Keeping up to date with the latest hobbies, trends and behaviors in the celebrity world can be an interesting and time-consuming affair. Celebrities will often drive fads, generally for promotional or advertising purposes. Some celebrities implement hobbies into their lifestyle and are renowned for their activities outside their main roles.
To clarify, when we say popular hobbies, we’re not talking about something Kim Kardashian once posted on Instagram, or a paid advert from a YouTuber – we’re talking about hobbies that some of the biggest A-listers consistently involve themselves in and talk about.
As the world becomes more mobile-centric and celebrities’ hobbies begin to reflect widespread cultural changes, emphasizing digital and online hobbies as opposed to the more traditional, there are some unique and surprising hobbies on today’s list.
High-rollers – poker games and casino jaunts
Many Hollywood celebrities have the financial muscle that you or I just don’t have access to. The top names in show business like to flaunt their wealth occasionally by going to a casino and trying their hand at a few casino games. Some high-rollers include Dana White and his love of blackjack, or Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s card-based gaming ventures into poker.
Celebrities like Michael Jordan are renowned for their casino hobbies. While it is imperative that you gamble with caution, with so much money at their disposal, these celebrities often play big hands, win big and lose big. Financial management is vital for anyone playing casino games, and it is one of the many reasons that online sweepstakes casinos have become such a significant part of the digital gambling industry.
Although celebrities rarely seek out sweepstakes games, many promote their gambling or gambling companies via their social media channels, and some of their affiliates will have sweepstakes or free-to-play alternatives.
Gaming
It’s not just casino games that strike a chord with some of America’s biggest stars; dozens of high-profile names enjoy sitting down and playing a video game or two. Celebrities can take off their public masks and game completely anonymously, facing off against unwitting members of the public, and for avid celebrity gamers like Snoop Dogg, this is a big draw.
However, the iconic West Coast rap superstar isn’t alone in his ventures into the gaming world. Other top celebrity gamers include Michael Phelps, Samuel L. Jackson, the late Matthew Perry and 007 himself – Daniel Craig.
Given the extent and international popularity of console gaming, it shouldn’t be too surprising that so many celebrities are big fans of this hobby; it helps them unwind and disappear behind a pseudonym, and is a fantastic way to unwind.
Skiing
Often touted as an activity for the more affluent members of society, celebrities fall into this category. Mariah Carey, Lewis Hamilton, Prince William, Paris Hilton and Justin Bieber are some names kicking up the snow in the winter seasons.
Snowy Swiss and French Alps, the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains in Canada are just a handful of locations where some of these names have been spotted. Despite the price tags of arranging a skiing trip, it is both a hobby and an excellent way for people to remain fit.
Hiking and exploring the wilderness
Getting out into the great outdoors is something that millions of people enjoy doing. Of course, this can depend heavily on your environment and your surroundings. Given that LA is so celebrity-driven, and the Californian mountains aren’t too far from the houses of many of the biggest names in American pop culture, it’s not unusual to see prominent actors, actresses, sportspeople or socialites on one of the many trails.
Many people classify hiking as character-building and good for the soul; not only has it inspired many quotes but it’s one of the most awe-inspiring, cost-effective and accessible ways to connect with nature.
Celebrities who enjoy hiking include Julianne Hough, Justin Bieber, Paul Rudd and Emma Watson. However, keep-fit gurus such as Bear Grylls constantly explore new terrains and the great outdoors. While it might be more of a vocation than a hobby for Bear Grylls, he has made a comfortable living from his unique connection and love for getting out in the wilderness and challenging himself.
Mike Tyson and his pigeons
Perhaps one of the most notable celebrity hobbies is associated with former world heavyweight boxing champion “Iron” Mike Tyson. Renowned for his ferocious, fearless personality and one of the most recognizable faces in sports, the New York-born pugilist often hit the headlines for an array of eclectic reasons.
However, the pets he used to keep at his sprawling multimillion-dollar mansion would attract a lot of attention, whether it was his pet tiger or his pigeon coop, home to over 300 of his flying friends.
His hobby of caring for pigeons has followed Mike throughout his life; as a poor youth in the Catskills, he developed his hobby and love for keeping pets. Throughout his immense popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, he maintained his pigeon coops, and even now, in his older and wiser years, he still has hundreds of pigeons that fly from his specialist coop.
Tyson finds himself in good company with this hobby, as it is something that all-time great actor Marlon Brando enjoyed, as did one of the most recognizable artists of all time – Pablo Picasso.
Thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies
Hobbies don’t always have to provide relief or calm from the glitz and glamor of the celebrity lifestyle. There are plenty of celebrities who like to live life on the edge but without putting themselves in danger, although there are also many who are known to fly a little too close to the sun at times.
Some notable thrill seekers include Vanilla Ice, the rapper who exploded onto the scene in the early 1990s, and his love for motorsports and watersports. Purportedly a top jet skier, Vanilla Ice, a massive fan of dirt bikes, has raced on water competitively. Unlike other rappers who have had a much more difficult time behind the handlebars of a jet ski, such as Sean Kingston, Ice is a natural on the water.
Other thrill seekers include Miley Cyrus, Will Smith and Tom Cruise, who are avid fans of skydiving and have completed dozens of successful jumps between them – which should come as no surprise, given Cruise completes all of his own stunts, much to the dismay of movie producers on whatever blockbuster film he’s creating.
An ear for music
Plenty of talented celebrities can carry their skills over to the performing arts. For instance, Jamie Foxx is renowned for acting and stand-up comedy. In addition, House star Hugh Laurie is an accomplished pianist and singer. You can find many clips on YouTube where the Englishman shows off his vocal and musical gifts. Jack Black, Johnny Depp and Kevin Bacon are other actors who formed their own bands in their spare time.
If you’re a fan of electronic music and DJs, you’ll recognize some celebrities who enjoy a spin on the decks in their spare time – Idris Elba is well-known for DJing in many clubs throughout Europe, as is former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal. You can add two other names to this eclectic list: Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood and millionaire socialite Paris Hilton.
However, this skill goes both ways; many famous celebrity musicians have also tried their hand at other hobbies with great success. Many people know Bruce Springsteen’s guitarist Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante in the hit HBO show The Sopranos, highlighting his ability on multiple stages.
Ice Cube, Jared Leto, Harry Styles and Lady Gaga are other A-listers who switched seamlessly from music to acting, turning their side hobby into their latest career move.
Model trains
While it might not seem so, model trains are a big hit among the celebrity community, with many of the top names in showbusiness and sports expressing a strong interest in collecting and piecing together modern train outfits. Elton John, Tom Hanks, Rod Stewart and Roger Daltrey are among the A-listers who enjoy collecting and constructing model train sets.
Although some might be under the impression that this is a niche hobby, there’s a significant list of celebrities who spend hours a week getting their model trains in tip-top condition.
Conclusion
Surprisingly, celebrities are just like you or me, and even though they might excel in their field, they also need to wind down and enjoy their favorite hobbies in their spare time – just like anybody else. Many celebrity circles also have eccentric characters and people passionate about various hobbies and topics.
As the appetite for a digital-first approach becomes more entrenched in society, the possibility of being unable to continue your daily life without a phone becomes more likely year after year.
Whereas 20 years ago, hobbies like gaming may have been on the fringes of what celebrities enjoy, there are hundreds of millions of active gamers across the globe.
Given this vast web of interconnected fans playing hundreds of different, award-winning titles, it’s inevitable that some celebrities will be sucked into the bubble and become pioneers of this new, exciting avenue of entertainment.
Comply with relevant local laws and regulations for online casinos, as they differ across various countries and regions.
