Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin
Protection Cost: $1 million/year
While the “Bieber Fever” has slowed down in recent years, the Canadian star and his model wife still cannot roam the streets without considerable backup. Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin have been in the limelight since before they could legally drive a car. Bieber broke onto the scene with 2010’s My World 2.0 and quickly became a popular teen idol.
Baldwin is the daughter of Stephen Baldwin, and niece of William, Alec, and Daniel Baldwin. She began her modeling career when she was still a teenager. Having gained fame from protecting the couple, there is an Instagram account named Bieber Bodyguards named in their honor. The account has over 53,000 followers.
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Angelina Jolie
Protection Cost: $2 million/year
Angelina Jolie is no stranger to paparazzi and crazed fans. The Academy Award winner was born and raised in Los Angeles to actor parents Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. She can hold her own amongst the crowd. However, her and former husband Brad Pitt have six children together (which necessitates extra security).
The actress has said that she was concerned about the possibility of her kids being kidnapped and held for ransom. Considering the couple has a net worth around $400 million, that isn’t a outlandish worry to have. Jolie’s team ensures that her and her children can get from point “A” to point “B” in a safe and timely manner.
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Scarlett Johansson
Protection Cost: $200,000/year
The Black Widow star got extremely close to a former member of her security team. Paparazzi snapped a photo of Johansson and her then-bodyguard sitting beachside during a Mediterranean vacation. Of course, the short-lived romance did not work out as Johansson is now married to SNL regular Colin Jost.
She has one son with Jost as well as a daughter from a previous marriage with Romain Dauriac. Given her high-profile marriage and with her Marvel fame at an all-time high, it’s important to Johansson that her family receive the utmost protection when venturing through public areas.
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Adele
Protection Cost: $75,000/year
The inner circle of celebrity bodyguards is a tight-knit group. As such, you may see one servicing any number of different stars in Hollywood. This is the case with Adele’s current security lead, Pete Van Der Veen. The Holland-born bodyguard formerly worked the same job for Lady Gaga.
The pair even grew so close that he lent his voice as background vocals for Gaga’s 2011 song “Government Hooker”. Word of mouth spreads quickly in Hollywood circles, as Van Der Veen enters with excellent reviews. He provides pristine service for Adele as she travels through town with her boyfriend, sports agent Rich Paul.
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Floyd Mayweather
Protection Cost: $750,000/year
You’ll almost never see boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. without a group of physically-imposing bodyguards around him. He doesn’t even do cardio without them. The Vegas native is often seen running around town at the crack of dawn of while being flanked by a tinted SUV filled with his entourage. While the undefeated champion could hold his own in the ring, that doesn’t mean he’s willing to put himself into a dangerous situation without protection. After all, when your brand is labeled “The Money Team” it’s understood that you’ve place a target on yourself. Mayweather’s group is compensated well, each earning around $150,000 per year plus additional benefits.
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Kim Kardashian
Protection Cost: $7 million/year
No surprises here, Kim Kardashian needs plenty of security to fend off rabid paparazzi and wild fans. This is nothing new to the 41-year-old. She’s been one of the most popular figures in Hollywood since 2007 — the same year Keeping Up with the Kardashians debuted. Her and her famous family seemingly always find a way to stay in the forefront of every news cycle.
As such, media members and photographers are always looking to get a candid quote or snap a picture in hopes of selling it for big bucks. Kardashian’s dedicated security team is tasked with ensuring none of those people come even close to Kim.
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Meghan Markle
Protection Cost: $20 million/year
Anybody in the Royal Family is at a potential risk when they go out into the public. Even though Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have officially stepped down from their duties, the couple remains one of the popular members of the family. According to reports, the security unit which provides protection for Markle and Harry are paid a ludicrous $20 million (between all staffers) yearly. Markle’s previous security lead was a woman who quit after just six months on the job. Her new primary bodyguard — Christopher Sanchez — is a former secret service agent who provided security for both Barack Obama and George W. Bush.
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Gal Gadot
Protection Cost: $10,000/day
Even Wonder Woman needs some help every now and again. The Israeli-born Gal Gadot hired The Body Group of Beverly Hills to protect her from any potential harmful situations. Now that Gadot is the star of a world-renown superhero flick, her fame has risen to immense heights. Though, some fans have found humor in Gadot’s security team. There is a picture circulating the internet which features Gadot and Aqua Man’s Jason Momoa being trailed by their respective security teams with the label “Gal Gadot and Jason Momoa protecting their bodyguards.”
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Jennifer Aniston
Protection Cost: $240,000/year
Jennifer Aniston was already on the road to stardom, but her fame shot through the roof after her starring role on the hit television series Friends. Her portrayal of Rachel Green gave her international fame. She became easily recognizable by paparazzi and fans alike. Essentially, Aniston couldn’t even walk through her hometown of Sherman Oaks, California without being bombarded by cameras and autograph requests. Since then, Aniston has shelled over loads of cash in exchange for an elite security team. Paying a quarter of a million dollars yearly is a testament to how seriously Aniston values her well-being.
