See How 22 Celebrities Spent Their First Big Paychecks
See How 22 Celebrities Spent Their First Big Paychecks
Lydia Price, Emily KrauserMon, August 10, 2026 at 11:15 AM UTC
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Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield appear on ‘Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen’ on Feb. 13, 2020Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
When it comes to first paychecks, celebrities know how to splurge (and save!).
It’s very exciting to see the fruits of hard labor finally pay off, especially with a payday to prove it. So, it’s no surprise that plenty of stars get that one special item they’ve been after once they finally can.
Tons of celebs have made a car their first big purchase, including The Photograph costars Lakeith Stanfield and Issa Rae, who (unknowingly) purchased from the same brand, as well as Jennifer Lopez, Gabrielle Union and Jennifer Aniston. Others went very practical, like Kelly Rowland’s trip to the supermarket, or embraced their inner child, as Donald Glover and Tiffany Haddish did with their sugar sprees.
Yes, jewelry — we see you, Madelaine Petsch and Ashley Graham — and sneakers — Travis Kelce and Caleb McLaughlin nabbed very different pairs of dream kicks! — were also procured, as were gifts for parents by the likes of Nicole Kidman and Minka Kelly.
From cars to candy to a Cartier ring — and even a bowling party! — find out how stars like Rae, Petsch and Glover spent their first big paychecks.
01 of 21
Gabrielle Union: A New Mazda
Gabrielle Union attends the American Black Film Festival at New World Center in Miami Beach, Fla., on June 12, 2025Credit: Arturo Holmes/Getty
Union — whose career took off in 1999 and 2000 with the success of the films 10 Things I Hate About You, She’s All That, Love & Basketball and Bring It On— described her first big purchase spending as “so stupid.”
“I went on the Mazda lot. I’m like, ‘Oh, I’ve made it when I have a Mazda.’ My dad’s like, ‘Don’t buy a brand new car. It depreciates the second you drive it off the lot,’ she recalled during a panel at the American Black Film Festival in June 2025.
Union continued, “I walked into Mazda, and I bought myself a black-on-black Mazda Miata with leather seats. Lemme tell you about leather seats in Los Angeles. Do you know I scorched myself every time I got out? Yeah, that was my first purchase. And it depreciated the second I drove it off the lot!”
02 of 21
Travis Kelce: Marty McFly Nikes
Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after defeating the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., on Jan. 26, 2025Credit: David Eulitt/Getty
During an appearance on theWIP Midday Show in August 2024, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end’s sister-in-law, Kylie Kelce, answered a trivia question about which Kelce brother — Travis or her retired husband Jason Kelce — spent their first NFL check on Marty McFly sneakers.
“Travis. It would never be my husband,” Kylie said confidently.
The Not Gonna Lie podcast host added, “I’ll tell you what, early on when we were dating, Travis came into town. I think with the Marty McFly shoes into Philly. I didn’t have a chance to meet Travis that time, but Jason told me after the fact how much of a hard time he gave Travis after Travis divulged how much he had spent on the shoes.”
Kylie admitted that the kicks — which were inspired by the self-tying sneakers that Michael J. Fox’s character Marty McFly wore in 1989’s Back to the Future Part II — were “so cool,” but Jason teasing his brother over the price he paid for them was “warranted.”
About a year earlier, during a May 2023 episode of his and Jason’s podcastNew Heights, Travis opened up about those very sneakers he’d “always wanted,” admitting they “weren’t cheap” — a cool $10,000, in fact.
“Watching Back to the Futureso many frickin’ times and seeing what the Nikes looked like in the future and the fact that they were anti-gravity ... those shoes were sweet!” Travis said.
03 of 21
Jennifer Aniston: A Lemon of a Mercedes
Jennifer Aniston attends the season 4 premiere of ‘The Morning Show’ at the Museum of Modern Art in N.Y.C. on Sept. 9, 2025Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty
Like many celebrities, Aniston’s “first big splurge” was a car.
