Margot Robbie joins stars selling booze as Hollywood investments 'go down the drain': expert

“Barbie” star Margot Robbie is the latest celebrity to get into the alcohol branding business.

In an interview with The temperaturethe actress admitted that the alcohol business can be much easier than Hollywood.

“Cinema is a crazy business where you sell something that isn’t tangible, it’s an idea. We have no idea how much it’s going to make, who’s going to see it, if it’s going to be seen or how it’s going to be received,” she said.

Robbie, who recently launched his gin brand, Papa Salt, continued: “It seems a lot simpler, it's easier to predict things. You can present that on a spreadsheet in a way that you don't can't present a film idea.

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Robbie's representatives did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

“Barbie,” which Robbie starred in and produced with his production company, LuckyChap Entertainment, grossed $1.4 billion at the worldwide box office and garnered eight Academy Award nominations and a win for best original song.

But even with the film's success, there are no guarantees in Hollywood.

“Celebrities are turning to brands/products because they have permanent equity and the return on investment (ROI) of filmmaking is plummeting,” Steven PesaventoCEO of VonFinch Capital in Denver, told Fox News Digital.

He continued: “In the world of free or streaming content, there's no margin, so they really have a better chance of making a lot of money on an ongoing basis in business than in entertainment. When combined, they can be great. [eyeballs into profit dollars]”.”

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The Hollywood box office was sluggish during the first half of the year. The Los Angeles Times reported that May domestic revenue was down 43% compared to the three-year average before the pandemic and that ticket sales were down 25% compared to the same period in 2023.

Ted Jenkin, president of Exit Stage Left Advisors in Atlanda, told Fox News Digital, “At the end of the day, the highest paying job in America is marketing and customer acquisition. Although stars can make millions of dollars making movies, the ultimate multi-million dollar job is owning your own business and using your star power to turn your fans into customers.

“Remember that when Tiger Woods was at the top of his game, he made 10 times more in business and advertising than playing golf. Today's celebrities realize that you have to be a man of 'business to become a billionaire.'

Robbie is far from the first star to invest in alcohol.

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George Clooney, Dwayne Johnson, Mark Wahlberg, Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Reynolds and Cameron Diaz are just a few of the big names who have put their money, and often their faces, behind alcohol, beer or wine brands in recent years.

“Celebrity-related branding, product launches and marketing campaigns have long been a staple of the promotional community, as A-list celebrities never fail to drive sales, creating a symbiotic relationship between products/brands and celebrities ; and that probably won’t change,” said Kara Schmiemann, senior director of Red Banyan Public Relations in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

She added: “However, celebrities are starting to realise their potential and are becoming business moguls in their own right, developing and launching their own products instead of just putting their name forward for a piece of the pie. This allows them to carve out a significant piece of the pie.”

And no expertise in the field is required.

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“The fact is that most consumers don’t really know the difference between one spirit and another. So, given the choice, they’re going to want to drink a spirit that’s associated with one of their favorite celebrities,” Jenkin said.

“Obviously the product has to taste good, but celebrities are realizing that their star power can be very effective in the alcohol market because it gives their fans an emotional attachment to living the celebrity life.”

Pesavento added: “The same bottle with a celebrity attached or not will fly off the shelves faster if positioned correctly, which turns into huge brand value. This trend could apply to almost any business because celebrities sell products and sales equal increased multiples. “.

Robbie told the Times she was “hesitant” to step into what is admittedly a crowded field.

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“I definitely didn't want to jump on the bandwagon. But I'm not really worried. Nobody came to us with this idea or with money. We were never indebted to anyone,” said she declared to the media.

She also said she didn't want people to see it as “Margot Robbie's gin” but as “five best friends' gin”, referring to herself, her husband and producing partner, Thomas Ackerly, and his friends Josey McNamara, Charlie Maas and Regan Riskas (a married couple).

Schmiemann also noted that Robbie's Success in business is attractive as an own brand.

“Celebrities like Margot Robbie are making a name for themselves as intelligent, well-rounded, multifaceted, and large-scale entrepreneurs, and there is always room at the table for these driven individuals to build products and brands, especially as more women open doors for each other and celebrate their accomplishments as business professionals. This journey will be made easier for newcomers who want it as they make their mark both in the film industry and in brand and product development.

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And Robbie is genuine in her involvement, telling the Times: “I was fully involved. [with it] throughout the filming of “Barbie” and the tour.”

The “Wolf of Wall Street” star is focused on her upcoming acting and producing projects, but experts see other brand opportunities in the food and beverage sector on the horizon.

“Alcohol is just one of the many products that celebrities are launching, and it’s a smart choice because it appeals to anyone of legal drinking age, as opposed to a smaller, more niche product. You see the same thinking with restaurant brands that are launched by a large group of high-profile athletes because it appeals to the masses,” Schmiemann said.

Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, and Arnold Palmer all have their names on restaurants, and musicians like Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and Eric Church have opened bars in Nashville, Tennessee.

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“The alcohol market is extremely crowded right now,” Jenkin said. “The product that celebrities are putting out there has to be high quality to attract customers, no matter how famous the celebrity is at the moment. The next big market is themed bars and restaurants, like Jimmy Buffett.”