See How 22 Celebrities Spent Their First Big Paychecks

It's very exciting to see the fruits of hard labor finally pay off, especially with a payday to prove it. So, it's no surprise that plenty of stars get that one special item they've been after once they finally can.

Tons of celebs have made a car their first big purchase, including The Photograph costars Lakeith Stanfield and Issa Rae, who (unknowingly) purchased from the same brand, as well as Jennifer Lopez, Gabrielle Union and Jennifer Aniston. Others went very practical, like Kelly Rowland's.

What Happened

Yes, jewelry — we see you, Madelaine Petsch and Ashley Graham — and sneakers — Travis Kelce and Caleb McLaughlin nabbed very different pairs of dream kicks! From cars to candy to a Cartier ring — and even a bowling party!

• Union — whose career took off in 1999 and 2000 with the success of the films 10 Things I Hate About You, She's All That, Love & Basketball and Bring It On — described.

• It depreciates the second you drive it off the lot,' she recalled during a panel at the American Black Film Festival in June 2025.

• During an appearance on the WIP Midday Show in August 2024, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end's sister-in-law, Kylie Kelce, answered a trivia question about which Kelce brother — Travis or her retired husband.

Key Details

I'm like, 'Oh, I've made it when I have a Mazda.' My dad's like, 'Don't buy a brand new car. Lemme tell you about leather seats in Los Angeles.

• Fox's character Marty McFly wore in 1989's Back to the Future Part II — were "so cool," but Jason teasing his brother over the price he paid for them was "warranted."

• About a year earlier, during a May 2023 episode of his and Jason's podcast New Heights, Travis opened up about those very sneakers he'd "always wanted," admitting they "weren't cheap" — a cool $10,000.

• Rae and Stanfield discovered the bizarre coincidence in February 2020, while discussing some of their firsts with BuzzFeed, including how they spent their first big paycheck.

Why It Matters

Do you know I scorched myself every time I got out? I think with the Marty McFly shoes into Philly.

• Petsch further divulged on the jewelry's meaning, telling Teen Vogue in January 2020, "I now buy myself one at the beginning of every season [of Riverdale] to, like, have something that I can remember."

• Smith star shared during a July 2019 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by Yahoo as more details emerge