In 2025, dozens of celebrities left the silver screen and the red carpet to take center stage at a criminal defense table, where audiences of fans and detractors watched in person and online. These celebrity criminal trials lead to much speculation as to the extent to which celebrities may be advantaged or disadvantaged in the criminal justice system. In this research, I help answer this question by exploring whether celebrity criminal defendants who are found guilty or plead guilty receive harsher or more lenient sentences than non-celebrities. To investigate this, I compare the sentencing of celebrities to non-celebrities, while controlling for the type of criminal offense, jurisdiction, previous criminal history, race, gender, and other factors. This research also distinguishes among the types of celebrities who engage with the U.S. criminal justice system and examines how the media’s classification of their offenses prior to a verdict may influence society's perception of fairness and equal protection within the courts. I conclude that celebrities do not have it “easier,” but rather face a unique set of challenges of their own. This research is important as it invites further inquiry into the fairness of the American legal system and how it maintains equal protection in criminal sentencing.