Stars' Lost Earnings: Unlocking Alternate Career Paths

A new study reveals the potential wages celebrities could earn if they had pursued their parents' professions. Using Indeed.com, the study analyzed average incomes in the celebrities' hometowns, comparing them to their parents' occupations. Jenna Ortega topped the list with a potential $131,234 as an ER nurse, followed by Vin Diesel with $115,977 as an astrologer or $65,196 as a theatre manager. Neil Patrick Harris could have earned $85,486 as a lawyer, while Leonardo DiCaprio and Taylor Swift could have made $78,207 as a comic book writer and $76,377 as a financial advisor, respectively.

A Celebrity's Earning Potential: Exploring Alternate Career Paths

A recent study has delved into the hypothetical salaries that renowned celebrities could have earned if they had not attained fame and instead pursued their parents' professions. The study meticulously analyzed the parental occupations of notable figures in business, sports, music, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and television and film.

Employing data from Indeed.com, the study compared the average salaries of these professions in the celebrities' hometowns, where they might have resided had they not achieved stardom. The higher salary of the two parents was then ranked against all other celebrities in the analysis.

Jenna Ortega: Poised for ER Success

Leading the hypothetical earnings list is Jenna Ortega, who could have commanded an annual salary of $131,234 (£102,701) as an ER nurse, mirroring the profession of her mother, Natalie Ortega. In California, where Jenna grew up, the average salary for an ER nurse aligns with this hypothetical wage.

Vin Diesel: A Multifaceted Careerist

Vin Diesel follows closely behind, with the potential to earn $115,977 (£90,761). His mother's career as an astrologer in California could have provided him with this income. Alternatively, by pursuing his father's footsteps as a theatre manager, Vin could have earned a salary of $65,196 (£51,026), surpassing the average American wage.

Neil Patrick Harris: Legal Luminary

Neil Patrick Harris ranks third with a potential salary of $85,486 (£66,880) by emulating his parents' legal careers. Growing up in New Mexico, Neil's exposure to his parents' profession as lawyers could have led him down a similar path, earning an average salary in line with this figure.

Leonardo DiCaprio: Comic Book Conundrum

Leonardo DiCaprio's hypothetical salary places him fourth, with a potential income of $78,207 (£61,185) as a comic book writer. Following in his father's footsteps in California, DiCaprio could have merged his environmental activism with storytelling, exploring global issues and crafting narratives that rival his cinematic achievements.

Taylor Swift: From Guitar to Ledger

Taylor Swift completes the top five with a potential salary of $76,377 (£59,754) as a financial advisor in Pennsylvania. If she had chosen to follow in her father Scott's footsteps, she could have traded her guitar for a ledger, crunching numbers instead of composing melodies.

Justin Bieber: Hands-On Income

Justin Bieber's hypothetical salary as a carpenter in Canada, mirroring his father Jeremy's profession, would have amounted to $74,556 (£58,352). This choice might have seemed obvious if he had not achieved stardom.

RuPaul: Electrifying Potential

RuPaul, having recently stepped down as host of 'Drag Race Down Under,' could have pursued his father Irving Charles's profession as an electrician in California, earning a potential salary of $73,046 (£57,148).

Pedro Pascal: Physician with Passion

Pedro Pascal's hypothetical path as a fertility doctor in Chile, mirroring his father José's profession, could have yielded an annual salary of around $69,530 (£54,397).

Elon Musk: Dietician with Doctorate

Elon Musk's Canadian passport afforded him the opportunity to study in Canada, where he could have pursued his mother Maye Musk's profession as a dietician, earning a potential salary of $62,626 (£48,995).

Travis Kelce: Banking on Family

Travis Kelce, growing up in Ohio, could have followed his mother Donna's career as a banker, earning a potential salary of $49,853 (£39,003). Alternatively, if he had pursued his father's footsteps as a salesman, he could have earned $48,419 (£37,881).

A Glimpse into Alternate Universes

A spokesperson for the study offered insights on the findings:

"It's intriguing to envision a world where our favorite celebrities might have traded their red carpets for corporate carpets or studio booths for bankers' desks. This study sheds light on the fascinating 'what ifs' of celebrity careers and reminds us that even the most glamorous lives often have humble beginnings.

"While we celebrate celebrities for their exceptional talents and contributions to entertainment and culture, this study playfully explores a parallel universe where fame is swapped for family professions. Imagine a world where Vin Diesel gives you your horoscope instead of high-speed car chases or Jenna Ortega provides you with nursing care instead of Netflix binges. It's a humorous twist on our perceptions of success and a light-hearted exploration of the influence of upbringing on potential career paths."