Source: za.investing.com/By Kate Prince
Being famous comes with many luxuries that the general public can’t afford. Fast cars, sprawling mansions, bank balances that are never in the red – the list is endless.
But, as every A-list celebrity will tell you, fame is a double-edged sword.
Disney stars, pop singers, and actors, and actresses don’t have the freedom that we take for granted, but they do have the money to hire help to make their lives easier. In Hollywood, a good bodyguard is like finding a needle in a haystack, which is why these stars pay through the nose to keep them. Luckily, they can afford it.
After all, if you’ve got to shell out hundreds of thousands a year on personal security, you need to have more than just a couple of bucks in your bank account. Stars like Madonna may have a net worth of $610 million, but the more money you earn, the more you’ve got to pay up – especially when it comes to staying safe.
61. Udo Lindenberg
Star’s Net Worth: $18 million*Annual Protection Cost: $400,000*
Udo Lindenberg is a German singer who became famous in the eighties. He has gained worldwide repute, and he is still releasing new music, like his 2016 single “Durch die schweren Zeiten.” The vocalist and drummer is seventy-four now (but still rocking) and he has security accompany him pretty much everywhere he goes.
The bodyguard with which Lindenberg is most often spotted is Eddy Kante. The two appear to be close friends in addition to their working relationship, with paparazzi spotting the singer and his minder smoking cigars and attending film premieres together. Though the two have parted ways, there doesn’t appear to be any break in the friendship.
62. Cara Delevingne
Star’s Net Worth: $28 million*Annual Protection Cost: $200,000*
Supermodel and actress Cara Delevingne is one of the most easily-recognizable famous faces in the world, so it makes sense that she’d have some escort her to safety from possibly-rabid fans. Her bodyguards, as you can see from this picture, walk with her anywhere from Chanel Haute Couture shows to shopping in St. Tropez.
The twenty-four-year-old supermodel revealed that, when she was rehearsing for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, she wasn’t the only one with a bodyguard. The script had its own bodyguard too. Luc Besson, the director, wanted to keep the film secret. Delevingne read the script under the watchful eye of her own bodyguard—and the script’s.
63. Cher
Star’s Net Worth: $350 million*Annual Protection Cost: $600,000*
Cher and her bodyguard almost matched in this photo of the singer walking into Letterman in NYC. Her bodyguards keep a close watch on her, protecting the superstar from any danger. Cher’s favorite bodyguard was Michael Francis, and fans pointed out that she should have kept him on when she returned to the public eye.
Cher fan accounts often had “appreciation” posts for Francis and the singer’s other personal protection. Cher praised one of her team in 2015 on Twitter (we all know how Cher loves Twitter), saying that her bodyguard, a former firefighter, “is great” and has worked with tons of celebrities, including “MJ Fox, Tina, Janet, & Countless Others.”
64. Ariana Grande
Star’s Net Worth: $150 million*Annual Protection Cost: $1 million*
Ariana Grande’s bodyguard has made list after list of the hottest bodyguards in Hollywood, and her “Dangerous Woman” video sparked rumors that the two were together at the time. Considering that the singer is engaged to real estate agent Dalton Gomez, those rumors can probably be put to rest.
Grande has been in the media’s spotlight since she was a young Nickelodeon star, so she is no stranger to assumptions that she’s a diva. After she was spotted being carried by her tour manager, she shot down assumptions that she gets carried “everywhere,” explaining that she was only carried then because her toes were “in pain” from her shoes.
65. Scarlett Johansson
Star’s Net Worth: $165 million*Annual Protection Cost: $200,000*
Scarlett Johansson is another celebrity who turned a bodyguard into her boyfriend (though not the one pictured in this photo). Black Widow can fight anyone, but Johansson still plays it safe by keeping her bodyguards close at hand for film premieres and even vacations.
In 2012, the press snapped pictures of her and her then-bodyguard soaking up the sun. The Mediterranean vacation had a tanning session on the top deck, though, sadly, Johansson and her bodyguard boyfriend ended up not working out. She married French ad exec Romain Dauriac, and they welcomed a baby girl in October of 2014.
66. Karl Lagerfeld
Star’s Net Worth: $195 million*Annual Protection Cost: N/A
Karl Lagerfeld was a pioneer at Chanel, and he’s often cited as one of the most influential fashion designers of all time. He was so well-known for his domination of the fashion world that his nickname was “The Kaiser.” The late, great designer died with a $195 million fortune, much of which he left to his beloved cat, Choupette.
