Barbra Streisand revealed in her memoir, My Name Is Barbra, that she had once been addicted to gambling on the stock market. The legendary actress, now 81 years old, shared that between 1998 and 2000, she traded millions of dollars and even invested in Pfizer, the maker of Viagra. Streisand described the thrill she felt while trading and admitted to enjoying gambling, which extended to playing blackjack while performing in Las Vegas. She even divulged her strategy, which involved picking stocks based on personal preferences, such as choosing Apple because she liked their products and investing in Starbucks because her personal assistant loved their coffee.
For Streisand, the allure of stock market trading lay in the privacy and independence it offered. Being able to conduct all her transactions from the comfort of her home in her nightgown allowed her to escape the pressures of performing. The actress claimed to have made $1.8 million in just five months. However, as the market became increasingly stressful, Streisand decided to retreat from high-stakes trading and focus on more stable investments, such as bonds.
The recent release of her memoir marks a turning point in Streisand’s career, as she has decided to leave showbusiness behind. In an interview with the BBC, she expressed her desire to simply live life and have fun. Despite her fame and the numerous accolades she has received, she admitted to not having much fun throughout her life and hopes to change that going forward. Streisand also disclosed that including details about her famous ex-boyfriends in her book was not her preference but something her editor insisted upon.
In her memoir, Streisand touched on the topic of plastic surgery, revealing that she never underwent a nose job despite criticism about her looks early in her career. The actress’s fear of compromising her famous voice and her appreciation for long noses like that of Italian actress Silvana Mangano prevented her from seeking surgical alterations.
Barbra Streisand’s memoir provides fans with insight into her life and reveals a side of her that goes beyond her successful career in entertainment. Now choosing to focus on enjoying life and leaving a legacy through her memoir, Streisand’s decision to step away from showbusiness marks the end of an era for the beloved star.
