Ryan Reynolds made hundreds of millions of dollars from selling gin and cell phones. Drake and Justin Bieber — they’ve all built global empires. But to me, the real interesting story isn’t just about what they sell. It’s where they live and how they structure their businesses internationally.
Here at Blueprint, we help Canadians navigate moves like residency changes and tax strategies when heading abroad. That got me curious about how our biggest celebrities handle it — so I did some research and what I uncovered was pretty insightful, and I’ll walk you through it in this video
I’ll save the richest Canadian celeb for last (I was surprised to find out who it was!)
Drake
Drake’s net worth is about US$250 million. Beyond music, he co-founded OVO Sound, turned OVO clothing into a global brand through Nike and Jordan collabs, and co-launched Virginia Black whiskey. His tours are massive — the Aubrey & the Three Migos Tour grossed around US$100 million — and he earns roughly US$50 million a year from streaming.
Then there’s his Toronto mansion, “The Embassy,” which reportedly cost around C$100 million to design and build — a symbol that his roots remain firmly in Canada.
And that’s where the tax implications come in. Drake is still based in Toronto, likely making him a Canadian tax resident. Unless he files a formal departure return with the CRA and cuts ties, Canada taxes him on his worldwide income. That means his streaming royalties, U.S. touring profits, OVO business earnings, and brand deals could all flow through the Canadian tax system.
Lesson: If you remain Canadian resident, the CRA has its claws in everything. For Drake, no matter how global the brand, the income still flows back into Canada’s tax net.
And sure, he might have bounced back fairly well from his recent high-profile beef with Kendrick Lamar — but if the CRA ever comes after him, that’s a battle even tougher than a rap feud.
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds isn’t just Deadpool — he’s built a serious business empire. His net worth is estimated around US$350 million. The biggest wins? A stake in Aviation Gin, sold to Diageo for up to US$610 million, and about 25% of Mint Mobile, which T-Mobile bought for US$1.35 billion. That one deal alone likely made him more money than all his acting combined.
But here’s the important part: Reynolds is a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S., and he lives in New York. That likely makes him a U.S. tax resident. So when those massive exits happened, it wasn’t the CRA cashing in — it was the IRS.
Now here’s where it gets interesting: Reynolds is a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S., and he lives in New York. That means he’s treated as a U.S. tax resident. So when those billion-dollar exits went through, the IRS was the one cashing in, not the CRA. If he had stayed Canadian resident, Ottawa would have had taxing rights on those deals. Instead, by being U.S.-based, he likely saved himself tens — maybe even hundreds — of millions in taxes.
And we see this firsthand at Blueprint. The U.S. is one of the most common destinations for Canadians moving abroad, and residency planning is often the difference between keeping your wealth or handing over far too much to the CRA.
Leaving Canada without a plan can cost you big. I’ve seen people pay thousands more than they needed to. If you want to avoid that, download our free guide: 7 CRA Tax Traps to Avoid When Leaving Canada. The link is below.
📥 https://blueprintfinancial.ca/exit-canada-tax-guide-download
Shania Twain
Shania Twain’s net worth is estimated at around US$100 million. She became the “Queen of Country Pop” in the 1990s, with Come On Over selling more than 40 million copies worldwide — still the best-selling country album ever. Even decades later, Twain earns millions from touring, Las Vegas residencies, and royalties from her back catalogue.
But what’s just as interesting as how she made her money is where she chose to live. Since the 1990s, Twain has been based in Switzerland, far from her hometown of Timmins, Ontario. The move started as a personal one — she married her producer Robert “Mutt” Lange and they settled there for privacy and family life. Even after their divorce, she stayed, later marrying Frédéric Thiébaud, a Swiss businessman. Twain has often said she loves the quiet, natural beauty, and distance from the paparazzi culture of North America.
