Shay Mitchell has officially scored one of the biggest celebrity business wins of the decade. The 39-year-old actress, producer, and entrepreneur has sold a majority stake in her powerhouse travel brand, BÉIS, to global luggage titan Samsonite Group in a deal valuing the company at a staggering $210 million.
Founded by Mitchell in 2018, BÉIS rapidly evolved from an aesthetic luggage startup into an undisputed giant in the travel space. What started with sleek, functional weekender bags quickly ballooned into a lifestyle brand generating over 50% of its net sales from non-luggage bags. Under the terms of the transaction, Samsonite is paying $178.5 million to acquire an 85% equity stake in BÉIS. This includes buying out the 70% share previously held by majority partner Beach House Group, alongside half of Mitchell’s personal 30% stake.
The sale nets Mitchell an immediate cash payout of $31.5 million, while she retains a 15% equity stake in the company—a holding worth an additional $31.5 million as BÉIS enters its next phase of global expansion. Mitchell will continue to guide the brand’s creative, aesthetic, and product vision as Founder and Head of Creative and Design, working alongside long-time CEO Adeela Hussain Johnson.
Reflecting on the transformative milestone, Mitchell shared a heartfelt statement celebrating the dedication of her team and the exciting future ahead:
“This is a dream come true. I’m so proud of what our small but mighty team has built over the past eight years. We’ve always dreamed big, and joining the Samsonite Group gives us the chance to dream even bigger. They’re truly the perfect partner – our strengths complement each other so well, together we can take BÉIS places we couldn’t have on our own. I’m so thankful that I get to do something I love every day. Eight years in, I’m as excited as I was on day one. It honestly feels like we’re just getting started, and I can’t wait for everyone to see what’s next.”
From defining late-2000s teen television on Pretty Little Liars to building an empire worth hundreds of millions, Mitchell’s journey proves that genuine passion, sharp design intuition, and smart brand equity pay off in a massive way.
