In 2010, Ashton Kutcher helped launch a $30 million investment fund; 6 years later, its portfolio had grown to $250 million through bets on Uber and Airbnb

Ashton Kutcher is an actor who made a big name for himself in Hollywood. Many know about his acting skills on the big screen, but not many know about his biggest gains in business. Notably, Kutcher gained a lot by investing in technology startups. He and his investment partner in 2011 put $500,000 in Uber. At that time, it was still a young ride-hailing company. After five years of his investment, the stake was reportedly worth more than $60 million, according to Forbes.

This investment by Kutcher and music manager Guy Oseary was part of a wider strategy. They aimed to back technology companies before they became household names.

With billionaire investor Ron Burkle, they formed A-Grade Investments in 2010.


According to Forbes, their $30 million fund had grown into a portfolio valued at $250 million by March 2016.

What is the real story behind this?

Kutcher became a widely known actor through films and television shows. After getting famous, his interest in business also grew gradually.

Once an endorsement deal made him realise the value of owning a stake in a business. He then went on exploring technology investments, and later built a lot of connections with people in the Silicon Valley.

Oseary was also interested in the same thing. Kutcher and Oseary later joined forces and brought Burkle into their investment venture.

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Why did they invest in Uber?

Investing in Uber was a great success for them. Kutcher and Oseary invested $500,000 in the company in 2011. Uber later expanded into many cities and attracted more customers. This helped the company in growing its valuation.

The investment was worth more than $60 million by March 2016, reported Forbes.

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Investment in Airbnb

A-Grade invested $2.5 million in Airbnb in 2011. The investment was a success, as by 2016, it became worth about $90 million, according to Forbes.

According to reports, the fund had also backed Skype, Spotify, and Pinterest. Notably, not every investment worked out, but it still helped them grow their overall portfolio. These investments helped Kutcher and Oseary build credibility in the technology investment industry.