Today Is National Boss's Day! See Which 15 Celebrities Worked for Other Stars Before Hitting It Big

Mar. 15, 2025

Stephen Colbert and guest Jennifer Garner.Photo:Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty

Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty

Before they could see their name in lights, these celebrities had to make ends meet working for other celebrities.

Kim Kardashianfamously worked asParis Hilton’s closet stylist before she became a household name in her own right, but she also did the same forSerena Williams. Her sistersKourtneyandKhloéalso picked up some gigs as assistants in their pre-fame days.

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Jennifer Garner

Frazer Harrison/Getty; Jon Kopaloff/Getty

Former celebrity employer: Stephen Colbert

“She was such a peanut,“she recalled of Colbert’s daughterduring an appearance on the host’s show. “She was really smart. She was very verbal and she was precocious and adorable. And I remember the two of us, like, going into your drawers and trying on your clothes.”

02of 15Khloé KardashianKhloé Kardashian and Nicole Richie.Noel Vasquez/Getty ImagesFormer celebrity employer: Nicole RichieIn addition to being friends since high school, the reality stars also worked together earlier on in their careers.TheKeeping Up With the Kardashiansstar, got candid abouther brief stint working for Richieduring an appearance on theEmergency Contactpodcast, during which she also recalled how she met co-host and family friend Simon Huck.“I was Nicole Richie’s assistant and you were Jonathan Cheban’s assistant and we met five faces ago,” Khloé joked, referencing cosmetic procedures.“I went to school with her,” Khloé explained. “She was one of my best friends growing up and we were just really, really close and then when she started doingSimple Life— I think it was afterSimple Life— she just needed some help and I just needed a job.”

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Khloé Kardashian

Khloé Kardashian and Nicole Richie.Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

Former celebrity employer: Nicole Richie

In addition to being friends since high school, the reality stars also worked together earlier on in their careers.

TheKeeping Up With the Kardashiansstar, got candid abouther brief stint working for Richieduring an appearance on theEmergency Contactpodcast, during which she also recalled how she met co-host and family friend Simon Huck.

“I was Nicole Richie’s assistant and you were Jonathan Cheban’s assistant and we met five faces ago,” Khloé joked, referencing cosmetic procedures.

“I went to school with her,” Khloé explained. “She was one of my best friends growing up and we were just really, really close and then when she started doingSimple Life— I think it was afterSimple Life— she just needed some help and I just needed a job.”

03of 15Bethenny FrankelGregg DeGuire/Gett; Jon Kopaloff/GettyFormer celebrity employer: Kathy HiltonOn an episode of her podcast,Just B with Bethenny Frankel, the formerReal Housewives of New York Citystar welcomed guest Paris Hilton, whom she used to take care of along with her sister Nicky Hilton Rothschild,while working for their mom, Kathy Hilton. Frankel landed the job through her friendship with Kathy’s sister, Kyle Richards.“Part of the job became coming, in my Ford Probe, to get you and Nicky from Lycée, this sort of fancy French school,” Frankel recalled in the episode. “And I remember, we’d go withKyle [Richards]to the Mobile Mart or the gas station after. And I would take you guys ice skating. Do you remember that? Because you were young.““Yes,” said Paris with a laugh, later adding, “That’s so funny, just to remember all of that.” She continued, “It’s so cute that we’ve known each other for so long. And look how far you’ve come, boss babe. A nanny to Paris Hilton, and now killing it!““It’s crazy,” Frankel replied.

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Bethenny Frankel

Gregg DeGuire/Gett; Jon Kopaloff/Getty

Former celebrity employer: Kathy Hilton

On an episode of her podcast,Just B with Bethenny Frankel, the formerReal Housewives of New York Citystar welcomed guest Paris Hilton, whom she used to take care of along with her sister Nicky Hilton Rothschild,while working for their mom, Kathy Hilton. Frankel landed the job through her friendship with Kathy’s sister, Kyle Richards.

“Part of the job became coming, in my Ford Probe, to get you and Nicky from Lycée, this sort of fancy French school,” Frankel recalled in the episode. “And I remember, we’d go withKyle [Richards]to the Mobile Mart or the gas station after. And I would take you guys ice skating. Do you remember that? Because you were young.”

