Six Celebrities Who Are Making a Difference for the Environment – And Five Who Are Killing It

Todd Neikirk
Photo Credit: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images
Photo Credit: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

When one has a lot of money, it’s easy to do an awful lot of harm to the Earth. This includes having a massive carbon footprint with multiple properties and fleets of gas-guzzling cars. Private planes also do their fair amount of harm to the environment, and the rich and famous sure love taking those on short trips.

There are also those who use their celebrity status to help the planet. While they may have the means to have anything they want, they think about how it may harm the world. Below is a list of some of the most eco-friendly celebrities, as well as those causing the most environmental harm.

Cristiano Ronaldo – Doing Harm

Cristiano Ronaldo wearing his sports uniform
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is not a friend to the environment. (Photo Credit: Valerio Pennicino / Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most famous soccer players in the world, which, therefore, makes him one of the most famous individuals in the world. The Portuguese forward, however, is not too kind to the environment. Ronaldo owns a collection of 23 luxury cars, as well as two private planes and eight properties.

Kylie Jenner – Doing Harm

Kylie Jenner wearing a dress on a red carpet
Owning multiple homes and cars, Kylie Jenner does harm to the environment. (Photo Credit: Toni Anne Barson / WireImage / Getty Images)

Kylie Jenner has come out of the shadow of her famous Kardashian siblings to become quite possibly the most famous sister of them all. She’s built up a billion-dollar makeup empire, and has spent the money she’s made on many luxury and environment-harming items.

Jenner owns a Rolls Royce, as well as multiple Ferraris and Range Rovers. She has also owned five homes in her lifetime and uses various animal products.

Justin Bieber – Doing Harm

Justin Bieber wearing sunglasses and a pink beanie
Famous from a young age, Justin Bieber has spent his fortune on luxury items. (Photo Credit: Axelle / Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic / Getty Images)

Justin Bieber first came to fame after his YouTube videos went viral. His success led him to sign a record deal, and before he knew it, he’d amassed quite a fortune. Bieber has purchased plenty of things with his money, including a private jet, a litany of luxury cars, and homes on massive plots of real estate.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – Doing Harm

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson standing with his arms outstretched
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson uses his private plane to fly to numerous estates. (Photo Credit: Jesse Grant / Getty Images for Disney)

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has had one of the most unique career paths of anyone in the entertainment industry. He began as a college football player before becoming a world-famous wrestler, and, today, he is one of the most bankable actors on the planet.

With his fortune, Johnson purchased a private plane, which he frequently uses to fly to any one of his number of homes. His impressive car collection also includes a Pagani Huayra, the most expensive car in the world.

Jennifer Lopez – Doing Harm

Jennifer Lopez singing into a microphone
While J-Lo eats a plant-based diet, she also has multiple mansions and a fleet of cars. (Photo Credit: Gary Hershorn – Pool / Getty Images)

From being Jenny from the Block, to becoming a Flygirl, pop superstar and actress, Jennifer Lopez has had quite a rise. Lopez has spent her wealth on multiple estates and a fleet of luxury cars. She does receive eco points for one thing, however: she lives a plant-based diet.

Leonardo DiCaprio – Helping

Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio has long been a fierce advocate for environmental causes. (Photo Credit: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images)

Leonardo DiCaprio has regularly used his celebrity status to advocate for the environment. The most famous moment regarding his advocacy came at the 2016 Academy Awards when the actor talked about climate change while accepting the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in The Revenant (2015).

In 1998, he started the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. Thus far, the organization has donated more than $80 million to environmental projects.

Shailene Woodley – Helping

Shailene Woodley posing on a red carpet
Shailene Woodley is one of the better-known hippies in Hollywood. (Photo Credit: Axelle / Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic / Getty Images)

Shailene Woodley is known for being both an A-list actress and a dyed-in-the-wool hippie. Among her most popular films are The Fault In Our Stars (2014) and the Divergent series. Woodley openly talks about the environment when making television appearances, and has also appeared at protests for the Dakota Access Pipeline and the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

Mark Ruffalo – Helping

Mark Ruffalo speaking at a podium
Mark Ruffalo regularly shows up at protests. (Photo Credit: BRYAN R. SMITH / AFP / Getty Images)

Mark Ruffalo has had an extensive Hollywood career, working in small indie films, as well as starring as the Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ruffalo has been an outspoken advocate for a number of important environmental causes and has hosted a toxic tour of Los Angeles, where he pointed out hidden oil sites.

Natalie Portman – Helping

Natalie Portman smiling on a red carpet
Vegan Natalie Portman has been in the public eye for decades. (Photo Credit: Amy Sussman / FilmMagic / Getty Images)

Natalie Portman has been famous since young age, appearing in Léon: The Professional (1994) when she was only 12 years old. Portman is also one of the world’s most famous vegans, and the actress was recently given the EMA Ongoing Commitment Award for her commitment to environmental issues.

Woody Harrelson – Helping

Woody Harrelson holding a microphone
Woody Harrelson has long been one of Hollywood’s most outspoken environmental activists. (Photo Credit: Travis P Ball / Getty Images for SXSW)

First appearing in the beloved series, Cheers (1982-93), Woody Harrelson has been a TV and movie star for decades. He is also a pioneer in environmental activism. Harrelson is well-known for his love of hemp and his frequent promotion of the substance. The actor also participates in environmental conventions and protests around the world.

Morgan Freeman – Helping

Morgan Freeman standing at a podium
Morgan Freeman turned his concern for the environment into action. (Photo Credit: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images for AFI)

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Closing out our list is Morgan Freeman, one of Hollywood’s most storied and accomplished actors. Outside of his acting career, he’s also dedicated himself to raising awareness for environmental causes.

One such cause he’s passionate about is the rehabilitation of the bee population, which has experienced a sharp decline in recent years. He converted his 124-acre Mississippi ranch into a bee sanctuary, complete with 26 hives imported from Arkansas and trees intended to help the insects thrive.

toddneikirk

Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. His work has been featured in psfk.com, foxsports.com, politicususa.com and hillreporter.com. He enjoys sports, politics, comic books, and anything that has to do with history.

When he is not sitting in front of a laptop, Todd enjoys soaking up everything the Jersey Shore has to offer with his wife, two sons and American Foxhound, Wally.