Of course, Switzerland isn’t only about the Alps. The country is also famous for its favourable tax regimes. Here’s the crazy thing about Switzerland: Wealthy foreign residents can often negotiate a lump-sum annual tax payment instead of being taxed on worldwide income. For someone like Twain, with steady global royalties and performance income, that makes a huge difference.
It’s also common for wealthy residents in Switzerland to hold earnings through trusts or holding companies, giving them predictability on taxes and a way to protect global royalties for future generations. Twain’s long residency there shows how lifestyle and tax planning can go hand-in-hand.
Lesson: Some Canadians head to the U.S. for tax reasons, but Twain shows why Europe can be just as appealing. By living in Switzerland, she combines lifestyle, privacy, and a tax system that preserves wealth long term.
And here’s the thing — you don’t need to be Shania Twain to benefit from this. At Blueprint Financial, we’ve built a team of planners and CPAs who specialize in helping Canadians restructure their businesses and finances before moving abroad. We work fee-for-service, so the advice is transparent and unbiased. If you want to avoid handing over more to the CRA than you should, book a call with us today. Build the life you want, with the right Blueprint.
Justin Bieber
Net Worth: ~ US$200 million
Bieber first rose to fame through YouTube, teen pop hits, global tours, and endorsements — all of which built the foundation of his wealth. But the biggest payday came in 2023, when he sold his entire music catalog to Hipgnosis Songs Capital for about US$200 million. That deal effectively turned decades of future royalties into an upfront lump sum, and it’s something a lot of artists have been doing lately, like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Justin Timberlake.
Now here’s where it gets tricky. Royalties are taxed differently depending on where you live — countries like Ireland and the Netherlands have long been popular for their favourable IP and royalty regimes, while Canada and the U.S. tend to take a much bigger bite.
Bieber has spent most of his time in Los Angeles and applied for U.S. citizenship back in 2018. If he’s formally severed ties with Canada, that means the CRA can’t touch his catalog sale or ongoing royalties — they fall under U.S. jurisdiction instead.
Lesson: For global earners, it’s not just about making money — it’s about how each country taxes the streams. Bieber’s story shows how residency planning can protect tens of millions, especially when royalties cross borders.
Céline Dion
Céline Dion is the richest Canadian celebrity, with a fortune of roughly US$570 million built on decades of global stardom. Her Las Vegas residencies alone grossed over US$1.4 billion, and her perfume line has sold more than 30 million bottles worldwide. Add in royalties and real estate, and she’s easily one of the most successful Canadian entertainers of all time.
The key detail? Céline has lived in Las Vegas for decades, which makes her a U.S. tax resident. By basing herself there, she avoids Canada’s worldwide tax net and instead benefits from U.S. rules — and Nevada doesn’t levy personal income tax at all. At her level of ultra wealth, most of her earnings likely flow through corporations, licensing entities, and trusts, structures designed to protect wealth across generations.
Lesson: For ultra-high earners, residency is everything. By living in the U.S., Céline has kept billions under a system far more favourable than Canada’s.
How Business Structures Layer On Top
Residency is the first big move, but the ultra-wealthy don’t stop there — they layer business structures on top to protect and manage their fortunes. Many use holding companies in places perhaps outside of where they live to pool income, separate risk, and streamline taxes.
They also use IP and licensing entities. Music catalogues, film rights, and branding are often held in separate companies so royalties and fees flow through businesses instead of directly to the individual.
The sequence matters: residency comes first, then the structures. Move before a sale or catalog deal, otherwise the wrong country might tax everything.
And thes strategies aren’t just for ultra-wealthy celebrities. Regular Canadians can use simpler versions — incorporating a business, setting up a holding company, or planning ahead before selling. The structures may be smaller, but the principle is the same.
At Blueprint Financial, we help Canadians plan smarter moves abroad — from taxes to residency to long-term wealth strategies. Visit our website to learn more about our services and how we can support your journey.
Want practical tips delivered straight to your inbox? Join our free financial newsletter today and start planning with confidence.
