Gwyneth Paltrow Oscar Winner and Business Mogul

The Oscar-winning actress is used to being at the front and centre, but when it came to taking a step back from her Hollywood career, it took a lot of guts. Gwyneth Paltrow’s decision to expand into the lifestyle space almost 10 years ago and start her own brand, Goop, is paying off as it is now making millions

Some people seem to have it all. Actress-turned-lifestyle-guru Gwyneth Paltrow certainly appears to have fulfilled this mantra. Be it channelling Eastern spiritualism, unearthing the trendiest self-care techniques, indulging oneself, or even getting divorced – or “conscious uncoupling”, as Gwyneth calls it – the star of Shakespeare In Love, Emma, and, more recently, the Iron Man and Avengers franchises, always seems to traverse the rocky terrain of life with an inherent tranquillity.

For the legions of fans looking to share a slice of Gwyneth’s serene existence, there is hope yet. In 2008, she began a weekly lifestyle newsletter under the name Goop that was to explode into, first a website and then a multi-million-dollar company. Its popularity has even led to Gwyneth stepping away from the camera to dedicate more time to her brand.

There is no denying that Goop has had its fair share of controversies. From social media naysayers to NASA scientists, the brand’s unorthodox and occasionally unsubstantiated expertise has drawn reactions from all corners of the beauty and wellness industry. But with Goop now sitting very pretty as a US$25-million-a-year business, what began as a personal newsletter sent from Gwyneth’s kitchen featuring tips and tricks that the star had gleaned from her life travelling the globe for her film-work has now morphed into a “modern lifestyle brand” that lets followers in on the secrets behind Gwyneth’s glamour.

HOW DID GOOP BEGIN?