Willingly or unwillingly, these personalities have turned themselves into a brand. Their identity therefore has market value... and not insignificant at that! 💸 I know, that sounds strange.
I promise, it won't, we're going to dissect these 5 people.
Uh, these 5 brands.
The Personal Branding is a term from the US. It refers to a strategy aimed at making oneself a brand, that is, to promote and develop one's personal brand . It can also be referred to as "personal marketing" or "personal brand creation".
Now that the terms are established, let's discover 5 personalities who have mastered the art of personal branding!
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Subtly, Queen Elizabeth II built a brand around herself.
Commentators are unanimous:
“She marketed the 'Queen' brand with her hundred hats and ten thousand outfits”
“People shouldn't say, “Wow, she’s fashionable!” but “Wow, she’s the Queen!””
In fact, her image endured because she had a long-term vision. One of her missions was to preserve this image to perpetuate the institution – despite external events brought on by modernity or family dramas.
This long-term vision is what we formalize in a brand platform : the document that defines mission, values, and Brand Idea, to stand the test of time without losing its way.
She was close to the people. In her own way. Many of her subjects only knew her as monarch. She was a point of reference. An anchor for her people. And for the world. Her longevity played a part in this… The world developed a sense of attachment to her.
She transformed her renown into a positive and constant symbol in history. This visual consistency is what a brand guidelines well-designed, the document that ensures your identity remains consistent, regardless of the platform or era.
Last point: in Personal Branding, there's "brand." And "brand" implies brand, implies revenue, implies value. And the value of the Queen brand is worth its weight in gold 😉
It has been estimated that the value of the monarchy and the royal family approached 78.7 billion euros. After the Queen's funeral, the sale of merchandise could increase by 68.6 million euros compared to normal!
If you go to the Instagram account of Marilyn Monroe, you'll see she has 1.8 million followers who closely track her updates...
She left this world 60 years ago, yes. So what? The Marilyn Monroe brand isn't dead!
On the contrary, in 2022 alone:
- Netflix released several films about her 🤑
- Her dress, estimated at $10 million, flew to be worn by Kim Kardashian at the MET Gala 🤑
Powerful brands have equally powerful stories. Marilyn Monroe's story, whose real name was Norma Jeane, is a tale of redemption, worthy of a Hollywood film. Orphaned, poor, and with no future, the future Marilyn would embark on an extraordinary journey that would lead her to become the world's most famous actress and sex symbol.
This is what's called brand storytelling. To see how the biggest brands tell their stories, check out our 8 examples of the best brand platforms in 2025.
Marilyn's image is an example of perfect Personal Branding taken to its extreme. Marilyn had mannerisms, behaviors, and an appearance that Norma Jeane did not. Marilyn Monroe was "The Blond Bombshell." Norma Jeane was a brunette. Marilyn Monroe's image — and the associated stereotypes — meant she was continually rejected for serious roles...
Perfect branding always relies on a visual identity distinctive: recognizable visual codes that make the brand immediately identifiable, even without its name.
During her lifetime, the actress spoke about this discrepancy between her persona (her personal brand) and her true self: “I never wanted to be Marilyn. It just happened... Marilyn is like a veil I wear over Norma Jeane.”
While Marilyn Monroe projected apparent happiness, Norma Jeane was depressed.
Barack Obama. I bet his name evokes associations, images and symbols. Just like it is for a brand's consumer.
Barack Obama is the embodiment of the American dream.
Barack Obama is the first African-American president in US history.
Barack Obama is one of the most popular heads of state in the world.
Barack Obama is raw charisma.
Barack Obama is a compelling image.
There's an authenticity in his communication that helped him build his personal brand. For example, in his communication, images show him as an active participant; he's at the heart of the action without it seeming calculated.
During his eight years in office, several memorable moments earned him the nickname "the coolest president." It sounds like a slogan.
A well-crafted slogan is indeed one of a brand's most powerful assets. Discover our Top 50 Best Brand Slogans to see how major brands found their signature.
Remember when he dropped the mic to say goodbye? 😂
Barack Obama? A brand. One that sells.
Don't believe me? 🤭
Consider that in 2017, he was reportedly paid 400,000 euros to speak at a summit organized by the American bank Northern Trust in New York. In comparison, speeches given by Nicolas Sarkozy range between 75,000 and 200,000 per appearance (peanuts, really 😅).
What is so fascinating about Barack Obama and what helped him build his personal brand is his blend of ethos, logos, and pathos: everything is coherent and natural. His demeanor lends him credibility, his image is appealing and evokes emotions, and then comes his logical message.
This consistency is the result of a well-defined brand strategy. We explain how to build it in our complete guide.