Lagerfeld’s bodyguard, after his death, announced that he would be writing a tell-all book about the designer. Sebastian Jondeau, who was described by one publication as “famously handsome,” was not only the designer’s protector but also one of his closest confidantes.
67. Zac Efron
Star’s Net Worth: $25 million*Annual Protection Cost: $100,000*
Zac Efron looks pretty buff, so you’d think it would be unlikely that anyone would try to pick a fight with him. The Hollywood hunk needs help keeping away crazed female fans, and his bodyguards are always around to help him with that. In 2014, one of his personal protection staff claimed that the tables turned when the High School Musical star saved his life.
He and Zac were on their way to a Los Angeles restaurant, Little Tokyo, when a “full-blown” fight interrupted their “cruising.” The pair got into a scuffle with three men, and Zac Efron swung a bottle, fending off the attack after his bodyguard was hit in the face. No one was arrested, but all parties were injured.
68. Caitlyn Jenner
Star’s Net Worth: $100 million*Annual Protection Cost: $3 million*
According to People Magazine, Caitlyn Jenner and her stepdaughter, Kim Kardashian, both have “hot bodyguards.” Jenner’s bodyguard follows her everywhere, protecting her even while she’s shopping in New York City. Jenner discussed her bodyguard—and her daughters’ bodyguards—on the show I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!
Jenner explained that while she’s rarely spotted without security, her daughter, Kylie Jenner, is even more protected than she is. Jenner said that Kylie has a team of bodyguards that help her fend off crowds. She revealed on I’m a Celebrity that the makeup mogul spends up to $400,000 per month on her personal protection.
69. Elton John
Star’s Net Worth: $500 million*Annual Protection Cost: $2 million*
Sir Elton John has a net worth of $500 million. He has been one of the world’s most famous musicians for over fifty years, and his albums and concerts are best-sellers whenever he releases something new. Needless to say, the singer has millions upon millions of fans, so he has to keep a bodyguard close by.
Pictured here is Jeffrey Wenniger, his former bodyguard. Wenniger worked for the Los Angeles Police Department before leaving public safety and becoming a private personal security contractor. He was John’s bodyguard from 2002 until 2014. After twelve years, the two parted ways.
70. Oprah Winfrey
Star’s Net Worth: $3.5 billion*Annual Protection Cost: $2 million*
Oprah Winfrey is a billionaire media mogul, so she can afford to spend crazy amounts on personal security to escort her everywhere. One of her bodyguards was Michael Jai White, who left the world of protection to become a pretty successful actor. Jai White has starred in movies like Falcon Rising, Blood and Bone, and the Never Back Down franchise.
He was one of the first Black actors to play the role of a major superhero in a blockbuster hit, starring as Al Simmons in Spawn. Jai White is trained in many martial arts disciplines, including Taekwondo, Kyokushin, Jujutsu, and more.
71. George Clooney
Star’s Net Worth: $500 million*Annual Protection Cost: $1.5 million*
George Clooney and his wife, human rights attorney Amal Clooney, don’t mess around when it comes to security for themselves and their children. Clooney has been in Hollywood for decades, so he has become used to the need for security guards to protect him from rabid fans and even stalkers.
Amal Clooney is a lawyer who often takes on human rights cases against dangerous defendants. According to the papers, the Clooneys have a highly-trained round-the-clock security team guarding their children. During the summer of 2019, the family had a secret schedule, and the kids were prevented from going outside, as Amal was involved in a very serious court case.
72. Emma Stone
Star’s Net Worth: $30 million*Annual Protection Cost: $100,000*
As you can see from this picture, actress Emma Stone, star of movies like La La Land, Easy A, The Amazing Spider-Man, Zombieland, and Crazy, Stupid, Love, is never far from her security team. In this photo, they’re escorting her from Variety Studio, an actors’ talk show.
Stone has been in Hollywood since the 2000s, so she’s used to the need for personal security. The actress had her big break in 2007 when she was in the movie Superbad, and, two years later, she received positive acclaim for Zombieland. Easy A was her first lead role, and she won BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for it.
73. Matt Damon
Star’s Net Worth: $170 million*Annual Protection Cost: $500,000*
Matt Damon has had A-lister bodyguards like Simon Newton and Basil Whelan to protect him, though he has yet to turn his 1980 movie, Mr. Bodyguard into reality. Newton protected stars like Bella Hadid, and Whelan worked for Niall Horan, a former One Direction band member.
