Yahoo Finance Buffett, Zuckerberg, Conan, Keanu, Haddish, Kunis and 23 More Rich People Who Live a Bit Like Average Joes
There’s no shortage of stories about the lavish spending of the rich and famous. Athletes, movie stars and business magnates love their yachts and estates, and regular people love to read about the glamorous lives they live.
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Some of them, however, live incredibly basic lives of frugality and penny-pinching, just like the masses who do the same out of necessity. The following rich people have the cash to exist in a world of splendor and excess — they just choose not to in many ways.
Warren Buffett
Despite now being in his 90s, the Oracle of Omaha remains the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, and in terms of net worth, Warren Buffett is near the tippy top of the pyramid. A member of the elite 12-figure club, Forbes estimates his personal fortune to be $135.6 billion.
Yet, he lives a very plain lifestyle.
Buffett is a walking lesson in how to live frugally, which he has demonstrated by living in the same house he bought in 1958. He once told Berkshire Hathaway investors, “For the $31,500 I paid for our house, my family and I gained 52 years of terrific memories, with more to come.”
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Mark Zuckerberg
You might not think of this as what rich people do, but Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has been seen driving an Acura valued at around $30,000. Zuckerberg also wears jeans and a T-shirt nearly every day despite a net worth of more than $179 billion, according to Forbes.
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Sarah Jessica Parker
“Sex and the City” star Sarah Jessica Parker’s journey to fame and fortune is one of the great celebrity rags-to-riches stories. She grew up as one of eight children in a family that spent time on welfare, according to The New York Times.
But Parker has kept her frugal ways despite her fame and $200 million fortune — and she’s passing her habits on to her own children. For example, she dressed her son in clothes that have been handed down from her nephews.
Dave Grohl
His stints as the drummer for Nirvana and frontman for the Foo Fighters have helped Dave Grohl amass a net worth estimated at $330 million. But he watches his spending and told The Red Bulletin that he drives “a family car.” Grohl told The Guardian he learned “money will kill you” after his mother had a stroke while paying the family’s taxes.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Sarah Michelle Gellar has been known to grocery shop at Whole Foods Market, but she has said that when she’s there, she only buys what’s on sale. She also has said that she brings her own bags because she gets a discount for doing so — despite the fact that she’s worth $30 million.
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis
One of Hollywood’s richest “it” couples, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis are becoming known as frugal celebrities. They are trying to keep their children grounded by passing on their frugal habits. That includes not going overboard on Christmas presents for their children. Kunis — who grew up in the communist U.S.S.R. — told Entertainment Tonight that they have asked their parents to limit themselves to one gift.
Together, their fortune is worth $275 million. Kutcher brings $200 million of that sum to the marriage.
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Kristen Bell
Eschewing the three-day destination wedding many celebrity couples choose, actress Kristen Bell and fellow actor Dax Shepard got married at the local courthouse. The total cost for their nuptials: $142. Bell is also a regular coupon clipper, which helps keep every bit of her $40 million fortune intact.
Chris Pine
As Captain Kirk in a series of “Star Trek” films, and Steve Trevor, Wonder Woman’s partner in saving the world, Chris Pine has made a case for himself as the best Hollywood Chris. Another notch in his favor is that, despite being worth about $35 million per Celebrity Net Worth, the actor famously held on to his flip phone for years.
Michelle Obama
Former first lady Michelle Obama paid for her own clothes while in the White House. Many of the elegant gowns she wore were donated by their designers. When she shopped for herself, Obama often went to retail stores known for reasonable prices.
On one appearance on NBC’s “Today” show, she sported a $35 dress from fast-fashion retailer H&M. Now that she’s settled back into private life, she has a net worth of $70 million.
Rob Gronkowski
Despite a net worth of $45 million and a status as one of the most endorsable athletes on Earth, Rob Gronkowski is very careful about not spending money recklessly. He wrote in his 2015 book, “It’s Good to be Gronk,” that he has yet to spend a dime of his NFL paychecks or even his signing bonus. He’s lived off the money he receives from endorsements, avoiding pricey cars and wearing his favorite pair of blue jeans from high school.
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Tiffany Haddish
Even though Tiffany Haddish is now worth $6 million, the “Girls Trip” star formerly experienced homelessness so she still lives frugally. She told People in 2017 that she drives a Honda, uses Groupons and still has a knock-off Michael Kors handbag.
“I’m probably going to be cheap with my money for a long time,” she told the magazine. “You know I’ve been homeless, so it’s like, ‘Yeah it’s here now but will it be here in five years?’ I don’t know.”
Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks — who has worked as a model, actress, author and host of “America’s Next Top Model” and “Dancing With the Stars” — is one of many celebrities who live modestly. She saves money by collecting the shampoo, conditioner and soap from her hotel rooms and using leftovers from meals the next day. Her net worth is estimated at $90 million.
