We Tried the Celebrity Side Hustle Economy So You Don't Have To

Celebrity side hustles used to be simple: perfume, tequila, a skincare line with a name that sounded like a law firm. In 2026, the rich and famous have decided that the real luxury is asking fans to buy a $48 bag of mushroom dust. We spent the year clicking, cringing, and occasionally adding to cart. Here is our totally honest ranking, from 'take my money' to 'please keep it.'

The Rules of the Celebrity Side Hustle Power Rankings

We graded each launch on three things: Would we pay full price? Does it solve a real problem? And is the chaos fun or just expensive? The ranking goes from most worth your money to least, with a quick verdict for each. No free samples were sent to SKM7, which is probably for the best.

1. Rico Vance's Pickleball Compound

The D-list actor best known for playing 'Angry Cop No. 2' in a streaming procedural has somehow become the face of a pickleball empire. We are talking $180-a-month memberships, branded paddles, and a court in a strip mall with a smoothie bar. The chaos is high. The usefulness is also high, because pickleball is actually fun and everyone in America is apparently playing it now.

Would we pay? A $25 drop-in fee, yes. The $180 membership and the $89 paddle? Only if the paddle comes with a personal apology for the movie Cop No. 2.

Verdict: Shockingly useful. Cautiously impressed.

2. Lola Ray's $48 Mushroom Coffee

The pop star launched a mushroom coffee blend that costs $48 for a small bag. The marketing says it supports focus, calm energy, and 'main character mornings.' The bag says it contains 30 servings. Our wallet says it contains 30 opportunities to make better choices.

Would we pay? We would pay $12 for a sample, mostly out of curiosity. We would not pay $48 unless it also did our laundry.

Verdict: The taste is fine. The price is a personality test.

3. Bexley's 'No Thoughts' Candle

A singer with a very serious aesthetic released a $64 candle called No Thoughts. It smells like hotel lobby, which is a real scent description we did not make up. It burns for 40 hours, which is roughly the length of one awards season.

Would we pay? $20, maybe. $64 is a lot for a candle that basically says 'I am rich and tired.'

Verdict: Good gift for the friend who has everything except a budget.

4. Marina Voss's Passive-Aggressive Sleep App

The actress and wellness enthusiast launched an app that reads bedtime stories in a tone that is somehow both soothing and judgmental. One review said it 'made me feel like my mother was proud of me, but also disappointed.' That is an $8-a-month value, honestly.

Would we pay? $3 a month, or $8 once for the chaos.

Verdict: Weirdly effective. We fell asleep twice.

5. Nia Sol's Edible Glitter

The reality star's edible glitter for cocktails costs $22 and promises to make your drink 'look expensive.' It does. It also makes your teeth look like a disco ball. The chaos is fun. The cleanup is not.

Would we pay? $8 for a small jar. $22 is an event-only purchase.

Verdict: Great for parties. Terrible for white couches.

6. Chad Bronson's Vintage Payphone Hotline

The former sitcom dad bought a vintage payphone and turned it into a hotline where fans can pay $4.99 a minute to hear motivational quotes. The quotes are mostly about 'hustle' and 'never giving up.' The payphone is in a mall. We have questions.

Would we pay? No. We would pay $2 to watch someone else do it.

Verdict: High chaos. Low usefulness. Excellent bit.

7. Theo Park's Artisanal Ice Cubes

The actor launched 'craft ice' that costs $30 for 12 cubes. They are clear. They are square. They are ice. The website says they are 'small-batch,' which is a sentence about frozen water.

Would we pay? $0. We have a freezer.

Verdict: This is merch with a business plan.

8. Dex Kane's Pet Psychic Hotline

The D-list reality star now offers a pet psychic hotline at $6.99 a minute. The site says he can tell you what your dog is thinking. Our dog is thinking about a squirrel and a piece of cheese. We could have told you that for free.

Would we pay? $0, but we would listen to a friend call in.

Verdict: Chaotic. Not useful. Still kind of love it.

9. Sloane Mercer's $120 'Tour Bus Air'

The pop star bottled air from her tour bus and sold it for $120. It is air. From a bus. We are not going to pretend this is anything else.

Would we pay? $0. We would pay $5 for the empty bottle, because it is a funny story.

Verdict: The most 2026 thing we have ever seen. Keep it.

The Final Tally

The celebrity side hustle economy is not slowing down. If anything, 2026 proved that fans will buy almost anything if the packaging is good and the celebrity seems slightly embarrassed by it. The winners were the ones that accidentally became useful. The losers were the ones that charged $48 for dust.

Our advice: buy the pickleball drop-in. Skip the bus air. And if a celebrity ever asks you to pay for ice, remember that your freezer is free.