Of the two, Whelan has gotten the most attention, as One Direction fans have set up fan accounts for him with the hashtag #Nasil. The bodyguard worked for Damon throughout 2020, when the actor and his family were staying in the villa of former racing driver Eddie Irvine. Irvine’s villa costs over $8,450 per week to rent.
74. Meryl Streep
Star’s Net Worth: $160 million*Annual Protection Cost: $1 million*
Actress Meryl Streep has bodyguards with her everywhere she goes, from doing her own personal shopping to showing up at the BAFTA ceremony. Streep often beefs up her security when she’s going to award shows, hoping to fend off any fans who might cause problems. She had two bodyguards with her at the Oscars and BAFTAs.
Streep took no chances at the ceremonies, keeping two buff bodyguards near her as she posed for pictures. Her personal security was tightened up after the star reported received some scary messages on Twitter. Better safe than sorry, as the old saying goes.
75. Mariah Carey
Star’s Net Worth: $320 million*Annual Protection Cost: $255,500*
Singer Mariah Carey is a diva, and it’s to be expected that she keeps personal security around her at all times. The “All I Want for Christmas” singer’s recent bodyguard was Michael Anello, the owner of a private security firm in California.
According to records, Anello’s company was paid $511,000 for two years, coming out to a per-year protection cost of $255,500. Anello and Carey parted ways before Carey’s tour, titled “All I Want for Christmas,” which kicked off in Ontario in 2018. The singer is always spotted with personal protection, whether she’s shopping or singing for millions.
76. Dakota Johnson
Star’s Net Worth: $14 million*Annual Protection Cost: $100,000*
Dakota Johnson’s bodyguard in real life is, obviously, not the same one that was her Fifty Shades character Ana’s bodyguard, Brant Daugherty. The actress, in real life, has a security team of people who escort her everywhere, from Meche Salon hair appointments to award shows.
Johnson had her big break with the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise. She snagged the leading role as Anastasia Steele in the romantic drama. It was released in February 2015, and the actress gained millions of fans as a result. Her parents are actors as well—her father is Don Johnson, and her mother is Melanie Griffith.
77. Kate Hudson
Star’s Net Worth: $80 million*Annual Protection Cost: $200,000*
Ronnie Mund actually works for The Howard Stern Show, but he was pictured and called a “suave bodyguard” by The Daily Mail when he escorted actress Kate Hudson into the building for a Wednesday-morning interview. Ronnie “The Limo Driver” was “finally getting the respect” he deserved, according to Stern.
The actress always has bodyguards with her, whether she’s presenting at the Covent Garden Hotel or popping by awards shows. In 2015, she even had designer Michael Kors stand in as her bodyguard for the Met Gala, something that made headlines. The actress’s most recent movie is Music, which was released in February of 2010.
78. Sarah Jessica Parker
Star’s Net Worth: $200 million*Annual Protection Cost: Unknown
Sex and the City icon Sarah Jessica Parker is not super dedicated to security, as she and her husband, actor Matthew Broderick, claim they don’t “travel with bodyguards.” The actress will sometimes keep personal protection around for awards ceremonies, though she had a weird incident in 2011 that surely made her think twice.
She hired a local bodyguard, Oleg Donstov, to protect her at an awards ceremony in Russia. She recalled being “horrified” when Donstov tried to kiss her. SJP dodged the unwanted kiss and screamed at the bodyguard, and the entire incident was caught on video, making the rounds on social media.
79. Simon Cowell
Star’s Net Worth: $600 million*Annual Protection Cost: $1 million*
Simon Cowell has never been afraid to speak his mind, and he and Gordon Ramsey are tied for the most aggressively critical TV hosts on the air today. Needless to say, Cowell has probably made himself a list of enemies, and he’s right to keep a bodyguard close by (though sometimes he’s a softy).
The American Idol judge hired “Big Tony” Adkins as his bodyguard for years. Adkins worked for him when he was a judge on Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor, spanning an eight-year period. Adkins would later go on to become an actor, portraying a giant in Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows.
80. Julia Roberts
Star’s Net Worth: $250 million*Annual Protection Cost: $2 million*
Julia Roberts takes security very seriously, especially when she’s on set. The Pretty Woman actress and her husband, Danny Moder, traveled to India when Roberts was shooting Eat, Pray, Love in Delhi, and they hired a team of 350 security people, including police, snipers, and bodyguards, to protect themselves and their children.
According to The Hindustan Times, Roberts, Moder, and their kids were transported by bulletproof vehicles and had helicopters doing flyovers “24 hours a day.” Roberts is still serious about security in the states, though she doesn’t employ a veritable army to escort her shopping and to fan meet-and-greets.