Forbes is publishing their “Celebrity 100” list in their next issue. The June issue which is making it’s way to stores now features Oprah Winfrey in her spot at the top of the list. Number three is singer Rihanna and now in the number two spot, and on the cover of the issue, Teen mega-star Justin Bieber.
Justin Bieber is trying desperately to not be a dying teenage pop star. He’s also kept his image clean for the most part and hasn’t succumbed to the gossip rags the way that Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and even Miley Cyrus have in recent days.
Bieber has recently jumped on the startup investment bandwagon. His portfolio isn’t nearly as robust as say Ashton Kutcher, but he’s not nearly as tech/startup savvy as the Two and A Half Men star either (Yet).
Bieber tells Forbes that his manager Scooter Braun has a team of people that help “the biebs” invest in startups. Bieber told Forbes magazine:
“Scooter has a team that helps find investments. Usually we work together. If I find something, I bring it to the table.”
Forbes Zack O’Malley Greenburg says that Bieber takes a Peter Lynch approach to investing with the artist adding: “I’m not going to invest in something I don’t like; I have to believe in the product”. Bieber’s manager said that philosophy has led Bieber to invest millions into 12 startups. Forbes was able to verify four of those including Tiny Chat,
New York startup Stamped, Sojo Studios and Spotify.
Bieber also talked on video about his investing in social charity startup WeTopia, which Bieber described as a “Farmville” with real money going to people who need it.
O’Malley Greenburg, makes it clear that unlike other celebrities Bieber isn’t doing endorsement for equity deals, rather he’s investing real money into startups.
Braun is very protective of Bieber’s startup portfolio but says that all of his investments are still in business. The investing came about when Braun realized that Bieber was too young to sell vodka and his fans wouldn’t buy $150 pairs of shoes. What Bieber did know very very well was web 2.0 and social media. That’s why they’ve invested in web based startups like Spotify and WeTopia.
Braun said that Bieber’s startup portfolio was reflective of 2-5% of his net worth and Forbes estimated that to about $3 million dollars.
Bieber has supported other companies like Tosy a company that’s making an entertainment robot. There’s no word as to whether Bieber is invested in Tosy or he was just doing an appearance for them at this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show.
Bieber’s longtime girlfriend singer/actress Selena Gomez is also involved in startups like Postcards On The Run that allows you to send physical postcards from your mobile device.
Kyle