Tesla has taken the world by storm since it was founded in 2003, recently growing to become the most valuable car company in the world in 2020. It seems like everything is going right for the electric car company being led into the future by billionaire CEO Elon Musk — and celebrities are taking note. It might be a millionaire lesson that the rest of us could learn from.
Musk is a billionaire who often rubs shoulders with the rich and famous, so it’s no surprise that many people backing his company are celebs. But do you know which ones? These 24 celebrities have owned Teslas and many of them were early adopters of the popular electric vehicles.
24 celebrities who drive Teslas
Cameron Diaz
The “There’s Something About Mary” and “The Holiday” star has been spotted multiple times driving a black Tesla Model S around Los Angeles.
The Model S isn’t the flashiest of sports cars, but at a purchase price starting around $90,000, this isn’t your average commuter either. You might be able to chop the price slightly with some incentives, but you should still expect to pay more than $80,000 for the Model S Long Range.
Stephen Colbert
Host of “The Late Show” on CBS and former host of “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central, comedian Stephen Colbert is a big Tesla fan. He’s been reported to drive a Model S, including for his commute to work in New York City.
In addition, he’s had Elon Musk as a guest on “The Late Show,” where he admitted to owning a Tesla and loving it. As a well-known super nerd, it’s not surprising Colbert is more than a bit interested in Tesla and its futuristic technology.
Leonardo DiCaprio
One of the biggest names in Hollywood and a huge advocate for protecting the natural environment, Leonardo DiCaprio is also the proud owner of a Tesla Roadster.
For such a huge celebrity, the $200,000 purchase price of this insanely quick (it goes from zero to 60 in 1.9 seconds and has a top speed of around 250 miles per hour) sports car is likely equivalent to pocket change. But knowing his environmentalist background, he’s probably more interested in how electric vehicles can change the world for the better.
Zooey Deschanel
The quirky star of “New Girl” and “500 Days of Summer” has been seen driving a black Tesla Model S. Considering she was first spotted out and about with her Model S more than eight years ago, it’s safe to assume that Deschanel arrived earlier to the Tesla scene than many other celebrities. Of course, the popularity and renown of Tesla and other Elon Musk companies has only grown since then and doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon.
Will Smith
Will Smith is world-famous for his many acting roles and musical endeavors, especially his time as the lead on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” These days, Smith still acts but has also focused on other pastimes, such as building out his car collection. And, you guessed it, there’s a Tesla in there. Smith owns a Tesla Model S alongside a variety of other top-end vehicles.
Jaden Smith
Apparently, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree because Jaden Smith, Will Smith’s son, is also a big fan of Tesla vehicles. However, instead of the Model S, Jaden has gone with the somewhat flashier, thanks to its “wings,” Model X. In fact, Jaden was seen “flying” with a Model X during a performance at Coachella. The Tesla Model X typically starts around $100,000 for the Long Range version.
Shakira
A hot red convertible might seem like the more appropriate vehicle for this Colombian pop star, so it’s surprising to find the more unassuming Tesla Model S among Shakira’s vehicle lineup.
Still, you can’t deny the appeal of the Model S. It’s not necessarily flashy, which could be a bonus for some celebrities, but it has loads of power and style paired with electric motors. Not to mention, you also get all-wheel drive to help you stay in control during more sticky driving situations.
Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan’s story is so interesting that it just makes sense he would also own a Tesla. He’s an actor, comedian, former host of “Fear Factor” and other shows, martial artist, and, more recently, a popular podcaster.
He infamously had Elon Musk on as a guest of his “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. During the episode, Joe Rogan said he’d buy a Tesla, and he later did. In a later episode, Rogan called his new Tesla “preposterous” because of how strange and fast it was.
Alyson Hannigan
The “How I Met Your Mother” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star has been spotted driving a black Tesla Model S on multiple occasions. This includes driving the increasingly rare version of the Tesla S that had rear-facing back seats that could fit in the trunk. These jump seats proved popular with many customers because it increased the total passenger volume, but the idea was later scrapped on newer models. However, we could be seeing a comeback soon.
Ben Affleck
The black Tesla Model S is apparently a fan favorite among celebrities because Ben Affleck has also been seen driving one. Of course, there isn’t a lot of variety among Tesla vehicles, so it’s not surprising the people who can afford them might end up driving the same one.
And between the available models, the Model S seems to be just the right fit for Hollywood A-listers like Affleck. It’s a luxury vehicle that most people only dream of purchasing, but it’s not overstated like many supercars, even though it has the power to compete with them on the track.
Matt Damon
You can’t hardly mention Ben Affleck without also mentioning one of his best buds, Matt Damon. Known for his countless starring roles in movies, including “The Bourne Identity” and “The Martian,” Damon is reported to have first bought a Tesla Roadster and then a Tesla Model S.
Perhaps the move to the more understated Model S was because of his role as a father and husband, but who’s to say. Both types of Teslas are still more stylish and much faster than your average minivan.
Steven Spielberg
Acclaimed movie director Steven Spielberg is known for his unique directing style and out-of-the-box thinking, and we’re here to celebrate his creativity. Except this time it’s for his choice of Tesla vehicle, which happens to be a Tesla Model S, but of the silver variety.
So far on this list, most celebrities have had the black Model S, so what better way to celebrate a mammoth of the silver screen than to welcome his choice of a silver Model S. (We also congratulate him for his choice on a green vehicle.)
Jennifer Garner
Ben Affleck may come first on this list, but it may have actually been his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, who was first spotted driving a Tesla. Or maybe it was Affleck first? Either way, the Model S seems to be a good fit for Garner, who could easily blend in as an everyday mom and family lady (check her Instagram) — who also happens to have lots of money.
