Celebrities on LinkedIn
Most of these celebrities built their reputation as actors or athletes, but have now shifted into business leadership roles. They launch companies, invest in new ventures, partner with brands, or build platforms of their own. And they’re using LinkedIn to talk about that work. The result is a fascinating look at how public figures build credibility and influence in a professional setting.
Ryan Reynolds is as genuinely entertaining on LinkedIn as he is everywhere else. His About section reads like a comedy bit, calling his career “a proven track record” with skills ranging from “excellent to absolutely awful.” But this isn’t just for laughs. As co-founder of Maximum Effort and owner of Mint Mobile and Aviation Gin, he uses humor to drive massive engagement. His posts promoting Mint Mobile pull thousands of reactions because they’re fun. Ryan proves that authenticity and personality can coexist with serious business credibility.
LeVar Burton uses LinkedIn to advocate for the value of storytelling. His About section frames storytelling as his business model and compassion as his differentiator. The Featured section spotlights his children’s book and he includes 64 honors and awards. Roots, Reading Rainbow, and Star Trek in the Experience section remind people how he became famous and show the longevity of his popularity.
The moment you land on Reese Witherspoon’s profile, you see her header background with images from Big Little Lies, The Morning Show, and Reese’s Book Club. The About section opens with growing up in Nashville, noticing that stories lacked complex women at their center, then founding Hello Sunshine in 2016 to address that problem. This origin story positions her as a mission-driven founder. Her Experience section lists four founder roles alongside acting. It looks like she is using LinkedIn to attract partners, writers, and talent who want to tell women’s stories.
Serena Williams’ profile is remarkably lean, focusing entirely on her current business roles rather than tennis achievements. Her header photo shows her holding a WYN BEAUTY product, turning the banner space into brand advertising. Her posts about determination and community work generate strong engagement, connecting her mindset as an athlete to her role as a founder and investor.
Paris Hilton uses her LinkedIn presence to support her evolution from reality TV star to media and tech CEO. Her About section opens with impressive numbers: $4 billion in revenue, 60 million followers. Then she stakes her claim in web3, with Fortune ranking her No. 7 on their “NFTy 50” list—the highest ranking woman on the list. Her profile lists brand campaigns for Meta, Netflix, Uber Eats, and Warner Bros. The Volunteering section shows advocacy work with RISE Justice Labs on youth rights. She demonstrates that 11:11 Media is leading conversations about the future of entertainment and technology.
While many athletes lean into their sports credentials, Shaquille O’Neal leads his About section with “After retiring from the NBA, I earned an MBA and later completed a Doctorate in Education.” His experience section lists President of Reebok Basketball, founder of Big Chicken, and franchisee of Papa John’s, proving he operates businesses, as well as promoting them. The 26-year commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs adds authenticity to his youth-focused foundation work. He uses LinkedIn to showcase an operational track record that positions him as a serious investor and franchise builder.
MrBeast strips LinkedIn down to the essentials. His About section has seven words: “I want to make the world a better place.” He assumes you know who he is: there’s no story, no credentials, just his mission. His Volunteering section shows #TeamWater raised $41 million in one month to give 2 million people clean water. Beast Philanthropy gets its own chairman role. The Experience section lists founder positions at Feastables, Lunchly, and Viewstats, showing his involvement in businesses beyond YouTube. His Featured posts about surprising Make-A-Wish kids at Disneyland pull 6,000+ reactions.
Lindsey Vonn’s About section opens with her Olympic gold story but quickly pivots to The Lindsey Vonn Foundation, which provides scholarships to empower underserved girls. This positions her as a mission-driven leader. Harvard Business School adds instant business credibility for investors and partners, and her Experience lists founder roles at Après Productions and board membership with the United States SailGP Team.
Gordon Ramsay’s header photo features him in a sharp suit, knife stabbed through a stack of cash. This visual reframes him from celebrity chef to ruthless businessman. His About section opens with “Founder of multiple businesses” spanning hospitality, entertainment, and philanthropy, with restaurants now just one piece of a global empire. Studio Ramsay Global sits at the top of his experience section, positioned above his restaurant work. It looks like he is using LinkedIn to attract production partners and investors.
Stephen Curry’s bold header whispers “Elevate the Under,” the tagline for his company Thirty Inc. and a statement of his support for those who are underrated and underrepresented. His About section opens with “I was not always destined to ruin the game,” acknowledging how he transformed basketball, then immediately pivots to other roles: husband, father, entrepreneur. In the Experience section, we see a long list of awards and honors from his basketball career, as well as his businesses and volunteer work.
Gwyneth Paltrow opens her About section with her Academy Award and bestselling author credentials, then pivots to goop’s mission: pushing conversations about health and wellness into the mainstream. The phrase “multi-faceted, complicated, and busy b*&tches who can care about family and work simultaneously” signals she is not interested in apologizing for goop’s polarizing reputation. Co-founding Kinship Ventures adds investor credibility. Recent posts promote her GWYN fashion line with Vogue coverage.
Lewis Hamilton’s header leads with his passion for philanthropy with Project 44. His headline, “Entrepreneur, Investor, and F1 Driver,” puts racing last. The Featured section drives this home with his announcement rebranding Project 44 to Lewis Hamilton Ventures, pulling nearly 20,000 reactions. He writes about “my in-house team” and “delivering results off the track,” positioning himself as a CEO managing operations.
Kevin Durant’s header reads “BOARDROOM – Sports. Business. Entertainment.” with no basketball imagery in sight, showing his focus on the business side. His headline confirms the priority: “Partner & Co-founder at 35V and Boardroom” before mentioning the NBA. The About section details an investment portfolio spanning media, sports ownership, film, and 100+ early-stage startups. His entire activity feed amplifies Boardroom content.
Tom Brady’s header photo captures both identities: mid-game intensity and suited business executive. His headline lists “7x Super Bowl Champion” first, then “Entrepreneur, Investor, Brand Ambassador” to signal that the business side comes in second place. His Experience section leads with FOX Sports analyst, followed by co-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and Birmingham City FC. Recent posts announce FOX Sports investing in Shadow Lion, his production company.