However, the Mercedes convertible she purchased after seeing it parked on Los Angeles’ Melrose Avenue for some time didn’t turn out to be a dream vehicle.
“There was a little white 280 SL Mercedes, and it was there for a long time,” the Friends alum recalled in March 2023 during a Popsugar interview. “I mean, it could have been over two years. And I always was like, ‘I can’t wait, someday, someday [I’ll buy it].’ And one day I bought it, and then I drove it, and then drove it again, and it never drove again.”
The confession came while promoting Murder Mystery 2on TikTok alongside her costar Adam Sandler, who was incredulous that Aniston only got “two drives” out of the car.
“It was a lemon, and that’s why it had been sitting there,” she said, indicating the car had major manufacturing issues. “I didn’t know any better to get it checked out, so that was just a nice 25-year-old mistake.”
04 of 21
Lakeith Stanfield and Issa Rae: A Tesla
From left: Lakeith Stanfield attends the world premiere of ‘The Photograph’ at SVA Theater in N.Y.C. on Feb. 11, 2020; Issa Rae attends the 13th annual ‘Essence’ Black Women in Hollywood Awards Luncheon at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Feb. 6, 2020Credit: Steven Ferdman/Getty; David Livingston/Getty
The actors, who played on-screen love interests, have a very surprising thing in common: They’re “Tesla twins!”
Rae and Stanfield discovered the bizarre coincidence in February 2020, while discussing some of their firsts with BuzzFeed, including how they spent their first big paycheck.
“I bought a Tesla,” Stanfield said.
“Same, what?” the Insecure star replied, clearly taken aback. “Are you lyin’? I have never seen you drive it.”
That’s because, as Stanfield explained, “It’s in the shop!”
05 of 21
Madelaine Petsch: A Cartier Ring
Madelaine Petsch attends a special screening of ‘The Strangers: Chapter 2’ at AMC Century City 15 in L.A. on Sept. 16, 2025Credit: Jon Kopaloff/Getty
Purchasing designer rings has become a job-well-done tradition for Petsch.
“When we got a season 2, I bought myself my first Cartier,” The Strangers franchise actress told PEOPLE in October 2017. “I got the Cartier love ring in rose gold.”
Petsch further divulged on the jewelry’s meaning, telling Teen Vogue in January 2020, “I now buy myself one at the beginning of every season [of Riverdale] to, like, have something that I can remember.”
She checked in with her mom before buying that first ring.
“I was super nervous to buy it. I was like, ‘This is a big investment. Should I get it?’ ... I don’t really buy a lot of stuff; I don’t really splurge too often, but it’s nice to have those little things that remind me of where I came from and where I am now,” Petsch told the publication.
06 of 21
Donald Glover: Candy (Gushers, Specifically)
Donald Glover attends the premiere of Amazon Prime’s ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ at the Weylin in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Jan. 31, 2024Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Glover scored a writingjob on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock when he was just a college student.
“I had more money than all my friends, but I didn’t spend it well. You’re too young,” theMr. & Mrs. Smithstar shared during a July 2019 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
“Can I be honest?” Glover continued when host Jimmy Kimmel asked him how he spent his network TV money. “Like, Gushers. I wasn’t allowed to have candy as a kid, so I was like, ‘I’m balling.’ ”
07 of 21
Caleb McLaughlin: Nike Jordans
Caleb McLaughlin attends the ‘Stranger Things’ FYC Event at the Netflix Tudum Theater in L.A. on Nov. 8, 2025Credit: Savion Washington/FilmMagic
The Stranger Things actor splurged on a fresh pair of kicks when the Netflix money started rolling in.
“There were these sneakers called Jordan Wings that I bought,” he saidon First We Feast’s Truth or Dab in July 2019. “The shoes cost hundreds of dollars.”
