Celebrities, like most of us, are working to earn a living, and most people who work eventually want to retire. Their reasons for retirement, though, often differ from ours. Some lost interest in their work. Some can't handle the spotlight anymore. Others simply want to stop working, and usually have the money to do so.
Most celebrities retire eventually, but few do so when they're seemingly on top of the world. There are always outliers, though. Here are 1o celebrities who retired at the height of their fame:
10 Cameron Diaz
Known for iconic late '90s and early '00s films, Cameron Diaz is a superstar. Her work in There's Something About Mary, Charlie's Angels, and the Shrek series eventually led her to become the highest-paid actress in 2013. At a time when she was seemingly on top of her game, Diaz stepped back to spend more time with her family. The actress is married to Benji Madden, lead guitarist of rock band Good Charlotte, and the two share a child. "I was finally taking care of myself," she said of her decision to step out of the spotlight. Aside from a video short in 2020, Diaz hasn't earned any acting credits since 2014.
9 Daniel Day-Lewis
British actor and three-time Academy Award winner, Daniel Day-Lewis is the only performer to win three Oscars in the Best Actor category. Best known for his roles in There Will Be Blood and Lincoln, Day-Lewis has yet to figure out internally why exactly he left Hollywood. "It was something I had to do," he said about his departure. Day-Lewis hasn't starred in a movie since 2017's Phantom Thread.
8 Karyn Parsons
Actress Karyn Parsons rose to fame in the '90s, becoming known for her role as the stylish sister Hilary Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Parsons quit acting after struggling to find roles post-Fresh Prince. After moving to New York City, marrying, and having children, the sitcom actress felt her priorities change. Feeling like she couldn't balance her career and family, Parsons focused instead on writing, and founded the non-profit Sweet Blackberry, which is "aimed at educating children about the little-known parts of African American history." Parsons still works on her non-profit efforts today, and has published works as a writer.
7 Freddie Prinze Jr.
Freddie Prinze Jr. had an illustrious acting career with roles in She's All That, I Know What You Did Last Summer, the live-action Scooby-Doo movies, and his own sitcom inspired by his life. The '00s heartthrob quit acting to focus on other passions. Since his retirement, he's become a stay-at-home-day, released a cookbook, and has worked as a writer and producer for World Wrestling Entertainment. Prinze Jr. is married to Scooby-Doo co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar.
6 Kris Humphries
Kris Humphries is a former professional basketball player, but he's arguably better known for his infamous 72-day marriage to Kim Kardashian. Humphries struggled with the spotlight during and after his relationship with Kardashian, saying arenas would boo him as he walked onto courts for games. The Minnesota native retired from basketball and is now a restauranteur.
5 Frankie Muniz
Actor Frankie Muniz started his entertainment career as a child, landing roles in Agent Cody Banks, Big Fat Liar, and sitcom Malcolm in the Middle. Muniz retired from acting to pursue his dream of becoming a race care driver. An accident he was involved in while racing has left him with some serious health issues, including severe memory loss and ischemic attacks. He has since returned to acting, and is now married and has a child.
4 Nikki Blonsky
Best known for her role as Tracy Turnblad in the 2007 remake of Hairspray, actress Nikki Blonsky struggled to find roles afterward. Blonsky has been working as a makeup artist to make ends meet, but insists it's still her dream to be an actress.
3 Amanda Bynes
Another child actor, Amanda Bynes became popular when she was cast in Nickelodeon's sketch comedy series All That. She was later given her own show, The Amanda Show, and went on to star in classic '00s hits like Sydney White and She's the Man. Bynes said she experienced depression after seeing herself as a boy in She's the Man, and eventually began using drugs to cope. Bynes was also unhappy with the way she looked on Easy A, as well as her performance, and decided to stop acting afterward. Bynes is currently pursuing a an education.
2 Meghan Markle
While she's now known around the world for marrying Prince Harry, Meghan Markle first rose to fame as an actress, best known for her role in USA legal drama Suits. Markle famously left acting to marry Prince Harry. Harry and Meghan stepped down from their roles as Senior Members of the Royal Family, so fans of the Duchess are hoping she'll return to entertainment.
1 Lauryn Hill
Grammy-award winning singer, songwriter, and rapper Lauryn Hill only ever recorded one solo studio album - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. While the album won her accolades and critical praise, the former member of the hip-hop group Fugees told Rolling Stone she didn't feel supported by her label and was never asked to record another album. She also said she was intimidated by the success of her first album and worried a second wouldn't measure up. Hill still tours and performs music from her famous album today.