17 Celebrities Living a Vegan or Vegetarian Lifestyle

17 Celebrities Living a Vegan or Vegetarian Lifestyle

More celebrities than ever are embracing plant-based diets. These stars have ditched meat and animal products for health reasons, environmental concerns, or animal welfare. From athletes to actors, musicians to reality stars, these famous faces are using their platforms to promote cruelty-free living and sustainable food choices.

1. Joaquin Phoenix’s Lifelong Commitment

Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix has maintained his vegan principles since he was just three years old. His dedication stems from witnessing fish being caught and killed during a family boat trip, which left a lasting impression on his young mind.

Beyond his diet, Phoenix extends his ethical stance to all aspects of his life, refusing to wear leather or other animal-derived materials in his clothing or for red carpet appearances. His passionate advocacy for animal rights frequently appears in his acceptance speeches.

In 2020, he visited a slaughterhouse to comfort pigs moments after winning his Academy Award for Joker, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to animal welfare above personal celebration.

2. Natalie Portman’s Ethical Evolution

Harvard-educated actress Natalie Portman began her vegetarian journey at just eight years old. Her compassionate choice evolved in 2009 when she transitioned to veganism after reading Jonathan Safran Foer’s influential book ‘Eating Animals.’

So moved by the message, Portman later produced and narrated a documentary of the same name, exploring the environmental, economic, and public health consequences of factory farming. Her advocacy extends beyond diet—she’s designed vegan footwear and speaks openly about the environmental benefits of plant-based eating.

During her pregnancy, Portman temporarily returned to vegetarianism to accommodate cravings but quickly resumed her vegan lifestyle after giving birth, showing her flexible but committed approach.

3. Moby’s Radical Activism

Electronic music pioneer Moby has been vegan since 1987—a decision sparked by his rescue cat Tucker. “I loved this cat so much,” he recalls, “and one day I realized that eating meat meant killing animals who were just as capable of suffering as my cat.”

His commitment runs deeper than most celebrities. The musician proudly displays a bold “Vegan for Life” tattoo on his neck and has the words “Animal Rights” inked on his arms. He opened Little Pine, a vegan restaurant in Los Angeles, with all profits donated to animal rights organizations.

Through his music, books, and public appearances, Moby consistently challenges his audience to question their relationship with animals and food choices.

4. Alicia Silverstone’s Kind Kitchen

The ‘Clueless’ star underwent a profound transformation after adopting veganism in 1998. Her journey began with animal welfare concerns but expanded when she noticed dramatic improvements in her health, energy levels, and skin.

Silverstone channeled her passion into writing ‘The Kind Diet,’ a bestselling cookbook and lifestyle guide promoting plant-based eating. She regularly appears in PETA campaigns, famously posing nude to protest wool production with the tagline “I’d rather go naked than wear wool.”

As a mother, she’s raised her son on a vegan diet and created The Kind Mama, offering plant-based parenting advice. Her lifestyle blog, The Kind Life, continues to inspire thousands with accessible vegan recipes and eco-friendly living tips.

5. Woody Harrelson’s Raw Revolution

Woody Harrelson takes veganism to another level by following a strict raw food diet. The three-time Oscar nominee eliminated not just animal products but also cooked foods, sugar, and flour from his meals over 30 years ago.

His transformation began after meeting a woman on a bus who told him his mucus and congestion problems were dairy-related. After eliminating dairy, he felt so improved that he gradually removed all animal products from his diet. Harrelson even maintains his dietary principles while filming, often bringing his personal chef to movie sets.

Known for environmental activism, he’s invested in vegan businesses and co-founded Yoganics, an organic food delivery service, merging his wellness and sustainability values.

6. Billie Eilish’s Youth Movement

Grammy-winning musician Billie Eilish represents a new generation of vegan celebrities. Raised vegetarian, she transitioned to veganism around age 12, making her commitment particularly impressive given her young start in the spotlight.

Unlike celebrities who keep their dietary choices private, Eilish regularly uses her massive social media platform to advocate for animals. She’s shared undercover footage from factory farms to her millions of followers and partnered with sustainable fashion brands to create vegan sneakers with Nike.

“I learned about the dairy industry and the meat industry,” Eilish has explained. “I just can’t go on in my life knowing what’s going on in the animal world and not doing anything about it.”

7. Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey has long used her platform to explore health, wellness, and conscious living, and while not fully vegan herself, she has been a powerful advocate for plant-based lifestyles.

After launching a week-long vegan challenge on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2008, she inspired millions of viewers to rethink their food choices.

Oprah has since integrated more plant-based meals into her routine and even invested in sustainable food companies, including True Food Kitchen and Oatly. Known for her ability to spark cultural conversations, she continues to highlight the connections between diet, well-being, and environmental responsibility.

8. Natalie Portman

The Oscar-winning actress is deeply committed to ethical eating and often credits her dietary choices with improving her health and energy. Portman produced the documentary Eating Animals, which highlights the environmental and ethical costs of factory farming. Beyond her diet, she uses her influence to support sustainable fashion by avoiding animal-derived clothing and partnering with cruelty-free brands. Her activism reflects a holistic view of success: aligning career, health, and compassion.

9. Kourtney Kardashian’s Plant-Based Journey

Reality TV star and Poosh founder Kourtney Kardashian embraces a 95% plant-based lifestyle, gradually transitioning after noticing improvements in her skin and energy levels. Her journey gained momentum after meeting her now-husband Travis Barker, a long-time vegan.

Through her wellness platform Poosh, Kardashian regularly shares plant-based recipes and tips with her millions of followers. She’s been transparent about her flexible approach, maintaining mostly vegan meals while occasionally incorporating animal products—a relatable transition many fans appreciate.

