Idris Elba and his wife, Sabrina, invested in Huel, a British plant-based nutrition company, prior to its acquisition by French food giant Danone for nearly $1.15 billion.
Read More
Huel, founded in 2015, has sold over 270 million meals and expanded its product line to include ready-to-drink beverages, snacks, and hot meals. In 2022, the company raised $24 million in funding, led by Highland Europe, to boost its growth in the U.S. This round included contributions from Elba, his wife, British television host Jonathan Ross, and entrepreneur Grace Beverley.
Elba noted that his investment was driven by a genuine interest in Huel's products and its CEO, James McMaster. In a video with Forbes Family Group, he described the opportunity as aligning with his values and expressed gratitude for being involved from the company's early stages.
Elba emphasized his passion for supporting healthier diets and agricultural development in Sierra Leone, his father's home country. He acknowledged that while his stake was modest, he still gained from the sale due to Danone's acquisition, which was valued at approximately 1 billion euros.
The transaction highlights a trend of celebrities becoming early-stage investors rather than merely endorsing products, with Elba's strategy focusing on backing products he believes in and leveraging his visibility to support their growth.