10 Celebrities Who Actually Chose to Live a Simple Life
“Wealth and success don’t make you happy” — this is not a quote from the Dalai Lama, but Leonardo DiCaprio. It is such a nice feeling to see celebrities living a normal life in humble houses, sharing their money with people in need, and not showing off. It’s good to know that being rich didn’t spoil them.
We at Bright Side respect humble people who know that money is not their first priority and would love to share some celebrities with you who support this philosophy.
1. Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence was the highest-paid actress in the world in 2015 and 2016 with annual earnings of $52 million and $46 million. Despite this great income, she doesn’t blow money and is even called a “finance role model.” In one interview, she confessed that she has “always lived in a tiny rat-infested apartment in New York, or a little condo in L.A., or a normal house in Kentucky.”
Living modestly is expressed not only in saving her income, but in helping people and raising money for non-profit organizations. In 2016, she donated $2 million to the Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville.
2. Keanu Reeves
Reeves public image is very positive. He is known as a workaholic, charming, and “excruciatingly shy.” After The Matrix was released, he gave $80 million of his $114 million earnings to the people of the special effects and makeup departments. He says that money is the last thing he thinks about: “I could live on what I have already made for the next few centuries.”
Even being popular worldwide and making millions hasn’t spoiled his character. For example, in March 2019, Keanu was flying into Los Angeles when the flight got diverted to Bakersfield. He didn’t wait for the plane to get repaired, but instead arranged a van to take him and the other passengers into the city.
3. Elijah Wood
Elijah Wood is very popular because of his role as Frodo in The Lord of the Rings. In 2003, this movie grossed in excess of $1.1 billion at the worldwide box office. The actor could’ve gotten spoiled with fame and money, but that didn’t happen. In the interview, he says that one of the most important life lessons for him is humility and that one of the most expensive things that he bought was audio equipment for his home.
“I was always taking care of other people, thinking about their feelings and not my own,” Elijah said. And those aren’t just words. He does amazing charity work and never forgets about people who are in need.
4. Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Gellar started her acting career in early childhood. Although she is a well-known celebrity, Gellar prefers to live a modest family life. Together with Freddie Prinze Jr., who she’s been married to since 2002, they have 2 beautiful children. The couple looks very happy and always uploads photos of nice moments in their peaceful life.
The actress is also an active advocate for various charities. She says, “I started because my mother taught me a long time ago that even when you have nothing, there are ways to give back. And what you get in return for that is tenfold. But it was always hard because I couldn’t do a lot. I couldn’t do much more than just donate money when I was on [Buffy], because there wasn’t time. And now that I have the time, it’s amazing.”
5. Robert Pattinson
Robert Pattinson was established as one of the highest-paid actors in the world. In 2010, Time magazine also named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. During his interview, he admitted that over the past 15 years, despite having a good income, he stays humble when it comes to most things. “This is still my style of clothing” — as he points to the skater T-shirt that he’s wearing.
Besides, he doesn’t forget about charity and sharing his good fortune with others. “I’ve been a donor and a supporter, and now I look forward to joining their efforts, so together we can give an opportunity to even more kids and young adults across the globe,” he said during a nonprofit campaign.
6. Mark Zuckerberg
Since 2010, Time magazine has named Mark Zuckerberg one of the wealthiest and most influential people in the world. And still, the press sees him living a modest life. For example, he bought very humble cars like a Honda Fit, and a Volkswagen Golf.
Instead of partying, he chose a family life and got married to Priscilla Chan in 2012. Together they have 2 kids.
7. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
This sweet couple can be a role model for many of us. They’ve been married since 2012 and have 3 children together. They are famous, successful, and can afford to live a very luxurious life, but the family lives in Pound Ridge, a small town in New York state. Blake says about Ryan that he loves being with the family. In his turn, the actor confesses that you need to do the dirty job as well, like do the diapers and the-middle-of-the-night things.
8. Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger is a legend and his fame is a product of 5 decades of his career. But his personal life is very important to him. He has 8 children. The last of his children came to this word in 2016 when Jagger was already 73. The singer enjoys family time and has been spotted together with his girlfriend playing with their baby.
9. Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio was included in Forbes’ annual list of highest-paid actors from 2010 to 2016 with respective earnings of $28 million, $77 million, $37 million, $39 million, $29 million, and $27 million. It looks like he could afford gold toilets and buying a new house every month. Instead, he chooses to live a normal life. For example, not very long ago he was spotted helping out a lost tourist with directions while out on a rainy day in Manhattan.
Moreover, DiCaprio understands the needs of poor people and shares his money with the world. In 2020, his foundation donated $3 million to the Australia bushfire relief efforts.
10. Shailene Woodley
Shailene Woodley is not just a famous actress, avid environmental activist, and climate advocate. She and her mother co-founded a non-profit organization that educates young people to practice empathy, compassion, and responsibility.
Woodley stays grounded and not spoiled. “I go outside whether I’m in the city or backwoods of any state. I connect with the ground, the trees, just breathing fresh air while I go for a walk and I find myself living in my heart instead of in my mind,” she says. Woodley tries to live a natural life and prefers natural products and makeup.
Who do you think is the most humble person among celebrities nowadays? Do you share the same simple life philosophy as they do?
