14 famous people with an accounting background
Simu Liu
With his dashing good looks and dazzling smile, Liu is a (former) Canadian accountant from Toronto who now walks the red carpet instead of Bay Street. You can watch him in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Kim’s Convenience and, of course, as one of many Kens in this year’s blockbuster hit: Barbie.
KEN Mode
This pair of Juno award winning brothers, Shane and Jesse Matthewson, take being Canadian CPAs (and maybe even Ken dolls) into hyperdrive with their heavy metal band KEN Mode. The band is currently on tour and their new “Void LP” just came out on September 22, 2023.
Kenny G.
Not another Ken? There seems to be a pattern here. Kenny G. earned an accounting degree from Washington University but, with saxophone in hand, was diverted from the accountant’s path by the lure of fame, leading to a lifetime of smooth jazz hits.
Mick Jagger
Another member of music royalty, Sir Mick Jagger studied finance and accounting at the London School of Economics before founding the Rolling Stones. At 80 years old, Jagger is still going strong; he was spotted at the Palace of Versailles in late September, dining in honour of King Charles III.
Irma
Irma Pany, known simply as Irma, is a French-Cameroonian singer-songwriter with a degree from the prestigious École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris (ESCP Business School). Her 2022 album, Douala Paris is an homage to her roots, bridging the distance between France and Africa, it blends music genres masterfully and features entirely French vocals.
King Charles III
His Royal Majesty King Charles III was made an honourary accountant by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales back in 2007. The King’s Accounting for Sustainability, or A4S Foundation has been instrumental in bringing the world up to speed on the importance of sustainability accounting and ESG.
Georgina Wilson
Speaking of international affairs, Georgina Wilson is a top model and TV host who holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Sydney, Australia. Wilson is niece to Gloria Diaz who was crowned the first Filipino Miss Universe in the groundbreaking 1969 ceremony.
Chuck Liddell
So far, retired Chuck Liddell seems to be the only competitive mixed martial artist with an accounting degree. Credited with making MMA a mainstream sport, Liddell is a former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion, trained in the arts of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, kenpō, kajukenbo and business accounting.
Alexandre Bilodeau
A freestyle skier, CPA and two-time Olympic champion, Alexandre Bilodeau made history at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi by becoming the first Canadian man to successfully defend an individual gold medal. Now, Bilodeau’s star continues to rise in the accounting profession as he wraps up his first year as vice president at Walter Capital Partners in Montréal.
Song Ji-Hyo
As the daughter of a South Korean national competitive swimmer who instilled strong education values in her children, Song Ji-Hyo graduated with a degree in tax accounting from Kyungwoon University. Now, when she’s not endorsing cosmetic brands, she plays the lead role in many South Korean films and TV series.
Venus Williams
Venus Williams is a former world number one tennis player in both singles and doubles, who is regarded as one of the best tennis players of all time. Yet, before all that tennis and fame, she pursued a degree in business administration at Indiana University. “Accounting almost killed me,” she once said of that time.
Pádraig Harrington
Pádraig Harrington is an ACCA-certified accountant who was well on his way to becoming a pro before earning his designation in 1994. This Irish professional golfer now has three championship wins under his belt and is currently playing in the DP World Tour.
John Grisham
Novelist John Grisham graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting before moving on to law school—a decision that ultimately armed him to become the most popular writer of legal thrillers ever known. Grisham has published nearly 50 novels; the latest, The Exchange: After the Firm, was released in October.
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