Morgan Freeman
Possibly the man with one of the most recognized voices in the world, Morgan Freeman has had a long career of success in Hollywood. We know him from such films as “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Million Dollar Baby,” though his role as God in “Bruce Almighty” is a fan favorite.
Now that he’s over 80 years old, it might be initially surprising to find out Freeman drives a Tesla Model S. But given his acknowledged interest and investment in Tesla, it’s really not surprising at all.
Seth Green
The “Robot Chicken” creator and “Family Guy” actor does more voice acting these days than on-screen appearances, but he’s still remembered for roles on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.” His Tesla of choice is the Model S, which seems a convenient option for riding around town when he’s taking a break from studio work.
Will.i.am
Known for his musical talents as part of the Black Eyed Peas, will.i.am raised some eyebrows when he made a few customizations to his Tesla Model S. Tesla cars are typically known for having a sleek and smooth look, without many embellishments.
But will.i.am decided to turn his Model S into something that doesn’t exactly resemble a Tesla at first glance. This includes adding suicide doors, making the body wider, and changing the overall appearance of the car. The changes have received mixed reactions.
Mark Ruffalo
Mark Ruffalo was already a big star in Hollywood before playing Bruce Banner and the Incredible Hulk in multiple Marvel films, but these recent roles certainly haven’t stunted his stardom.
Apart from living the celebrity lifestyle, Ruffalo is also an advocate for renewable energy and climate justice. It’s no wonder then that he’s a big fan of Tesla and owns a Tesla Model S. Too bad green isn’t a color option yet.
Jeremy Renner
Another Avengers superhero joins the Tesla fan club in the form of Hawkeye, or actor Jeremy Renner. In a Wall Street Journal interview, Renner mentioned how he owns a 2012 Tesla Model S, which complements his solar-powered home. In addition, his then 5-year-old daughter enjoyed driving around a mini Tesla Model S built by Radio Flyer.
John Favreau
The famous movie director John Favreau has a lot of history with Elon Musk and Tesla, even picking the Tesla CEO’s brain while researching for the making of “Iron Man.” Some shots from SpaceX, which Elon Musk founded, were even used in “Iron Man 2.”
Favreau took a test drive of the Model S when the prototype was first unveiled and then placed an order for one. He apparently hadn’t been in the market for an electric car, but the test drive convinced him and he remains a fan to this day.
Demi Moore
Demi Moore may be more in the news for her relationships with exes Bruce Willis and Ashton Kutcher — the “Ghost” and “G.I. Jane” actress has gone through three divorces, but seems to have a working relationship with Bruce Willis and their shared children — but let’s not forget she’s an accomplished Hollywood star and mother of three. And perhaps more importantly, for this list, she has a Tesla Model S.
Tony Hawk
Even if you’re a skateboarding legend, it’s simply not efficient to try to skateboard everywhere you go. Sometimes, you need a car for the bigger trips. For Tony “Do a Kickflip!” Hawk, that car is a Tesla Model S.
Tesla vehicles are known for having a few more gadgets than the average car, so Hawk was quick to put some of those to good use as soon as he got his Model S. This included popping the trunk for a skateboarding friend to jump out and then watching the skateboarding action unfold on his rear camera.
George Clooney
This Hollywood A-lister was supposedly one of the first celebrities to own a Tesla, though he may not actually have one anymore. His Tesla of choice was the Tesla Roadster, but he complained about always getting stranded in it, likely due to electric malfunctions.
Clooney ended up auctioning off his Tesla, which may have been the wrong move in hindsight because the company has grown leaps and bounds in the meantime.
Akon
R&B artist Akon reportedly sold all his cars other than his four Tesla vehicles. This is likely due to his focus on building his for-profit organization in Africa called Akon Lighting Africa.
The main goal of the company is to bring electricity to rural areas of the continent where people don’t have access to this basic necessity. The organization was founded in 2014 and focuses on using solar panels to produce electricity. Knowing all this, it’s no wonder Akon decided to ditch his other vehicles and stick with Teslas.
James May
The former “Top Gear” and current “The Grand Tour” star has a Tesla Model S that he’s generally been impressed with. And as someone who’s been professionally and personally involved with different types of cars for a long time, being generally impressed with his Tesla is a good thing.
However, because of the lockdown in the U.K., May hasn’t been able to take out the Tesla as much as he’d like, which has caused one of the batteries to die and other problems to ensue, such as not being able to get into the car.
Is a Tesla worth it for the rest of us?
It’s all well and good that loads of celebrities love Teslas. But what about non-celebrities? Can the rest of us access the wonders of owning a Tesla?
Considering the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus (the rear-wheel-drive version) starts barely below $40,000, it’s possible for the average person to get their hands on a Tesla. But you should still ask yourself, “Is a Tesla worth it?”
The answer is … maybe. If you factor in the potential savings on fuel and incentives, a Tesla Model 3 could make more sense financially than something like a Toyota Camry, though it would take quite a few years before you see those savings pay off.
But potential fuel savings aren’t the only reason you might be interested in Tesla:
You could simply love the direction of the company from a financial standpoint and want to learn how to invest in Tesla itself.
Or you’re a big supporter of protecting the environment and our planet, so you’re learning how to invest in renewable energy.
Either way, Tesla has a lot of fans who can see its potential and want to support its progress, whether they want to buy a Tesla car or not.
Bottom line
Even if you don’t drive a Tesla, you likely still have a vehicle to get you from point A to point B. Every vehicle costs money, including what you have to pay for its insurance. But fortunately, there are ways to save on car insurance.
To find the best deals, make sure you compare the best car insurance. Taking a quick look at different car insurance providers can help you find the insurance you need while putting money back into your pocket.