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Who doesn’t love a good celebrity success story? More so, who would not love the money that comes with it? There is, of course, plenty of money to be made in Hollywood, and celebrities can’t deny that they have the art ofraking in cashnailed down to the tee.
While most of us are figuring out whether shelling out for another streaming service is actually worth it, the big peeps of the entertainment industry are, perhaps, much more concerned about how to add another comma to their net worth. Call it Russ Hanneman’sTres Comas.
Nevertheless, how does one even calculate this? Ranking them by earnings project-based earnings? That seems like a splintering headache in the making and does not fit the variety of celebrities and projects out there. Paydays come in all shapes and sizes, don’t they? Do you then go by the total money made throughout their careers? Either way, it’s a dizzying amount of money.
It can be a laborious affair to create such a ranking, and so, we’re looking at the big umbrella – money celebrities have made throughout their careers through big payoffs and their current net worths. The yachts, the mega-mansions, the paychecks – how much do the richest in Hollywood get paid, and how much are they worth? (Last Updated: 4th February 2025)*
30Damien Hirst
One of the richest living artists with a net worth of$384 million, Damien Hirst shot to fame in the 90s as part of the Young British Artists. Hirst is most famous for his preserved animal sculptures, like the tiger shark in formaldehyde titledThe Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living. In 2008, he made history by skipping galleries entirely, selling a full collection at Sotheby’s for nearly $200 million.
Born in Bristol, Hirst had a rebellious streak growing up in Leeds, getting arrested twice for shoplifting. After a shaky start, he eventually studied fine art at Goldsmiths College, where his job at a mortuary inspired his fascination with death.
His big break came when he organized the student exhibitionFreeze, which caught the art world’s attention. By 1991, businessman Charles Saatchi was funding his work, helping him create now much-beloved pieces likeMother and Child Divided, which shows a dissected cow and calf.
In the 90s, Hirst won the Turner Prize, directed a Blur music video, and formed the bandFat Les, which became super popular for the football anthemVindaloo.Outside of art, Hirst collects works by big names like Andy Warhol and Banksy and exhibits them publicly.
29Celine Dion
Celine Dion’s big break came in 1988 when she won the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland. With a net worth of$550 million, earning $40-$50 million a year, mainly from her Las Vegas residencies,Celine Diongained international fame with her first English-language album,Unison, in 1990, but it wasMy Heart Will Go OnfromTitanic(1997) that changed the name of the game (ABBA?). The song,recorded in a single take, won two Grammys and over her career, she’s sold over 220 million albums worldwide.
Born in Quebec, Celine was the youngest of 14 kids. Her parents ran a small piano bar, where she would practice her singing skills. At 12, she impressed manager René Angélil, who mortgaged his home to fund her first album. They later married in 1994. He, however, passed away in 2016.
Celine’sCourage World Tour(2019) sold out all 52 North American shows but was cut short by COVID. In 2022, she revealed she had stiff-person syndrome, which forced her to cancel further tours. She would, nevertheless, make a triumphant comeback at the 2024 Paris Olympics, closing the ceremony withL’Hymne à l’amour.
28Yoko Ono
Japanese artist and peace activistYoko Onohas a net worth of$700 million, much of which comes from her marriage toJohn Lennonand earnings from licensing deals, royalties, and merchandise. The former Beatle’s estate, valued at $200 million in 1980 (equivalent to $620 million today), was entirely inherited by Ono. And over the decades, she has significantly increased its value.
Ono already comes from an affluent background, with ties to the powerful Yasuda financial clan in Tokyo. Her early life, however, was marked by constant relocations between Japan and the U.S., with the added troubles of World War II, during which she even begged for food. After the war, she resumed her education and later moved to New York, where she studied at Sarah Lawrence College and became immersed in the avant-garde art scene.
Ono’s early art involved radical performance pieces, such as setting paintings on fire. She married twice before meeting John Lennon in 1966 at one of her conceptual art exhibits. The two quickly fell in love, leading to Lennon’s divorce of his first wife and their subsequent 1969 marriage.