The eldest Kardashian sister has documented her plant-based cooking adventures on social media, showing her family enjoying vegan tacos, avocado shakes, and zucchini noodles, normalizing plant-based eating for her mainstream audience.

10. Travis Barker’s Punk Rock Plants

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker proves veganism isn’t just for the stereotypical yoga crowd. After surviving a near-fatal plane crash in 2008, Barker overhauled his lifestyle, including adopting a strict vegan diet as part of his recovery.

The tattooed musician has maintained his plant-based commitment for over 15 years, even launching Crossroads Kitchen, an upscale vegan restaurant in Los Angeles that attracts celebrities and foodies alike. His vegan lifestyle extends beyond food—Barker created a drum company that uses no animal-derived glues in their products.

“I’ve been vegan for many years and vegetarian for even longer,” Barker has shared. “Honestly, I feel like not eating meat gives me more energy.”

11. Erykah Badu’s Spiritual Sustenance

Neo-soul pioneer Erykah Badu began her plant-based journey in 1989, initially as a vegetarian before fully embracing veganism in 1997. Her choice was influenced by both health consciousness and spiritual beliefs about energy transfer through food.

Badu approaches veganism holistically, connecting it to her practice of meditation, energy work, and natural healing. “When I’m on the road, I bring my own cooker and prepare most of my own meals with fresh produce from local markets,” she’s explained, showing her dedication despite a demanding tour schedule.

The Grammy winner credits her plant-based lifestyle for her youthful appearance and sustained creative energy at performances. She often shares vegan recipes and wellness tips through her social media channels.

12. Jessica Chastain’s Red Carpet Revolution

Two-time Academy Award winner Jessica Chastain adopted veganism over 15 years ago after experiencing low energy while trying a vegetarian diet. “I just had more energy than I’ve ever had in my life,” she revealed about her switch to full veganism.

The actress has used her Hollywood platform to normalize plant-based living, bringing vegan meals to film sets and requesting cruelty-free cosmetics during movie promotions. She invested in Beyond Meat before it became mainstream and co-founded Seed to Sprout, a vegan meal delivery service.

Chastain’s compassion extends beyond her plate—she rescued her dog Chaplin from a shelter and has supported Farm Sanctuary, demonstrating her holistic commitment to animal welfare both in her professional and personal choices.

13. Brad Pitt’s Environmental Stance

Hollywood icon Brad Pitt embraced vegetarianism primarily for environmental reasons, recognizing the massive carbon footprint of meat production. “I don’t want to be in the business of telling people what to do,” Pitt has stated, “but I do think that each of us needs to take responsibility for how we’re impacting the planet.”

The actor and producer has supported sustainable farming initiatives through his Make It Right Foundation, which incorporates food justice into its community development work. His environmental consciousness extends to his wine production at Château Miraval, where he implements organic farming methods.

Though less vocal than some celebrity vegetarians, Pitt’s long-standing commitment has influenced his film projects, including producing and narrating documentaries addressing climate change and food systems.

14. Beyoncé’s Plant-Based Power Moves

Music icon Beyoncé made headlines when she and husband Jay-Z launched the 22 Days Nutrition meal planner, encouraging fans to incorporate more plant-based meals into their diets. Her approach is pragmatic rather than purist—she follows what she calls a “plant-based for breakfast” routine while incorporating more flexibility later in the day.

Beyoncé’s interest in veganism intensified while preparing for her historic Coachella performance, using plant-based eating to regain her pre-pregnancy physique. She documented this journey in her Netflix documentary “Homecoming,” showcasing the physical stamina her modified vegan diet helped her achieve.

The superstar offered free lifetime tickets to her concerts for fans willing to try veganism, cleverly using her influence to inspire dietary experimentation among her massive fanbase.

15. Jay-Z’s Business of Plants

Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z approaches veganism with the same strategic mindset he brings to his business empire. Alongside wife Beyoncé, he co-founded 22 Days Nutrition with exercise physiologist Marco Borges, turning plant-based eating into a lucrative venture.

Jay-Z was initially motivated by a challenge from Borges to try veganism for 22 days—the time psychologists suggest it takes to form a new habit. The experience led him to invest in several plant-based companies, including Impossible Foods, seeing both ethical and financial opportunities in the growing vegan market.

“The benefits of a single plant-based meal per day can have a profound impact on our health and the environment,” Jay-Z has stated, promoting an accessible approach that resonates with fans who might be intimidated by strict veganism.

16. Liam Hemsworth’s Planetary Perspective

Australian actor Liam Hemsworth adopted veganism in 2015 after learning about the environmental impact of animal agriculture. The Hunger Games star has credited his plant-based diet with improving his fitness and energy levels during physically demanding film roles.

“After all the information I gathered about the mistreatment of animals, I couldn’t continue to eat meat,” Hemsworth explained in Men’s Health. His ex-wife Miley Cyrus influenced his initial transition, though he’s maintained his commitment independently since their split.

Hemsworth faced a health challenge in 2019 when kidney stones forced him to modify his diet, incorporating some animal products. This transparent discussion about navigating health issues while maintaining environmental values has made his journey relatable to fans experiencing similar dietary challenges.

17. Lewis Hamilton’s Racing on Plants

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton proves that elite athletes can thrive on plant power. His 2017 switch to veganism came after watching the documentary “What the Health,” which highlighted connections between diet and disease.

Hamilton’s environmental awakening extended beyond his plate—he sold his private jet, invested in the vegan burger chain Neat Burger, and launched a clothing line with Tommy Hilfiger featuring only vegan leather and sustainable materials. His social media regularly features plant-based meals and animal rights messages to his millions of followers.

“I want my life to mean something,” Hamilton has said about his activism. “I want to know that I didn’t waste this opportunity to make a change.” His performance on the track serves as powerful evidence against myths about vegan athletic capability.