Lady Gaga has added another major title to her name, but her latest career move has left some fans scratching their heads. The singer and actress has officially taken over as chief executive officer (CEO) of her beauty brand, Haus Labs, prompting questions about why she is only assuming the position now.
The singer has been the face and creative force behind the cosmetics business since its launch, making the announcement particularly surprising to those who assumed she had always been running the company. However, there is a distinction between founding a brand and serving as its chief executive, and the leadership change marks a new chapter for the business.
Lady Gaga Steps Into CEO Role
According to Business of Fashion, Gaga has assumed the CEO position at Haus Labs with immediate effect. She will be taking on responsibility for the company's commercial operations alongside her existing work in creative direction and product development. She succeeds Ben Jones, the brand's co-founder and former CEO, who left the company earlier in October.
Gaga confirmed the development in a statement, expressing her excitement about becoming more involved in the business. 'Ben and I started Haus Labs together eight years ago, and I'm incredibly proud of what we've built', she said, adding that she had plenty of ideas for the brand's future.
Jones previously served as chief digital officer at The Honest Company, the consumer goods business founded by actress Jessica Alba. His departure means Gaga will now take on the executive responsibilities previously held by her co-founder, while continuing to shape the brand's creative direction.
Why Fans Are Confused
Despite the announcement, some fans were quick to question why Gaga needed a new title when she had been associated with Haus Labs from the beginning. Several social media comments reflected the confusion, with one person writing: 'I thought she was the owner at the beginning lol'. Another questioned: 'Wasn't she already a CEO or did some sh*t happen behind closed doors that we don't know about?'
The confusion comes down to the difference between being a founder and a CEO, two positions that can overlap but do not necessarily mean the same thing. A founder is someone who establishes a business, while a chief executive is responsible for overseeing its overall operations, commercial strategy and major business decisions.
In some companies, founders appoint experienced executives to run daily operations while concentrating on other responsibilities. That appears to have been the arrangement at Haus Labs, with Gaga leading its creative vision and Jones serving as CEO before the latest leadership change.
i thought she was the owner and the founder?
— PEPPERS (@WHITEH0TPEPPERS) October 29, 2026
Inside Lady Gaga's Beauty Brand
Gaga launched Haus Labs in 2019 under its original name, Haus Laboratories, making it the first beauty brand to launch exclusively through Amazon. The business was inspired by her early days as an aspiring singer in New York, when she used affordable cosmetics to create the bold looks that eventually became part of her signature image.
In 2022, the brand underwent a major relaunch as Haus Labs by Lady Gaga, introducing updated branding and reformulated products before expanding into Sephora. Its range includes foundations, concealers, lip products, blushers, bronzers, highlighters and make-up tools, with an emphasis on skincare-inspired ingredients and inclusive shades.
One of its biggest successes is the Triclone Skin Tech Foundation, which has become a Sephora bestseller. It remains one of the brand's signature complexion products, alongside its Triclone Skin Tech Concealer and Color Fuse blushes.
