Kendall Jenner Joins the Lineup of A-Listers With Alcohol Companies

The Kardashian-Jenner business empire is growing. Kendall Jenner is becoming one of the many celebrities who own alcohol companies. On Feb. 16, Jenner revealed to her Instagram fans that she’s launching 818 Tequila.

“For almost four years, I’ve been on a journey to create the best tasting tequila,” the reality star wrote in her Instagram post. “After dozens of blind taste tests, trips to our distillery, entering into world tasting competitions anonymously and winning, three and a half years later, I think we’ve done it!”

Keep reading for more information on Jenner’s new venture and the libations backed by other Hollywood stars.

Jenner owning an alcohol company will add to her net worth, which is estimated at $45 million. “This is all we’ve been drinking for the last year, and I can’t wait for everyone else to get their hands on this to enjoy it as much as we do!” Jenner added in her post.

She also touted some of 818’s accolades so far. The tequila has earned high marks at the World Tequila Awards, the SIP Awards, the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, the MicroLiquor Spirit Awards, and other competitions.

After taking their alcohol label Casamigos public in 2013, actor George Clooney and co-owners Rande Gerber and Michael Meldman sold the tequila company to multinational beverage company Diageo in 2017 for $700 million with a possible $300 million bonus, pending its 10-year performance.

“If you asked us four years ago if we had a billion dollar company, I don’t think we would have said yes,” the Midnight Sky actor told CNBC at the time. “This reflects Diageo’s belief in our company and our belief in Diageo. But we’re not going anywhere. We’ll still be very much a part of Casamigos. Starting with a shot tonight. Maybe two.”

Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds became a co-owner in Aviation American Gin in 2018 and helped the brand’s marketing efforts with TV and print advertisements under his creative direction. In 2020, Diageo announced that it would acquire Aviation and that Reynolds would maintain “ongoing ownership interest” in the gin company.

“A little over two years ago, I became an owner of Aviation Gin because I love the taste of Aviation more than any other spirit,” Reynolds said in a press release at the time. “What I didn’t expect was the sheer creative joy learning a new industry would bring. Growing the brand with my company, Maximum Effort Marketing, has been among the most fulfilling projects I’ve ever been involved with.”

Elon Musk pranked Twitter followers on April Fool’s Day 2018 with a post about “Teslaquila.” However, by that October, Tesla filed paperwork to trademark the name. When the product finally went on sale on Tesla’s website in November 2020—with a lightning bolt-shaped bottle befitting the EV company—Tesla Tequila sold out in less than a week, according to CNBC.

The celebs above aren’t the only ones with alcohol businesses. Rapper Sean “Puffy” Combs went 50/50 with Diageo to launch Ciroc vodka in 2007, Real Housewives of New York City alum Bethenny Frankel launched Skinnygirl margaritas in 2009, and Jay-Z purchased the champagne brand Armand de Brignac in 2014, according to TODAY.