Like Gabrielle Solis, Eva Longoria lavished herself with gifts thanks to the money of her wealthy financier husband.
But in real life, the Desperate Housewives favorite, 49, has been “quietly making smart business moves” as she plots her transition from actress to investor, taking inspiration from her close friends Victoria Beckham and Serena Williams.
The actress and philanthropist, who already has an estimated fortune of $50 million, has invested in multiple projects in recent years, including Siete Foods, which was acquired by Pepsi Co for $1.2 billion last week.
It comes months after DailyMail.com revealed that Longoria and her husband José Bastón, 56, a businessman and founder of independent studio Elefantec Global, had left Los Angeles for Marbella, Spain, in a bid to escape Hollywood.
“Eva has been quietly making some smart business moves behind the scenes for a few years now,” a source close to the actress revealed.
Eva Longoria has been “quietly making smart business moves” as she plans her transition from actress to investor, a source told DailyMail.com.
The actress and philanthropist, 49, has been inspired by her close girlfriend Victoria Beckham, 50, who went from singer to fashion mogul and now has a reported net worth of $70 million.
‘Her foray into the world of investing was really fueled by some of her close friends who urged her to think beyond Hollywood.
“One of her biggest inspirations was her best friend, Victoria Beckham.”
The former Spice Girl turned fashion mogul launched her eponymous brand in 2008 before branching out into the beauty sector in 2021, and the British star is now worth an estimated $70 million.
“Eva has seen Vic go from a huge pop star to a fashion mogul who created a brand that she is also very involved in,” the source continued. ‘Vic has also been able to do this while raising a family and really values their advice and friendship. She showed Eva how to build a lasting empire.
They said he also turned to Serena Williams, 43, who supplemented her dazzling tennis fortune with her Wyn beauty line to bring her net worth to an estimated $340 million.
“Serena showed Eva how to live life as a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur,” the source continued. “Seeing Serena’s enormous success off the tennis court in creating and developing her own empire by stepping outside the box and believing in herself with her own beauty brand has been so inspiring.”
In April, Longoria began funding Mexican-American tortilla maker Siete Foods, the fastest-growing Hispanic food company in the United States, claiming he wanted to turn it into a “billion-dollar brand,” a dream that came true last year. week when Pepsi acquired it for $1.2 billion.
It came four years after she became one of the first investors to answer Natalie Portman’s call to back Angel City FC, which played its first game in the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League.
Longoria has invested in multiple projects in recent years, including Siete Foods, which was acquired by Pepsi Co for $1.2 billion last week.
The news comes months after Longoria, her husband José Bastón, 56, and their son Santiago (pictured), five, told DailyMail.com they were moving to Spain from Los Angeles.
She also previously financed the first John Wick film, earning a producer credit on the 2013 production starring Keanu Reeves, which grossed approximately $86 million worldwide and became a hugely successful franchise.
The move was made through his production company UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, now known as Hyphenate Media Group, which has provided financing for a host of films, television series and podcasts over the years.
His decision to focus on investments comes when he settles in Spain, with the dream of moving permanently to the European city.
“I live more in Spain than (the United States)… I would love to be there permanently,” he told DailyMail.com in June. ‘I am a resident in Spain, so I can work and stay there.
Longoria, who married Bastón in 2016, purchased a six-bedroom, seven-bathroom mega-mansion in Marbella in early 2023, and the couple hired architect and interior designer Nicolás Escanez to help renovate it.
It came when they put their property in Beverly Hills up for sale for $18.9 million.
“Serena showed Eva how to live life as a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur,” a source told DailyMail.com.
Longoria, pictured with her son in Spain, has made a series of quiet investments in recent years.
“Eva and José are leaving Los Angeles for good and have put their house back up for sale,” a source told DailyMail.com at the time.
“They want to raise their child in a place where they will be surrounded by nature and beauty and not be sucked into the whole Hollywood cycle.”
Longoria, who topped Forbes magazine’s list of highest-paid television actresses in 2011, is the latest celebrity to leave Los Angeles for Spain, a trend that is becoming increasingly popular.
Amber Heard quietly left Hollywood for Madrid in 2022 because she wanted to raise her daughter “away from all the noise.”
The actress sold her home in Yucca Valley, California, for $1.1 million.
Richard Gere revealed earlier this year that he had taken up permanent residence in the Spanish city to be closer to his wife Alejandra Silva’s family.
Hilary Swank, Joe Rogan and Mark Wahlberg are also among a growing list of stars leaving California.