Celebs who got VERY normal jobs after fame – from the actor at Trader Joe’s to the NBA star who turned to Starbucks
When the clock runs out on your 15 minutes of fame, it's useful to have a backup plan.
Some celebrities have dipped out of the spotlight to return to the "normal" working life, with reality stars, pro athletes, and even actors adding to their resumes with skills such as saving lives and collecting wood.
JERSEY SHORE'S ANGELINA PIVARNECK - EMT
Jersey Shore’s original antagonist Angelina Pivarneck worked as an EMT on her native Staten Island from 2016-2018.
After she was replaced on by Deena Nicole Cortese, Angelina made an occasional appearance on the reality show before pursuing a career with the FDNY.
After leaving her job, Pivarneck alleged that she was sexually harassed by two of her superiors during her time working as a first responder.
She won her lawsuit against the FDNY in 2020 and the city agreed to pay a settlement of $350,000.
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NBA STAR ADRIAN DANTLEY - CROSSING GUARD
Former NBA star and hall-of-famer Adrian Dantley followed up his impressive sports career with a stint working as a crossing guard at a school in Maryland.
The billionaire was known for living a less than lavish lifestyle during his time as a prolific scorer with the Jazz.
With his new career, the 67-year-old takes home an annual salary of $14,000.
As a crossing guard, Dantley also has access to health insurance, which the NBA does not offer to players.
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KEVIN JONAS - CONTRACTOR
After enjoying his time as one third of a world-famous boyband alongside brothers Nick and Joe, the oldest Jo Bro pursued a very different passion.
Kevin made a surprise appearance on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, where he revealed he was working as a contractor.
On the show, Kevin referred to singing as his previous day job and he has reportedly made a name for himself in the construction industry.
Kevin and his brothers have since gone on to reunite and create more chart-toppers together.
MC HAMMER - MINISTER
From hit songs to his iconic pants, M.C. Hammer had already created an impressive legacy among 90s kids.
By the end of the decade, the singer had re-adopted the “M.C.” back into his name, which he said now stood for “Man of Christ.”
Hammer embraced his faith and currently works as a minister with youth and prison populations.
JON & KATE PLUS 8'S JON GOSSELIN - LINE COOK
Jon Gosselin from Jon & Kate Plus 8 has worked in a series of different jobs since his time on the family’s reality show.
After a brief stint working as a line cook at TGI Friday’s, Gosselin took a job as an IT director at a healthcare facility.
Gosselin is also reported to have worked as a stripper following his divorce from his wife Kate, according to Page Six.
Most recently, Gosselin works as a DJ, and recently released a collaboration with The International DJ Casper called "Voicemail."
THE COSBY SHOW'S GEOFFREY OWENS - CASHIER
Geoffrey Owens, known for his role as Elvin Tibideaux on The Cosby Show, started a conversation about low-paid labor in 2018 after a customer snapped a photo of him working at Trader Joe’s.
While Owens still works as an actor, he commended the grocery store chain for providing flexible hours to working and aspiring actors in need of some extra money.
Stars such as Ben Stiller, Zach Braff, and Terry Crews spoke up in support of Owens making "an honest living."
"I swept floors AFTER the NFL. If need be, I'd do it again. Honest work is nothing to be ashamed of," Crews tweeted after the photo of Owens went viral.
MEAN GIRLS' JONATHAN BENNETT - SPIN INSTRUCTOR
Mean Girls heartthrob Jonathan Bennett embodied the athleticism of the iconic Aaron Samuels by becoming a spin instructor.
In 2013, Bennett worked as a trainer at the Flywheel gym in Los Angeles where spin class attendance was sure to have reached an all time high.
Bennett went on to appear on the 2019 season of Celebrity Big Brother, where he spent a lot of his time leading workouts for his housemates.
WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE'S JENNIFER STONE - REGISTERED NURSE
If you were a Disney Channel fan from 2007-2012, you are sure to recognize registered nurse Jennifer Stone, who played Selena Gomez’s quirky sidekick in Wizards of Waverly Place.
After being diagnosed with diabetes as an adult, Stone quit acting to pursue a career in the medical field in an effort to better understand her condition.
She landed her current position working in a Burbank ER at the beginning of the COVID pandemic and updates her Instagram followers on her journey since.
HERE COMES HONEY BOO BOO'S ANNA 'CHICKADEE' CARDWELL - GAS STATION ATTENDANT
The eldest daughter of Mama June's clan currently works as a gas station attendant, which she said has its advantages, such as meeting country singer Jon Langston.
Cardwell and her family shot to fame in 2012 after their show, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo's, four season run on TLC.
The mother-of-two previously worked as a stocker at Walmart until at least 2020.
She told Hollywood Life that she was scared to return to her job at the store after undergoing a breast augmentation, which cost around $47,000.
"I was scared to go to work, with the scarring, because I still had my tape on and I still had stitches. Also, I was scared that something’s going to pop out, but nothing did," she told the site back in 2020.
GROWING UP GOTTI'S CARMINE GOTTI AGNELLO - AUTO SHOP
The grandson and namesake of infamous New York mobster Carmine "The Bull" Agnello became a reality star in 2004 alongside his brothers and mother.
The younger Carmine starred in Growing Up Gotti for two seasons before the show was cancelled due to low ratings.
He went on to work with his brothers, John and Frank, in the family's auto shop before appearing in the show's 10 year reunion special.
In 2018, the Gotti name was once more tied to illegal activities as Carmine appeared in court for operating the Queens auto shop without a license.
TEEN MOM'S MACKENZIE DOUTHIT - FITNESS COACH
After appearing on both 16 & Pregnant and its spinoff Teen Mom, Mackenzie pursued a career in fitness.
The mother-of-three married her baby daddy in 2013 and underwent a complete body transformation after the birth of her second child.
As well as working as a fitness coach, Mackenzie also competes in bodybuilding competitions across the country.
WWE'S JIMMY WANG YANG - TRUCK DRIVER
While he is not officially retired from the world of professional wrestling, Yang has several other business ventures that are more relatable than the WWE.
One of the wrestler's interesting skills includes starting a pest control business called "Jimmy's Pest Control" in the Cincinnati area.
He also works as a truck driver for "redneck party bus" and "princess party bus" themed events.
NBA'S VIN BAKER - STARBUCKS BARISTA
The four time NBA all-star reportedly blew his $100 million earnings on his substance addiction, which included downing entire bottles of Listerine.
After hitting rock bottom in 2006, Baker took a job as a barista at Starbucks while he focused on his sobriety.
Baker met with Starbucks CEO, and owner of the SuperSonics, to develop a plan for working at the coffee chain.
Baker went on to complete a management training course and oversaw a Starbucks franchise in his hometown of Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
NBA'S KARL MALONE - WOOD COLLECTOR
Perhaps one of the most famous examples of a celebrity experiencing life in the normal workforce, 14-time all-star Karl Malone sampled various careers at the height of his fame.
Unlike his sporting counterpart Baker, Malone dabbled in these ventures for the life experience rather than out of necessity.
The Mailman's late brother once told him: "If I had your money, I wouldn't do anything."
But Malone has done it all from hauling wood to selling cars.
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Off the court, Malone's other passion was trucking, according to Deseret News.
"He loves trucking. That's his way to do something he loves. He's in the truck by himself. It gives him time to think," Malone's associate told the publication.