While many celebrities diversify their income streams with ventures like beauty brands and alcohol labels, some balance their entertainment careers with surprisingly "normal" jobs. From firefighters and EMTs to teachers and real estate developers, these famous faces have found unique ways to supplement their showbiz incomes and stay grounded in the real world.

Unexpected Gigs of the Rich and Famous

Serving and Protecting

Some celebrities have put their skills to use in public service roles. Steve Buscemi, known for his memorable acting roles, worked as a firefighter in Manhattan in the 1980s. When tragedy struck on 9/11, Buscemi returned to the FDNY and worked multiple 12-hour shifts to help locate survivors. Former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth is also a state-licensed EMT in New York, while Jersey Shore's Angelina Pivarnick worked as an EMT with the FDNY in Staten Island from 2016 to 2018. Pivarnick even made a guest appearance on the dating show Double Shot at Love to "save" her former co-stars from heartache.

Healing Hands

Some celebrities have pursued careers in the medical field alongside their entertainment work. Wizards of Waverly Place star Jennifer Stone is an ER nurse, a path she chose after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2013. And while Terry Crews was in the NFL, he supplemented his income by painting portraits of his teammates, each piece costing around $5,000.

Educators and Mentors

A few famous faces have taken on teaching roles. In 2009, actor Tony Danza spent a year teaching sophomore English at a Philadelphia high school, an experience partially chronicled on the reality show Teach: Tony Danza. Meanwhile, Matthew McConaughey has held positions at his alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin, first as the Minister of Culture and later as a professor of practice at the Moody College of Communication.

Entrepreneurial Endeavors

Some celebrities have leveraged their fame and resources to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. While Dylan Sprouse was a student at New York University, he worked as a restaurant host. After the end of That's So Raven, Anneliese Van Der Pol worked in several New York restaurants. And both Jeremy Renner and Kevin Jonas have found success in the real estate development world, with Renner flipping multi-million dollar houses and Jonas building custom mansions through his company JonasWerner.

Unexpected Gigs and Side Hustles

A few celebrities have taken on more unexpected jobs and side hustles. When she was 14, Drew Barrymore needed a job and found work at a coffeehouse near where she lived. Danielle Fishel, known for her role on Boy Meets World, worked as a gift wrapper at Bloomingdale's while a student at California State University, Fullerton. And in 2022, while Pamela Anderson was temporarily living in New York City for a run in the musical Chicago, she reportedly took on an unpaid gig as a dog walker, missing her own pups.