Gone are the days when celebrities were boxed into a single career lane. With industries evolving and financial realities shifting, many stars are embracing the polywork trend—building wealth and influence by wearing multiple hats.
Forbes reports, “Polyworking is a growing trend of managing multiple concurrent jobs rather than relying on a single source of income. It heralds a new phase in what has been known as the "portfolio career" or the practice of "slashers"—a concept introduced by Marci Alboher in her book, One Person, Multiple Careers.
Why Polyworking Is the Future
The entertainment industry is no longer just about mastering one craft. Shrinking profit margins (especially in music and acting) and the need for financial security have made it essential for celebrities—and everyday people—to pursue multiple streams of income. Polyworking isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a survival strategy for building wealth and staying relevant.
Take a cue from these stars and don’t be afraid to explore new lanes. Success today means being versatile, creative, and ready to pivot at a moment’s notice.
From acting and singing to launching businesses, here's how some of your favorite celebrities are thriving in diverse spaces:
1. Issa Rae: Multi-Hyphenate Mogul
Issa Rae has mastered the art of polyworking. Known for her groundbreaking TV series Insecure, Issa has expanded into other ventures, including her record label Raedio and, most recently, opening her new restaurant, Somerville, in South LA. In the Naked Beauty Podcast, she shared how wearing multiple hats allows her to express creativity while ensuring financial stability. Her journey proves you can balance art and entrepreneurship.
Back in 2020, Issa told Billboard, "Even from a young age, my mom used to call me bossy. Only now do I realize that I wanted to be that. I wanted to be a boss because, why the fuck not? I liked feeling like I was working or in business. I liked feeling like a leader. And it is not always fun, by any means, but there's an element of accomplishment that I feel in executing projects."
2. Chloe Bailey: The Musician Who Does It All
As one half of Chloe x Halle, Chloe Bailey is a vocal powerhouse. But with the reality of slim profit margins in music streaming, she's stepped back into acting (Swarm, Praise This) and has taken on a bevy of brand partnerships, including a recent one with Pandora. Chloe embodies the spirit of modern polyworking, leveraging her platform to diversify her income and creative reach.
3. Rihanna: From Music Icon to Beauty Billionaire
Rihanna might not be dropping albums as frequently as fans hope, but she’s dominating in other arenas. With Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty, and even her role as a mom, Rihanna exemplifies how pivoting into other industries can create lasting wealth. Polyworking has propelled her to billionaire status while redefining her legacy.
She told the New York Times that she knows what she brings to the table, and “knowing that the fashion industry has lacked inclusivity, she’s not planning to back down from being a young, Black woman new to the business.” Rihanna said, “Those factors do come into play, but I will not apologize for them, and I will not back down from being a woman, from being Black, from having an opinion. I do know that the reason I’m here is not because I’m black. It’s because of what I have to offer.” And she offers so much.
4. Donald Glover: The Quintessential Polymath
Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, wears multiple hats with ease. From acting (Atlanta, Community) to music and writing, he’s a perfect example of how polywork allows creatives to thrive. Glover’s diverse projects not only showcase his talent but also ensure he’s never reliant on a single stream of income.
Did you know he was also a farmer? He named his nascent company after Gilgamesh, the mythic Mesopotamian hero who angered the gods. “Gilga is like Erewhon for culture,” he told GQ. Donald went on to say, “I want to work with the best people in every medium. To work toward sustainable output. The culture we’re getting from our phones is not high quality. It can be really good sometimes. And fun. But not necessarily high quality. Gilga is the filter for all of that.”
5. Serena Williams: Ace on and off the Court
Serena Williams may have retired from tennis, but her polywork hustle is just beginning. Between Serena Ventures, her investment firm, her beauty brand, and fashion brand S by Serena, she’s proving that building wealth and legacy goes far beyond sports.
The mommy mogul shared on her website that being organized is her best thing. “It keeps me sane and helps me feel like I have some control over a very full life. Tennis is a big part of my life, but I’ve also been dedicating more time and energy to my other passions lately.”