Beyond that big purchase, McLaughlin generally tries to remain frugal, adding, “I don’t really spend that much.”
08 of 21
Kelly Rowland: Groceries
Kelly Rowland poses in the press room during the BET Awards at the Peacock Theater in L.A. on June 28, 2026Credit: Aaron J. Thornton/WireImage
Much like Glover, Rowland channeled her inner kid.
“When I got one of my first paychecks, I went to the grocery store and bought almost everything that my mom used to tell me was too expensive,” the former Destiny’s Child member previously told InStyle.
Rowland continued, “I bought all of that s---, had a party at my house, and everybody ate up everything. I’ll never forget it, because it was fun and it was something I was able to fund myself.”
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09 of 21
Minka Kelly: A Flat Screen TV for Her Dad
Minka Kelly attends the MOCA Gala at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in L.A. on May 30, 2026Credit: Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty
Upon landing her role in Friday Night Lights, Kelly purchased a TV for her dad.
“I got my dad a huge flat screen TV for Christmas,” the Ransom Canyon actress told InStyle. “He had no idea it was coming, and then he called me and said, ‘Do you know anything about this?’ And I was like, ‘Surprise!’
10 of 21
America Ferrera: A Mitsubishi
America Ferrera attends ‘Elle’s’ Women in Hollywood Celebration at Nya Studios in L.A. on Dec. 5, 2023Credit: Charley Gallay/Getty Images
After starring in the Disney Channel movie Gotta Kick It Up!, America Ferrera used her paycheck from the 2002 film to purchase her first car: a 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage.
“I had to ride the bus, I had to walk, I had to ride my bike, I had to beg my siblings for a ride,” The Lost Bus star told InStyle. “Getting your own car in L.A. is a huge rite of passage.”
11 of 21
Ashley Graham: A Personal Trainer (and Chanel shoes)
Ashley Graham attends the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in N.Y.C. on May 4, 2026Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty
Graham mostly went the practical route when she first made it big.
“Probably my first big purchase was a pair of Chanel platform creepers,” the model told PEOPLE in September 2016.
“But the most I spent was on a personal trainer,” she added. “I was so clueless in the gym, and I really wanted to learn how to use all of those intimidating machines without hurting myself.”
12 of 21
Nicole Kidman: A Washing Machine
Nicole Kidman attends the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in N.Y.C. on May 4, 2026Credit: Michael Loccisano/GA/The Hollywood Reporter/Getty
Kidman made a very practical household purchase, though it wasn’t for her home.
“I bought my mom and dad a washing machine,” she told TIME in April 2018 of what she spent her first paycheck on.
Though the Lioness star said she was “such a geek,” we think this was pretty sweet of her! Plus, she leaned into her sartorial style as she kept working.
“Later on, I bought some boots for myself that were like the coolest boots I had ever seen in my life,” Kidman told the publication.
13 of 21
Tiffany Haddish: So Much Candy!
Tiffany Haddish attends the premiere of ‘Moana’ at the Hollywood Bowl in L.A. on July 7, 2026Credit: Frazer Harrison/WireImage
TheGirls Trip star took herself to the bank — and then she spoiled her sweet tooth.
“First thing I did is, I went to the bank, and I opened up a checking account. It was like $120,” Haddish told TIME. “And I bought a big box of Snickers and lollipops, Jolly Rancher sticks and Blow Pops. Oh, and Corn Nuts.”
She added, “I’m surprised I don’t have diabetes right now because I love Snickers.”
14 of 21
Jennifer Lopez: A New Mercedes
Jennifer Lopez poses in the Deadline Studio during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 26, 2025Credit: Deadline/Deadline via Getty
Buying a fancy new ride was a big moment for the young Lopez, even though her personal life was rocky at the time.
During an actress roundtable with The Hollywood Reporter in May 2016, the Office Romance star explained that when she first moved to L.A. from The Bronx, she was “driving a Honda hatchback that Keenen Ivory Wayans had given me when I moved out here when I was a Fly Girl” on In Living Color.