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When you ask GaryVee how he built his personal brand, this is what he says:
“From 22 to 32, my friend, I did nothing.
You know what I did?
I stayed quiet and I put in the work.
I did all the work that allowed me to have the audacity to build the Gary Vaynerchuk brand.
You have to work, execute.
You have to earn the opportunity to be a personal brand. “
👉 Should you start building your personal brand from the outset? The famous 'build in public' approach? Or work behind the scenes before sharing your expertise and personal story?
Gary Vaynerchuck chose the second option. He worked tirelessly for 10 years developing a wine e-commerce platform. In 2006, he published an episode almost every day for 5 years on YouTube. Today, he is considered a business guru and his name is globally recognized.
His personal brand's net worth is estimated at over $160 million. A fortune acquired solely through his entrepreneurial career! ✨
Personal branding as a financial asset—that's exactly what we explore in our article on the figures that prove branding transforms business growth.
She is her brand's value.
In 2017, Justine Hutteau had no product to sell, no company, but a community of 20,000 followers on Instagram. Her followers? Athletes who loved marathons and trail running.
A benign tumor diagnosed in her breast led her to entrepreneurship. She then stopped using toxic cosmetic products and sought natural alternatives. Specifically, Justine was looking for a natural deodorant but couldn't find one. Undeterred, she decided to create one! 💪
To achieve this, she rallied her community. The Respire project kicked off with a crowdfunding campaign that raised 250,000 euros, equivalent to 21,000 pre-orders! An incredible success 🔥
By developing her personal brand, Justine Hutteau embodied her brand and conveyed her company's values through her own persona. And it paid off! She was recognized by Forbes as the most influential French entrepreneur.
Conclusion: developing your personal brand is an excellent strategy for growing your business 🚀
At Elias, we help entrepreneurs build this strong foundation through our brand platform : mission, vision, values, Brand Idea – the foundations of any lasting brand.
Personal branding is all well and good, but if you have a business, I also recommend checking out the branding trends for 2022. It could be helpful 😁
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I'll leave you to it, I have work to do. Thanks GaryVee.
Personal branding, or treating oneself as a full-fledged brand with a strong identity, is about a consistent promise and the ability to endure. Our article illustrates this approach through five iconic personalities. Here's what to remember:
To consider oneself as a brand is to adopt a strategic, consistent, and sustainable approach. This requires clarity, commitment, and consistency.
Willingly or unwillingly, these personalities have turned themselves into a brand. Their identity therefore has market value... and not insignificant at that! 💸 I know, that sounds strange.
I promise, it won't, we're going to dissect these 5 people.
Uh, these 5 brands.
The Personal Branding is a term from the US. It refers to a strategy aimed at making oneself a brand, that is, to promote and develop one's personal brand . It can also be referred to as "personal marketing" or "personal brand creation".
Now that the terms are established, let's discover 5 personalities who have mastered the art of personal branding!
{{cta-1}}
Subtly, Queen Elizabeth II built a brand around herself.
Commentators are unanimous:
“She marketed the 'Queen' brand with her hundred hats and ten thousand outfits”
“People shouldn't say, “Wow, she’s fashionable!” but “Wow, she’s the Queen!””
In fact, her image endured because she had a long-term vision. One of her missions was to preserve this image to perpetuate the institution – despite external events brought on by modernity or family dramas.
This long-term vision is what we formalize in a brand platform : the document that defines mission, values, and Brand Idea, to stand the test of time without losing its way.
She was close to the people. In her own way. Many of her subjects only knew her as monarch. She was a point of reference. An anchor for her people. And for the world. Her longevity played a part in this… The world developed a sense of attachment to her.
She transformed her renown into a positive and constant symbol in history. This visual consistency is what a brand guidelines well-designed, the document that ensures your identity remains consistent, regardless of the platform or era.
Last point: in Personal Branding, there's "brand." And "brand" implies brand, implies revenue, implies value. And the value of the Queen brand is worth its weight in gold 😉
It has been estimated that the value of the monarchy and the royal family approached 78.7 billion euros. After the Queen's funeral, the sale of merchandise could increase by 68.6 million euros compared to normal!
If you go to the Instagram account of Marilyn Monroe, you'll see she has 1.8 million followers who closely track her updates...
She left this world 60 years ago, yes. So what? The Marilyn Monroe brand isn't dead!
On the contrary, in 2022 alone:
- Netflix released several films about her 🤑
- Her dress, estimated at $10 million, flew to be worn by Kim Kardashian at the MET Gala 🤑
Powerful brands have equally powerful stories. Marilyn Monroe's story, whose real name was Norma Jeane, is a tale of redemption, worthy of a Hollywood film. Orphaned, poor, and with no future, the future Marilyn would embark on an extraordinary journey that would lead her to become the world's most famous actress and sex symbol.
