Understanding the Nutrition Diet: Is Leonardo DiCaprio Non-Vegetarian?

October 4, 2025 •

4 min read

In 2015, actor Leonardo DiCaprio revealed a surprisingly non-vegetarian moment during the filming of The Revenant, admitting he ate raw bison liver for authenticity. This single act starkly contrasts his well-documented environmental advocacy and significant investments in vegan food companies, raising the question: is Leonardo DiCaprio non-vegetarian in his daily life?

Quick Summary

Leonardo DiCaprio is not a strict vegetarian, evidenced by past choices for film roles, though he has shifted towards a plant-focused diet driven by environmental concerns. His investments in plant-based companies and advocacy highlight a complex dietary approach.

Key Points

Not a Strict Vegetarian: While promoting environmental causes and investing heavily in plant-based ventures, DiCaprio has never publicly declared himself a strict vegetarian or vegan.
The Bison Liver Incident: The most prominent evidence of his non-vegetarian status is his admission to eating raw bison liver for a film role, a decision he made for authenticity.
Plant-Focused, Not Plant-Only: His diet has evolved to be predominantly plant-focused, including whole foods, vegetables, and lean proteins, but is not exclusively plant-based.
Environmental Driver: DiCaprio's food choices and investments are heavily motivated by his environmental activism, aiming to reduce the climate impact of food production.
Key Investments: He has invested in several vegan food and sustainable food technology companies, including Beyond Meat, Hippeas, Aleph Farms, and Neat Burger.
Shift in Consumption: Following his work on Cowspiracy, a documentary about the impact of animal agriculture, he reportedly stopped eating beef.
Holistic Approach: His dietary model promotes balance and sustainability, emphasizing nutrient-dense foods and mindful eating, which is a practical approach for many.

The Myth vs. The Reality of DiCaprio's Diet

The public perception of Leonardo DiCaprio's diet is often colored by his high-profile environmental activism and support for vegan businesses. Many assume that a proponent of a sustainable food system must be exclusively vegetarian or vegan. However, the reality of his personal dietary choices is more nuanced and has evolved over time. While he has publicly encouraged others to reduce meat consumption for the planet, there is no official declaration that he adheres to a strict vegetarian lifestyle. Instead, his approach appears to be one of conscious reduction, aiming for a more plant-focused, whole-foods diet rather than complete abstinence from animal products.

The Controversial Bison Liver Incident

The most definitive public evidence suggesting that DiCaprio is not a vegetarian comes from his comments about filming The Revenant. To ensure his portrayal was authentic, he opted to eat real, raw bison liver, overriding the use of a prop made of jelly. This was a deliberate choice for his art, but it also confirmed that at least at that point, his dietary ethics were flexible under certain circumstances. While this act was for a film role and doesn't define his entire lifestyle, it became a focal point for critics and a source of confusion for fans.

The Shift Towards a Plant-Focused Diet

Despite the Revenant incident, DiCaprio's dietary journey has shown a clear movement towards plant-based eating. Following his involvement as an executive producer on the documentary Cowspiracy, one of the film's directors, Keegan Kuhn, noted that DiCaprio stopped eating beef. This aligns with a broader dietary shift towards more sustainable choices that minimize the environmental impact of his food consumption. Sources indicate his meals emphasize fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, with lean proteins also included. This approach is less about a rigid label and more about a holistic commitment to health and the environment.

The Environmental Motivation Behind His Food Choices

DiCaprio's investment portfolio offers a clear view into his dietary and environmental philosophy. He has strategically placed his money in a variety of innovative vegan and sustainable food businesses. His motivation is rooted in the belief that shifting away from traditional animal agriculture is a critical step in combating climate change.

DiCaprio's Eco-Conscious Investments:

Beyond Meat: As an early investor, DiCaprio actively promotes the brand, encouraging his social media followers to embrace plant-based alternatives.
Hippeas: An investment in this vegan puffed chickpea snack further demonstrates his support for plant-based food innovation.
Aleph Farms & Mosa Meat: He is an investor and advisor for these cell-based meat companies, which produce real meat from animal cells in a lab, avoiding the need to slaughter animals.
Neat Burger: DiCaprio has invested in this London-based vegan fast-food chain, endorsing their sustainable and animal-free options.

Comparison: A Standard Vegan Diet vs. DiCaprio's Reported Approach

To better understand the difference, a comparison table can highlight the distinctions between a strict vegan lifestyle and DiCaprio's more flexible, plant-focused model.


Aspect	Strict Vegan Diet	Leonardo DiCaprio's Reported Diet
Core Principle	Avoids all animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs, and honey.	Focuses on significantly reducing meat intake, emphasizing whole, plant-based foods for health and environmental reasons.
Flexibility	No flexibility regarding animal products, regardless of context.	Has shown flexibility, such as eating raw bison liver for a film role. Allows for occasional treats and balanced indulgence.
Protein Sources	Relies on plant-based proteins like beans, lentils, tofu, and nuts.	Includes lean proteins, which can sometimes include fish or other non-beef sources, alongside plant proteins.
Environmentalism	Aligns with the most stringent interpretation of animal welfare and environmentalism through diet.	Contributes significantly through investments in sustainable food technology and broad advocacy, without requiring personal dietary purity.

How His Approach Aligns with Broader Nutrition Trends

DiCaprio's diet reflects a growing trend towards flexible, environmentally conscious eating, often referred to as 'flexitarianism' or 'conscious eating.' This approach acknowledges the benefits of a plant-rich diet while not prescribing the rigidity of a fully vegan lifestyle. For many people, a diet with fewer animal products and more whole, plant-based foods can offer substantial health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health and reduced inflammation. It also resonates with a wider audience who may not be ready for a total switch but are motivated to make more sustainable choices.

Conclusion

So, is Leonardo DiCaprio non-vegetarian? Based on public information, including his admission of eating raw bison liver for a film role, the answer is yes; he does not adhere to a strict vegetarian diet. However, dismissing his nutritional diet and environmental stance based solely on this fact is an oversimplification. His actions demonstrate a committed shift towards a more plant-focused, whole-foods diet and a substantial financial and vocal commitment to advancing sustainable, plant-based food systems. Ultimately, his story illustrates that one's commitment to nutrition and environmentalism can be complex, and significant positive impact can be made through gradual, conscious changes and influential advocacy, rather than requiring absolute dietary perfection.

Learn more about DiCaprio's investments in sustainable food innovations here.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Leonardo DiCaprio has never publicly and definitively confirmed that he is a strict vegetarian or vegan. His statements and actions suggest a more flexible, plant-focused diet.

The most definitive evidence is his public statement that he ate real, raw bison liver for his role in the film The Revenant, confirming he consumes animal products.

DiCaprio invests in vegan food companies, such as Beyond Meat, primarily for environmental reasons. He believes that shifting to plant-based alternatives is a crucial step in combating the climate crisis.

Current reports suggest DiCaprio follows a plant-focused, whole-food diet that includes fresh vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins, while minimizing processed foods and excess sugar.

Yes, through his investments and promoting plant-based options, he has encouraged many people to incorporate more plant-based meals into their diets. Gwyneth Paltrow, for example, has credited DiCaprio with influencing her to reduce red meat intake.

A plant-focused or flexitarian diet emphasizes whole, plant-based foods but is not exclusively vegetarian. It allows for the occasional consumption of animal products, which differs from a strictly vegetarian diet that avoids meat altogether.

According to one of the directors of Cowspiracy, DiCaprio was so impacted by the documentary that he gave up eating beef, a significant dietary change.