“I had been driving it to every audition,” Lopez explained. “And when I got, I think it was a regular series, I bought a car — a Mercedes. And it was a huge deal, though I was signing the lease to the car and breaking up with my boyfriend the same week. We were in the dealership, and I was crying.”
15 of 21
Kerry Washington: A Laptop
Kerry Washington attends the BirthFund 100 launch at the Tory Burch Rodeo in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Dec. 4, 2025Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty
It took a little bit of time for Kerry Washington to get comfortable with her successful salary as an actress.
In fact, she called her initial money move “so Bronx girl of me.”
“Save the Last Dance was my second movie, and we had a per diem. I couldn’t believe somebody was handing me cash, and I literally used to hide it under my mattress for the whole movie,” Washington said during The Hollywood Reporter roundtable. “I put myself on a tight budget of what I could spend. And at the end of it, I used all the cash from the three months and bought my first laptop.”
16 of 21
Brie Larson: An Electric Guitar
Brie Larson attends the Max Mara Resort 2025 at the Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy, on June 11, 2024Credit: Daniele Venturelli/WireImage
Considering Brie Larson portrayed rock star Envy Adams in 2010’s Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, her first big gift to herself feels apropos.
“The first real purchase that I recall was a blue electric guitar,” the Oscar winner once told GQ (via Glamour).
Even as her paychecks grew, Larson tried to stay practical, as she told Vanity Fair in April 2017. At the time, she said she avoided spending a ton of money on clothes and felt “really guilty” for spending $2,000 to fix her hot tub, as that was “a luxury item to me.”
17 of 21
Rami Malek: An Espresso Machine
Rami Malek attends the EE BAFTA Film Awards at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Feb. 18, 2024Credit: Gareth Cattermole/BAFTA/Getty
Rami Malek turned his first paycheck into a caffeine dream.
“I ended up spending that paycheck on my own personal espresso machine,” the Nuremberg star told GQin December 2015. “I think I figured that s--- out.”
18 of 21
Ariel Winter: Shoes, Shoes and More Shoes
Ariel Winter attends the fourth annual Legacy Ball at the SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills in L.A. on Oct. 5, 2024Credit: Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty
Ariel Winter went straight for retail therapy when she made her first substantial TV earnings as a teen.
“I think I bought some serious shoes. I bought a lot of shoes,” the Modern Family alum told PEOPLE in January 2014. “I love shoes.”
19 of 21
Olivia Holt: A Pet Fish
Olivia Holt is spotted in N.Y.C. on June 30, 2026Credit: Raymond Hall/GC Images
Olivia Holt got an early start in Hollywood, and she spent her first paycheck in a way many young kids can likely relate to.
“When I was 8 or 9, I did a commercial or something, and my parents gave me $200 from it, and I took that $200 to Petco, and I bought a Betta fish,” she said during an appearance on the Zach Sang Show podcast in March 2017.
20 of 21
Cindy Crawford: Wallpaper
Cindy Crawford attends the ‘WWD’ Style Awards at the Regent Santa Monica Beach in Santa Monica, Calif., on Jan. 9, 2026Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty
After making it in the fashion world, Cindy Crawford focused on making her home look good.
“I still remember what I spent my first paycheck on — wallpaper. Says a lot doesn’t it?” the supermodel wrote on X in June 2014.
21 of 21
Brad Pitt: Furniture
Brad Pitt poses in the press room during the 26th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. on Jan. 19, 2020Credit: Gregg DeGuire/Getty
Brad Pitt’s home got very fancy after he became a professional actor.
“When I received my first paycheck from my now-known day job, I spent it on a period Craftsman chair and a Frank Lloyd Wright-wannabe lamp,” the F1 movie star told Architectural Digest in November 2012. “With my second paycheck, I bought a stereo.”
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