There's no nicer business than show business, but at the end of the day, it's a job, and often times celebrities retire from the career path that made them famous, even if they're still active in other areas of the industry.
Here are 13 celebrities who recently retired.
1.
During a Q&A about her 2024 “Ellen's Last Stand…Up” tour, Ellen DeGeneres reportedly said, “This is the last time you're going to see me. Once the Netflix special is over, I'm done.”
2.
In 2024, Bella Hadid retired from modeling and moved to Texas. She told Allure magazine, “After 10 years of modeling, I realized that I was putting all my energy and love and effort into something, and in the long run, it wasn't necessarily giving me anything back.”
3.
Celebrity stylist Law Roach announced his retirement in a now-deleted 2023 Instagram post, writing, “My cup is now empty. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and my career over the years. I am so grateful to everyone who has entrusted me with their image. If this business was just about clothes I would be in this job forever but sadly it is not! The politics, lies and false narratives have finally got me hooked! You have won… I am quitting.” However, he clarified on Twitter that he was not “breaking up” with longtime client Zendaya.
Four.
Scooter Braun, who managed big-name artists like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, announced his retirement from music management in 2024. In a statement on Instagram, he said he wanted to focus on being “a father and CEO first.” [of HYBE Americsa] Second, and no longer a manager.”
Five.
Ian Somerhalder retired from acting and moved to a farm with his family. In 2024, he told E! News, “I loved what I did for a long time. I loved making movies and I did it for a really long time. It was a great time.”
6.
In 2022, Jim Carrey told Access Hollywood, “Yes, I will retire. Yeah, probably. I'm giving it some pretty serious thought.”
7.
“Today I announce my retirement from music with my best work yet and an incredible concert tour to come,” Daddy Yankee told People magazine in 2022. “With this new collectible album, I celebrate and say goodbye to 32 years of experience.” Legend Daddy. It brings together all the styles that define me.”
8.
In a 2024 Instagram post, Evangeline Lilly wrote, “I am living my vision and today it fills me with so much joy and fulfillment. Praise God, I am so grateful for my blessings. Walking away from the seemingly obvious choices (wealth and fame) can sometimes feel scary, but stepping into your calling transforms fear into fulfillment.”
9.
In 2018, Britney Spears announced she was taking an “indefinite hiatus,” then in a 2021 Instagram post said she was “quitting” after her sister Jamie Lynn Spears debuted a remix of one of her old songs. Britney claims she asked to do the remix herself but was told “no.”
Ten.
In 2024, Iggy Azalea appeared to announce her retirement from the music industry, tweeting: “I've always been someone who finds joy in being creative and seeing my ideas come to life. For the longest time, I've used music to share my crazy ideas with the world. I know a lot of people think I was 'bullied out of music' but I've always laughed at that because I've never been bullied into doing anything…The truth is, what I've known for a long time is that I feel more passionate about design and creative direction than songwriting. That's why I want to let you know that I don't plan on finishing an album.”
11.
In 2023, Michael Caine told BBC Radio: “I've always said I was going to retire, and now I'm retiring. [The Great Escaper] I have a film in which I played the lead role and it has received great reviews… what else can I do to top that?”
12.
Daniel Day-Lewis retired from acting in 2017. His publicist told BuzzFeed News in a statement: “Daniel Day-Lewis will no longer be acting. He is extremely grateful to all his collaborators and audiences over the years. This is a personal decision and neither he nor his representatives will be commenting further on this matter.”
13.
And in a 2019 Facebook post: Gilmore Girls Actor David Sutcliffe said, “Last week I officially retired from acting. It's been a long time coming. I haven't really dedicated myself to it for many years, but it's not easy to let go of a career that gave me so much for so long…As many of you know, for the past 12 years I have been immersed in the deep study of Core Energetics, a powerful body-psychotherapy treatment that uncovers the unconscious emotional blocks that prevent us from fully alive and engaging with life. I was personally transformed by this work and graduated from the Radical Aliveness Institute's four-year training program in Southern California in 2012. I have been leading groups and workshops ever since.”
Here are eight celebrities who are considering retirement soon.
14.
In 2024, Mary J. Blige told Extra magazine: “For now, I definitely plan on continuing acting for a little while longer, and then I definitely plan on retiring in five or six years.”
15.
In 2021, Selena Gomez told Vogue magazine, “It's hard to continue making music when people don't necessarily take you seriously. There were moments where I thought, 'What's the point? Why am I keeping doing this?' I thought 'Lose You to Love Me' was the best song I've ever released, but for some people it's still not enough. I think there are a lot of people who enjoy my music and I'm very grateful for that, and that's why I keep going. But I think the next album I make will be different. I want to give it one last try before I retire from music.”
16.
In 2023, Nicolas Cage told Vanity Fair, “Plans are starting to solidify. I might have three or four more movies left.”
17.
In 2024, Keke Palmer told Teen Vogue, “I think the timer's started. I guess it just hasn't hit me yet. But I know the timer's almost here. I don't know when, but it's almost here.” She later clarified to People, “Everyone took that literally, but I was thinking, like, 20 years in the future!”
18.
Jessica Lange told The Telegraph that she plans to “phase out of filmmaking” in 2023. She also revealed that she is considering retirement.
19.
In 2022, Terrence Howard told Entertainment Tonight , “This is the end for me. I don't know if this is the end for the rest of us. I pretty much retired two years ago. I was done. … I asked Sidney Poitier 10 years ago if he wanted to do any more work and he said, 'Why should I spend my last 10 years doing an impersonation of myself?' That's the way I am.”
20.
In 2021, Liam Neeson told Entertainment Tonight , “I'm 68-and-a-half, I'll be 69 this year. I've got a couple more films planned for this year, hopefully COVID-permitting. I've got a couple more planned right now, but they'll probably be my last.”
twenty one.
And finally, in 2022, Gary Oldman told The Sunday Times: “I'll be 65 next year, and 70 is just around the corner. I don't want to be active when I'm 80. I'd be very happy, honoured and honored to go out there as Jackson Lamb.” [in Slow Horses] — and then multiply it.”