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Beyonce
Protection Cost: $4 million/year
There aren’t many people who can draw a crowd quite like Beyonce. The best-selling artist is one of the most recognizable celebrities in the world. She’s basically incapable of going anywhere without being noticed. Her level of fame rose even further following her marriage to hip-hop legend and executive Jay-Z. It’s no surprise that wherever the Queen Bee goes, she brings a sizable security team along with her. Seeing as she’s constantly traveling the world, it’s certainly a good practice to keep a strong team within a close proximity.
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Emma Stone
Protection Cost: $100,000/year
Emma Stone has made a major impact in the industry in just a short amount of time. The 33-year-old has blossomed into one of the most prominent actors in the world. Stone starred in her first feature-length film in 2007, playing the memorable role of Jules in the comedy Superbad. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards in 2015 for her role in Birdman.
Two years later, Stone would win her first Academy Award for Best Actress following her performance in the musical picture La La Land opposite Ryan Gosling. Here, Stone is being escorted by her group of bodyguards as she leaves a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live in Los Angeles, California.
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Kylie Jenner
Protection Cost: $4.8 million/year
Just like her older half-sister, Kylie Jenner pays a premium for her security detail. She reportedly spends upwards of $400,000 a month for protection — as per her parent, Caitlyn Jenner. While the overall number is quite staggering, it’s a relatively small cost for the world’s youngest billionaire. Although, that last statement was proven to be false. Back in 2019, several outlets had reported Jenner had reached the billion-dollar mark thanks to her beauty line, Kylie Cosmetics. However, that number seemed to be a bit overestimated. Jenner is currently rumored to be worth a mere $900 million. Either way, she should be able to manage…
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Selena Gomez
Protection Cost: $500,000/year
Selena Gomez is another star who has known the limelight for nearly all of her life. Gomez gained massive popularity as a teen Disney Channel star on Wizards of Waverly Place. While she conquered the acting world in short order, Gomez began branching out into other avenues including music (sold over seven million albums) and producing (executive producer for all four seasons of 13 Reasons Why). Having required a bodyguard for quite sometime, Gomez actually built a friendship with her current security lead. She attended his wedding in California, and even made a toast to the newlyweds.
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Blake Lively
Protection Cost: $125,000/year
Blake Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds always make sure to have some protection when they make public appearances. It’s only natural that one of the most prominent couples in Hollywood have top-notch security by their side. Reynolds especially knows how crazy fans can get from his previous marriage with Scarlett Johansson. When Lively and Reynolds travel, they are typically accompanied by their three children. Every parent in the world would be willing to take an extra measure to ensure their kid’s safety if they have the capability of doing so.
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Katy Perry
Protection Cost: $350,000/year
Katy Perry isn’t willing to take any chances out in public. Anytime she’s spotted around town, you can be sure that her bodyguard isn’t too far behind. And, we certainly cannot blame her for being cautious. Perry rose to fame after her 2008 release One of the Boys. She quickly became a regular on the Billboard Hot 100 with hit singles like “I Kissed a Girl” and “Teenage Dream”.
She’s sold 143 million records worldwide and is also the most followed woman on Twitter — and third most-following overall behind only Barack Obama and Justin Bieber. Reportedly, Perry is worth around $340 million. Paying a few hundred thousand per year for ultimate protection seems like a reasonable financial decision.
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Madonna
Protection Cost: $500,000/year
“The Queen of Pop” is a true international icon. Madonna rose to fame in 1983 with her debut album and didn’t look back. She’s known as the best-selling woman’s artist of all-time having sold over 300 million records worldwide. The only four musical four acts who have outsold her — The Beatles, Elvis Pressley, Michael Jackson and Elton John — all made their debut over a decade earlier.
Throughout all this time, Madonna has remained in the public eye thanks to her devout fanbase. Though she is clearly willing to interact with her legion of followers (as seen above), Madonna employs a strong security team to ensure her safety.
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Daniel Radcliffe
Protection Cost: $50,000/year
Actor Daniel Radcliffe can’t wave a magic wand like Harry Potter to make paparazzi disappear. Instead, the actor from the famed book-turned-film series pays a hefty sum of cash for his own set of Hagrid’s. Seeing the 5-foot-5 Radcliffe flanked by giant humans is certainly intriguing. All of his bodyguards tower over him. Radcliffe could likely build a formidable basketball team with his security squad.
If you’re going to pay $50,000 per year, you might as well get some security with impressive physical attributes. While he certainly still has plenty of fans, it does make it bit easier for Radcliffe to go unnoticed when he isn’t donning Harry’s infamous forehead scar and eyeglasses.
