Tax and accounting jobs aren’t typically associated with glitz or glamour. However, you might be surprised at some of the big names that dipped their toes in the profession at one point. From singers to actors to some of the wealthiest figures in history, former accountants can be found just about anywhere. Do you know any famous accounting majors?
These celebrity accountants prove financial prowess isn’t reserved for the pros. Here’s a list of 15 celebrities with accounting degrees or backgrounds.
15. Kevin Kennedy
Some say baseball is a numbers game. MLB broadcaster and former manager Kevin Kennedy studied accounting at San Diego State before getting his call up to the big leagues. So maybe there’s something to that theory after all.
14. D’Lo Brown
Before he achieved stardom as The Rock’s tag team partner, the celebrity wrestler earned an accounting degree at the University of Maine. Brown even worked briefly as a licensed CPA before entering the ring.
13. J.P. Morgan
The name J.P. Morgan is still associated with finances today, so it’s no surprise that the man himself came from an accounting background. Morgan made mastering corporate finance on Wall Street look easy after beginning his career as an accountant for a New York banking firm.
12. Arthur Blank
These days you can catch the Home Depot founder sitting in the owner’s box at Atlanta Falcons games. But after graduating college, Blank began his professional career as an accountant at Arthur Young and Co. With a current net worth in the billions, it’s clear that his finance skills served him well.
11. Bob Newhart
It’s not hard to imagine that Newhart’s droll, deadpan comedic style may have been partly inspired by his brief accounting stint. But while he certainly has the disposition of a stereotypical accountant, Newhart says he lacked the patience for the job. He would even round out petty cash balances using his own money to save time.
10. Kenny G
Back when he was just Kenneth Gorelick, the celebrity saxophonist received an accounting degree from the University of Washington. While he didn’t go on to use his degree professionally, he still received plenty of value from his education. Gorelick made early investments in Starbucks, Apple, and Microsoft. In retrospect, it’s safe to say his knowledge paid dividends.
9. Chuck Lidell
Lidell’s iconic fighting style helped bring mixed martial arts into the mainstream. But before entering the cage, he received a bachelor’s degree in business and accounting from Cal Poly. Lidell also wrestled during his time in college and made his UFC debut three years after graduation.
8. Lee Van Cleef
Best known as the stone-faced foe opposite Clint Eastwood in spaghetti westerns, Van Cleef worked as an accountant before achieving celebrity status. When the U.S. entered the second World War, he also joined the Navy to work as a sonarman aboard various ships.
7. Suzy Eddie Izzard
Believe it or not, the British comedy giant once intended to follow in her father’s footsteps and pursue accounting. Izzard only turned to studying drama after she flunked her accounting exams and got kicked out of the school’s program. Turns out her talent for comedy was much stronger than her knack for numbers.
6. Peter Falk
Falk was best known for playing the scrupulous TV detective Columbo, but his analytical talents weren’t limited to the screen. Before his celebrity days, Falk was a CPA working for the State of Connecticut’s Budget Bureau as an “efficiency expert.”
5. John D. Rockefeller
Although he made his fortune in oil, John D. Rockefeller began his professional career as an assistant bookkeeper at just 16 years old. There, the future tycoon honed his business expertise by calculating transportation costs, negotiating with clients, and collecting debts.
4. Robert Plant
Before he was the legendary frontman for Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant initially trained to become a chartered accountant. However, his passion for the blues was simply too strong and he left the program after just two weeks to pursue music.
3. Mick Jagger
It’s hard to imagine one of the most iconic rock figures taking a quiet desk job, but that was almost the case for Mick Jagger. The singer studied finance and accounting at the London School of Economics, using it as a backup plan in case his musical ambitions didn’t pan out.
2. John Grisham
While Grisham’s background in law laid the foundation for several best-selling novels, the writer initially studied accounting to become a tax lawyer. It wasn’t until law school that his interest shifted toward general civil litigation. Fortunately for us, that pivot would result in plenty of legal thrillers to read.
1. Janet Jackson
Despite growing up in the spotlight of celebrity, Janet Jackson initially attended college to pursue an accounting degree. She would eventually abandon these plans in lieu of a Grammy-winning music career. However, Jackson even admits that she probably would’ve continued with accountancy if not for singing. Of course, we’re happy to have all the chart-topping hits.