6. Zendaya: Star of the Screen and Beyond
Zendaya’s acting chops (Euphoria, Dune) are unmatched, but she’s also taken on roles as a producer, brand ambassador, and fashion icon. By leveraging her platform across industries, she’s a textbook example of using polywork to establish generational wealth.
We are also waiting for the day she decides to really model because it’s gonna be over for the girls.
When it comes to new projects, the Euphoria star is being the most intentional these days. She told Vogue, “As I get older, I want to be more intentional about the things that I choose to do with my time and the brands I work with. I’ve been approached by similar sports-related brands and, no slight to any of them, there’s just this feeling of openness and care [with On]. They’re already doing the work—I don’t have to tell them to make it more inclusive or more meaningful—they are already doing that. It inspires me; I want to support what they’re doing.”
7. Beyoncé: The Ultimate Multi-Hyphenate
Queen Bey’s artistry is unparalleled, but her ventures like Ivy Park and her groundbreaking "Renaissance World Tour" show how she combines music with business savvy. Her polyworking ensures her influence goes beyond the stage and into fashion, tech, and philanthropy.
Since she’s been at it for decades, she’s had to revisit the blueprint. “There was a time when I was pushing myself to meet unrealistic deadlines, while not taking the time to enjoy the benefits of why I was working so hard,” Beyoncé told GQ. “There aren’t many of us from the late ’90s who were taught to focus on mental health. Back then, I had little boundaries, and said yes to everything ... And now I work smarter.”
8. Tracee Ellis Ross: From Acting to Entrepreneurship, Mastering Multiple Lanes
Tracee Ellis Ross, known for her role on Black-ish, has found success beyond acting with Pattern Beauty, a hair care line designed for textured hair. Ross's goal was to create products that support and celebrate the natural beauty of textured hair.
In an interview with PEOPLE, the founder of Pattern Beauty emphasized the importance of meticulous planning and organization in presenting one's best self. According to Ross, setting up her Pattern headquarters necessitates "mapping out with military precision" to ensure a successful and effective operation. “That is perhaps both an escape and a defense mechanism, and also how I get it all done. But I take the moments: what I call it is being mindful and slow between A and B. So instead of rushing between things, I really allow myself to be present between them.”
9. La La Anthony: Breaking Barriers and Building Empires
La La Anthony, who started as a VJ on MTV's Total Request Live, has expanded her career significantly. Now, she's not only an actor and producer known for roles in Power and Think Like a Man, but also a successful entrepreneur. In 2022, she launched Inala, an award-winning haircare brand.
When talking with The Cut about how she gets it done, La La said, “It’s great to show people that you can do more than one thing, but the challenge is that people often only see you as one thing. So if you’re a radio personality, they only want to see you as that; if you’re a TV personality, they only want to see you as that. I’m all about breaking barriers down and showing people that you can not only be more than one thing — and you can be good at more than one thing. It’s possible. No one should put you in a box.”
10. Keke Palmer: A Masterclass in Balancing Passion and Opportunity
Now, they don't call this former child star Keke "Keep a Job" Palmer for no reason. The 31-year-old has been making polywork work way before wearing multiple hats was as much of a thing. From her breakout role as an actress in Akeelah and the Bee to numerous hosting gigs, including a history-making one as the youngest person to host a talk show with Just Keke at the age of 20.
Making history is just a prerequisite for Keke's polywork success over the years. She even earned an Emmy for her work as a host for the game show Password in 2023, becoming the first Black woman to do so.
When she isn't being a mom, Keke is producing for her digital network KeyTV, acting as a podcaster for her hit podcast Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, being 1/3 of girl group DivaGurl, and even more recently, has added author to her ever-expanding resume with her memoir, Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative. "It’s not just about doing it all," Keke shared with Variety. "It’s about doing it all in a way that feels authentic to you."
Next up for the multihyphenate is One of Them Days alongside SZA, hitting theaters on January 17.
Featured image by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Fast Company