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Julia Roberts
Protection Cost: $2 million/year
Pretty Woman star Julia Roberts leaves no stone unturned when it comes to rostering a security team. It was reported that Roberts hired over 350 security members when she traveled to Delhi while filming Eat Pray Love (2010). This group consisted of bodyguards, security officials, police officers, and even, snipers. This group provided 24-hour, around-the-clock service for Roberts, her husband Danny Moder, and their children.
The family was transported via bulletproof vehicles while helicopters patrolled the sky for any potential threats. While she typically doesn’t employ that many people on a day-to-day basis, Roberts still manages to spend a reported $2 million on security yearly.
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Jason Momoa
Protection Cost: $125,000/year
Yes, even Jason Momoa needs some backup. The native Hawaiian began his career on Baywatch: Hawaii but quickly became a household name for his role as the menacing Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones. In 2016, Momoa made his first appearance as Arthur Curry — also known as the marine superhero, Aquaman. His roles as Drogo and Aquaman catapulted him up the fame ladder. It also doesn’t help when he boasts such a distinguishable look while standing at 6-foot-4. He spends about $125,000 on security detail every year, though we’re sure he’s more than capable of taking care of himself should a problem arise.
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Bella Hadid
Protection Cost: $250,000/year
One of the most popular American models, Bella Hadid has been dominating the game for nearly a decade — and she’s just 25 years old. In 2016 — just four years after beginning her career – Hadid was named Model of the Year. She’s donned apparel from all sorts of designers — including Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, and Alexander Wang. Bella and her sister Gigi have taken the modeling world by storm. As such, the sisters have been in the spotlight for quite some time. When considering how many fans rush her on a daily basis, it’s easy to see why Hadid spends a quarter of a million dollars for bodyguards on a yearly basis. Protection is paramount for this young star.
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Halle Berry
Protection Cost: $300,000/year
Halle Berry is a prime candidate for enlisting a bodyguard. For one, she’s one of the most popular celebrities in Hollywood. She gained a large amount of fans over the years. Berry played the weather-controlling mutant Storm in the X-Men series and was also a Bond girl in Die Another Day. Her most memorable performance came in 2001’s Monster Ball which earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Berry goes everywhere with her security team, whether its a morning hike up a mountain or to go furniture shopping. Having been in the spotlight for over two decades, Berry is no stranger to fame. She and her team are well-prepared should any potential threat be presented.
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Drake
Protection Cost: $365,000/year
Canadian-born rapper Drake is beloved in his hometown of Toronto, though his reach as an artist stretches far wider than that. Drake’s staying power is virtually unparalleled during this era of the hip hop genre. After starring as the basketball-playing paraplegic Jimmy in the drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation, Drake launched a rap career which would make him one of the best-selling artists of all-time. His first album, 2010’s Thank Me Later, debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200. His most recent entry, Certified Lover Boy (2021), set a record for most U.S. top-ten entries from one single album. Naturally, Drake has to fend off droves of fans on a daily basis. That’s why he spends upwards of $365,000 yearly on his sterling security team.
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Britney Spears
Protection Cost: $600,000/year
There’s a strong correlation between how much celebrities pay for security and how long said celebrity has been in the limelight. Pop icon Britney Spears has been under the Hollywood microscope since she was a teenager. She’s harbored a loyal and passionate fanbase since her debut album, …Baby One More Time (1999). Spears has had an especially tenuous relationship with the media who seem to crave any and all details about her life. The paparazzi stuck to her like a shadow during her relationships with Justin Timberlake and Kevin Federline. Who can forget the massive “buzz” which was created when Spears was spotted with a shaved head back in 2007. $600,000 may seem like a lot, but it’s a small price to pay for a star who attracts massive attention every time she steps outside.
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Oprah Winfrey
Protection Cost: $2 million/year
Oprah Winfrey has two attributes which makes her a prime candidate for personal security. She has legions of fans all over the world, and is filthy rich. The talk show host, author, producer and philanthropist has cultivated a loyal fanbase thanks to her affectionate personality and caring demeanor. Also, she is worth more money than one can imagine. At one point, Winfrey was considered the only black billionaire in the world. Today, Oprah is said to be worth nearly $3 billion. She’s built an empire through her various projects, and employs the best security money can offer at $2 million per year.
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Justin Timberlake
Protection Cost: $1 million/year
While the *NSYNC era has died down, Justin Timberlake isn’t any less famous than he was when he was sporting frosted tips. Anybody who was around during *NSYNC’s heyday can attest to how wild and rabid their fans could be. Timberlake, Lance Bass, and the rest couldn’t grab a cup of coffee without being pounced by a group of unruly tweens praying for a picture with their favorite band member. More recent acts such as One Direction, the Jonas Brothers, and BTS are modern-day examples of how much popularity these sorts of groups can attain. Timberlake also generated publicity from his number of high-profile relationships with Britney Spears, Cameron Diaz, and his current wife Jessica Biel.
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