“Yes,” said Paris with a laugh, later adding, “That’s so funny, just to remember all of that.” She continued, “It’s so cute that we’ve known each other for so long. And look how far you’ve come, boss babe. A nanny to Paris Hilton, and now killing it!”

“It’s crazy,” Frankel replied.

04of 15Meghan MarkleDominic Lipinski - Pool/Getty;Former celebrity employer: Robin Thicke & Paula PattonBefore starring inSuits —and prior to her own royal wedding toPrince Harry— the Duchess of Sussextaught calligraphy, gift-wrapping and book-binding at her local Paper Source in Beverly Hills from 2004-2005 while auditioning for roles. Her calligraphy capabilities also earned her freelance gigs, including writing the invitations for singer Robin Thicke’s wedding to now ex-wife Paula Patton in 2005.

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Meghan Markle

Dominic Lipinski - Pool/Getty;

Former celebrity employer: Robin Thicke & Paula Patton

Before starring inSuits —and prior to her own royal wedding toPrince Harry— the Duchess of Sussextaught calligraphy, gift-wrapping and book-binding at her local Paper Source in Beverly Hills from 2004-2005 while auditioning for roles. Her calligraphy capabilities also earned her freelance gigs, including writing the invitations for singer Robin Thicke’s wedding to now ex-wife Paula Patton in 2005.

05of 15D’Arcy CardenEmma McIntyre/GettyFormer celebrity employer: Bill HaderBefore starring alongside Hader onBarry, Carden looked after his two oldest daughters Hannah, 15, and Harper, 12 (he also shares daughter Hayley, 10, with his ex-wife, director Maggie Carey), starting sometime around 2012.“I was his nanny for their oldest two daughters — that was my full time job. I was with them every day, and I still am very close with them,” Carden told host Seth Meyers on an episode ofLate Nightin 2018. “The oldest one in particular I hung out with every day, we were like best friends … we would just talk like friends would talk, I think she maybe took after me too much,” she joked, adding that the little one was around 2 years old at the time.

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D’Arcy Carden

Emma McIntyre/Getty

Former celebrity employer: Bill Hader

Before starring alongside Hader onBarry, Carden looked after his two oldest daughters Hannah, 15, and Harper, 12 (he also shares daughter Hayley, 10, with his ex-wife, director Maggie Carey), starting sometime around 2012.

“I was his nanny for their oldest two daughters — that was my full time job. I was with them every day, and I still am very close with them,” Carden told host Seth Meyers on an episode ofLate Nightin 2018. “The oldest one in particular I hung out with every day, we were like best friends … we would just talk like friends would talk, I think she maybe took after me too much,” she joked, adding that the little one was around 2 years old at the time.

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Zac Posen

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Former celebrity employer: Lena Dunham’s Parents

“Oh boy. I must’ve been like 17 or 18 and it was my high school job to take her on the train to school we went to,” Posen said onHuffPost Live in 2015. “She was younger than I was and we’d take the subway,” he recalled, adding, “I’d pick her up and I’d re-do her hair. That’s what I’d do. I’d re-do her hair to go on the train.”

07of 15Kourtney KardashianSteve Granitz/WireImageFormer celebrity employer:Kris JennerYes, working for mom counts! In an interview for her new lifestyle site Poosh, Kardashian sat down with her ‘momager’ and revealed she used to be her assistant.“I learned so much from you about being a boss,” said Kardashian. “I just remembered that I don’t take no for an answer and I learned that from you and I think that’s an important thing for any boss woman to know.“For her part,Jenner called her daughter"a great little student.”

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Kourtney Kardashian

Steve Granitz/WireImage

Former celebrity employer:Kris Jenner

Yes, working for mom counts! In an interview for her new lifestyle site Poosh, Kardashian sat down with her ‘momager’ and revealed she used to be her assistant.

“I learned so much from you about being a boss,” said Kardashian. “I just remembered that I don’t take no for an answer and I learned that from you and I think that’s an important thing for any boss woman to know.”