Jennifer Lawrence
Star of the hugely successful “Hunger Games” movies, Jennifer Lawrence continued living in her parents’ condominium even after making eight figures. “I think it would be very bizarre to live in a big mansion by myself,” she told Elle.
Lawrence eventually moved into her own digs, however. Variety reports that she bought a loft-style condo in New York City in early 2017 for a little more than $9 million — and then proceeded to place it on the rental market while she was filming “Red Sparrow” in London.
Today, she’s worth an estimated $160 million.
Timothee Chalamet
One of Hollywood’s emerging heartthrobs and sought-after actors, Timothee Chalamet has rapidly amassed quite the IMDB page, and quite the fortune. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the “Wonka” star is worth $25 million. That doesn’t stop the actor from eschewing fancier pizza joints across New York City and grabbing a 99 cent slice of pizza on the go.
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Katie Couric
Groundbreaking news anchor Katie Couric credits her mother with teaching her to search for bargains. According to Parade, she brings leftovers to work for lunch and borrows clothes from her friends. In 2021, Couric shed the likable persona she spent so many years cultivating with a bombshell memoir that aired the industry’s dirty laundry. The book’s proceeds added to her $110 million net worth.
Carrie Underwood
One of America’s wealthiest country music stars, Carrie Underwood admitted she clips coupons when she goes grocery shopping — no matter the fact that her net worth is estimated at $140 million. Further illustrating that there’s not that much difference between some rich and poor people, she also said she often forgets to bring the coupons with her to the store. And if you’re wondering what rich people eat, Underwood said she buys stir-fry kits and meatless burgers.
Danica Patrick
While the former race car driver blazed a path for women in the sport, Danica Patrick stays humble — and frugal. She may have a net worth of $80 million today, but her working-class beginnings instilled good old-fashioned common sense around money. When she’s on the road traveling, she still finds a way to make her own meals.
Hilary Swank
Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank, who has a net worth of $70 million, has been open about living in a mobile home when she was younger. That experience instilled frugal habits that she retains to this day, like clipping coupons.
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Carlos Slim
Mexican business mogul Carlos Slim regularly appears on lists of the world’s wealthiest people, but you won’t find his home on any list of celebrity houses. His family has a fortune of $92.5 billion, according to Forbes, but he has lived in the same home for over 40 years.
Conan O’Brien
Late-night superstar Conan O’Brien has a net worth estimated at $200 million. Even so, he kept his 1992 Ford Taurus — even featuring it in a bit on his show.
Keanu Reeves
With the success of the “Matrix” and “John Wick” franchises under his belt, Keanu Reeves has amassed a $380 million fortune. But the actor eschews having a private chauffeur — or even taking an Uber — and instead chooses to ride the New York subway.
Laila Ali
As the daughter of boxing titian Muhammad Ali, Laila Ali had some mighty big gloves to fill. Yet she earned her own acclaim with a boast-worthy career in the ring. Outside of the boxing gym, Ali built a successful second career as a cookbook author and entrepreneur with her own hair styling product line. Despite her net worth of $10 million, Ali still makes mother-daughter time to style her hair and her daughter’s right at home.
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Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is one of the highest-paid celebrities in the world with a net worth of $300 million, but she’s a self-proclaimed bargain shopper. The singer once tweeted that she uses coupons at the grocery store and bargains when she buys retail.
Keira Knightley
Despite being an international movie star with an $80 million net worth, Keira Knightley chooses to live simply. She confirmed to Glamour in 2014 that she lives on around $50,000 a year.
“Some of my best, most hilarious times have been in the least luxurious places,” she told the magazine.
Peter Dinklage
The “Game of Thrones” star, who has a net worth of $25 million, drives a Volvo and does his own landscaping, according to a 2012 Rolling Stone profile.
Ingvar Kamprad
The founder of the furniture empire Ikea practiced what he preached when it came to the affordable, assemble-it-yourself products his company sells. When traveling, he flew in coach class and drove a 20-year-old Volvo, according to CNBC. He died with a net worth of $42.5 billion.
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Cardi B
Cardi B may rap about living a glamorous lifestyle, but the artist remembers growing up with parents who lived below the poverty line. Called a “Baddie on a Budget” by Afrotech, she maintained that she doesn’t take private jets, preferring to fly first class on regular airlines. Though Celebrity Net Worth estimates that she has a net worth of at least $80 million, she still encouraged fans to make their own budgets.
Shailene Woodley
Shailene Woodley’s successful acting career has netted her a $12 million net worth, but for a while, she didn’t own a home. Woodley told Architectural Digest in 2019 that she was living out of a suitcase.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Buffett, Zuckerberg, Conan, Keanu, Haddish, Kunis and 23 More Rich People Who Live a Bit Like Average Joes