This is what's called brand storytelling. To see how the biggest brands tell their stories, check out our 8 examples of the best brand platforms in 2025.
Marilyn's image is an example of perfect Personal Branding taken to its extreme. Marilyn had mannerisms, behaviors, and an appearance that Norma Jeane did not. Marilyn Monroe was "The Blond Bombshell." Norma Jeane was a brunette. Marilyn Monroe's image — and the associated stereotypes — meant she was continually rejected for serious roles...
Perfect branding always relies on a visual identity distinctive: recognizable visual codes that make the brand immediately identifiable, even without its name.
During her lifetime, the actress spoke about this discrepancy between her persona (her personal brand) and her true self: “I never wanted to be Marilyn. It just happened... Marilyn is like a veil I wear over Norma Jeane.”
While Marilyn Monroe projected apparent happiness, Norma Jeane was depressed.
Barack Obama. I bet his name evokes associations, images and symbols. Just like it is for a brand's consumer.
Barack Obama is the embodiment of the American dream.
Barack Obama is the first African-American president in US history.
Barack Obama is one of the most popular heads of state in the world.
Barack Obama is raw charisma.
Barack Obama is a compelling image.
There's an authenticity in his communication that helped him build his personal brand. For example, in his communication, images show him as an active participant; he's at the heart of the action without it seeming calculated.
During his eight years in office, several memorable moments earned him the nickname "the coolest president." It sounds like a slogan.
A well-crafted slogan is indeed one of a brand's most powerful assets. Discover our Top 50 Best Brand Slogans to see how major brands found their signature.
Remember when he dropped the mic to say goodbye? 😂
Barack Obama? A brand. One that sells.
Don't believe me? 🤭
Consider that in 2017, he was reportedly paid 400,000 euros to speak at a summit organized by the American bank Northern Trust in New York. In comparison, speeches given by Nicolas Sarkozy range between 75,000 and 200,000 per appearance (peanuts, really 😅).
What is so fascinating about Barack Obama and what helped him build his personal brand is his blend of ethos, logos, and pathos: everything is coherent and natural. His demeanor lends him credibility, his image is appealing and evokes emotions, and then comes his logical message.
This consistency is the result of a well-defined brand strategy. We explain how to build it in our complete guide.
{{cta-2}}
When you ask GaryVee how he built his personal brand, this is what he says:
“From 22 to 32, my friend, I did nothing.
You know what I did?
I stayed quiet and I put in the work.
I did all the work that allowed me to have the audacity to build the Gary Vaynerchuk brand.
You have to work, execute.
You have to earn the opportunity to be a personal brand. “
👉 Should you start building your personal brand from the outset? The famous 'build in public' approach? Or work behind the scenes before sharing your expertise and personal story?
Gary Vaynerchuck chose the second option. He worked tirelessly for 10 years developing a wine e-commerce platform. In 2006, he published an episode almost every day for 5 years on YouTube. Today, he is considered a business guru and his name is globally recognized.
His personal brand's net worth is estimated at over $160 million. A fortune acquired solely through his entrepreneurial career! ✨
Personal branding as a financial asset—that's exactly what we explore in our article on the figures that prove branding transforms business growth.
She is her brand's value.
In 2017, Justine Hutteau had no product to sell, no company, but a community of 20,000 followers on Instagram. Her followers? Athletes who loved marathons and trail running.
A benign tumor diagnosed in her breast led her to entrepreneurship. She then stopped using toxic cosmetic products and sought natural alternatives. Specifically, Justine was looking for a natural deodorant but couldn't find one. Undeterred, she decided to create one! 💪
To achieve this, she rallied her community. The Respire project kicked off with a crowdfunding campaign that raised 250,000 euros, equivalent to 21,000 pre-orders! An incredible success 🔥
By developing her personal brand, Justine Hutteau embodied her brand and conveyed her company's values through her own persona. And it paid off! She was recognized by Forbes as the most influential French entrepreneur.
Conclusion: developing your personal brand is an excellent strategy for growing your business 🚀
At Elias, we help entrepreneurs build this strong foundation through our brand platform : mission, vision, values, Brand Idea – the foundations of any lasting brand.
Personal branding is all well and good, but if you have a business, I also recommend checking out the branding trends for 2022. It could be helpful 😁
{{cta-3}}
{{block-cta-1}}
I'll leave you to it, I have work to do. Thanks GaryVee.
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