For her part,Jenner called her daughter"a great little student.”

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Eric Stonestreet

Instagram

Former celebrity employer:Garth Brooks

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Katie Lowes

Amy Graves/WireImage

Former celebrity employer:Connie Britton

10of 15Jenna DewanFormer celebrity employer:Justin TimberlakeBefore getting her big break inStep Up, Dewan was a professional dancer, serving as a back-up dancer for Timberlake, whom she also briefly dated. “We’re still good friends,” the formerWorld of Dancehost said onWatch What Happens Live. “It’s not as salacious as everyone thinks.”

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Jenna Dewan

Former celebrity employer:Justin Timberlake

Before getting her big break inStep Up, Dewan was a professional dancer, serving as a back-up dancer for Timberlake, whom she also briefly dated. “We’re still good friends,” the formerWorld of Dancehost said onWatch What Happens Live. “It’s not as salacious as everyone thinks.”

11of 15Kim KardashianKevin Mazur/WireImageFormer celebrity employer:Serena WilliamsThe reality star and tennis champ’s longtime friendship first began as business when Williams hired Kardashian West to clean out her closet. Serving as a closet stylist was a specialty of Kim’s; she previously worked for Paris Hilton and Cindy Crawford, among others.

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Kim Kardashian

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Former celebrity employer:Serena Williams

The reality star and tennis champ’s longtime friendship first began as business when Williams hired Kardashian West to clean out her closet. Serving as a closet stylist was a specialty of Kim’s; she previously worked for Paris Hilton and Cindy Crawford, among others.

12of 15Mindy KalingMargaret Norton/NBCU Photo BankFormer celebrity employer:Conan O’BrienBack when she was a fresh-faced 19-year-old college student,Kaling interned atLate Night with Conan O’Brien.“I couldn’t believe how starstruck I was,” she told the talk show host years later. “It was my dream to be a guest onConan. It seemed too crazy to think about.” She added: “But I was also the worst intern that’s ever worked on the program … I wouldn’t do the things I was hired to do. I would kind of follow you around.”

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Mindy Kaling

Margaret Norton/NBCU Photo Bank

Former celebrity employer:Conan O’Brien

Back when she was a fresh-faced 19-year-old college student,Kaling interned atLate Night with Conan O’Brien.“I couldn’t believe how starstruck I was,” she told the talk show host years later. “It was my dream to be a guest onConan. It seemed too crazy to think about.” She added: “But I was also the worst intern that’s ever worked on the program … I wouldn’t do the things I was hired to do. I would kind of follow you around.”

13of 15Kiefer SutherlandAlberto E. Rodriguez/Getty; Nicholas Hunt/GettyFormer celebrity employer:Blythe DannerWhile we’re not sure if Sutherland actuallyworkedfor Danner, the24actor did reveal that he looked after the actress’s then-preteen daughter, Gwyneth Paltrow. “I was working in a theater with her mother in Williamstown, Massachusetts, the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and I believe on a couple of occasions I was asked to look after her for an hour or two,” he said in a 2009 interview. “I think it was very funny because it’s unbelievable how fast someone goes from 13 to 18, and obviously they look so different that when Gwyneth started to work, I thought, ‘Well, that must be another girl because I always remember her as being 11 or 12 years old.’ "

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Kiefer Sutherland

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty; Nicholas Hunt/Getty

Former celebrity employer:Blythe Danner

While we’re not sure if Sutherland actuallyworkedfor Danner, the24actor did reveal that he looked after the actress’s then-preteen daughter, Gwyneth Paltrow. “I was working in a theater with her mother in Williamstown, Massachusetts, the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and I believe on a couple of occasions I was asked to look after her for an hour or two,” he said in a 2009 interview. “I think it was very funny because it’s unbelievable how fast someone goes from 13 to 18, and obviously they look so different that when Gwyneth started to work, I thought, ‘Well, that must be another girl because I always remember her as being 11 or 12 years old.’ "

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Allison Williams

Todd Williamson/Invision for THR/AP

Former celebrity employer:Tina Fey

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Kanye West

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Former celebrity employer:JAY-Z

source: people.com