to give your friends the throwback reminder they need.
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