Following Lennon’s assassination in 1980, Ono continued her career creating works like TheWish TreeandArising. She, meanwhile, also oversaw Lennon’s legacy, funding the Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park.
27Matt Stone
Matt Stone is a$700 million-worthwriter, producer, animator, and professional button-pusher. Co-creatingSouth Parkwith Trey Parker in 1997, the two turned four foul-mouthed brash kids into acash ATMand atreasure trove ofunforgettable moments. All courtesy of a rather genius contract clause from 1997 giving them 50% of all non-TV revenue. It remained overlooked for a really long time.
Then streaming exploded. Suddenly, they were raking in $25-30 million a year each just from digital rights. When South Park sold to HBO Max for $500 million, they pocketed $125 million apiece. In 2021, they locked in a $900 million deal with ViacomCBS – six more seasons, and 14 movies, all exclusive to Paramount+.
BeyondSouth Park, Stone and Parker wroteTeam America: World PoliceandThe Book of Mormon, which has pulled in $500 million and counting. Matt also has five Emmys, nine Tonys, and a Grammy in his name.
The frontman of U2,Bonohas a net worth of$700 million. Born Paul David Hewson in 1960 in Dublin, Ireland, he got his famous nickname from friends in a surrealist street gang. He formed U2 at 16 after answering a school bulletin board ad, and the band went on to become one of the biggest in history, selling over 170 million records. Their360° Tour(2009-2011) even became the highest-grossing concert tour ever, raking in over $736 million.
Bono’s got 22 Grammys, a Golden Globe (The Hands That Built America), and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction under his belt. Apart from U2, he’s collaborated with legends like Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, and Frank Sinatra. He and The Edge even wrote theSpider-Man: Turn Off the DarkBroadway musical.
Business-wise, Bono co-owns Dublin’s Clarence Hotel and was part of Elevation Partners, a private equity firm that invested early in Facebook. Though rumors say he became a billionaire from it, his actual take was around $40-50 million – still averynice return.
25Kylie Jenner
With a net worth hovering between$700-750 million, most ofKylie Jenner’sfortune comes from Kylie Cosmetics, which she founded in 2014 and gained immense success with the launch of the Kylie Lip Kit in 2015.
In 2019, she sold 51% of the brand to Coty Inc. for $600 million, but the company’s value later declined. After taxes, she earned around $340 million from the deal, though her remaining 45% stake has since depreciated.
Despite once being declared the“youngest self-made billionaire,”this claim was later retracted, revealing that financial data provided by Kylie and her team to Forbes was exaggerated. While still incredibly wealthy, she never actually reached billionaire status.
Kylie has also invested heavily in real estate, owning multiple mansions across California, including properties in Holmby Hills, Hidden Hills, and Beverly Hills.
Jenner’s career began with modeling and brand endorsements before transitioning to business. Over the years, she has collaborated with major brands like Puma, Topshop, and Quay Australia. Though Kylie’s fortune has fluctuated, she remains one of the wealthiest members of the Kardashian-Jenner family, second only to Kim Kardashian.
24Bruce Springsteen
The Bosshas a net worth of$750 million, thanks to a career spanning decades. Born in 1949 in Long Branch,Bruce Springsteengrew up in Freehold and fell in love with music after seeing Elvis onThe Ed Sullivan Show. His mom even took out a loan to buy him his first real guitar – something he later sang about inThe Wish.
In the ‘60s and early ‘70s, Bruce played in various bands before Columbia Records signed him in 1972. That’s when he formed the E Street Band. His first two albums were critically praised but didn’t sell much. Then cameBorn to Run(1975), which changed everything, putting him on the cover ofTimeandNewsweekin the same week. From there, hits likeThe River(1980),Nebraska(1982), andBorn in the U.S.A.(1984) turned him into a bonafide rock icon, although the latter album remainsslighlty misunderstood.
Bruce has won 20 Grammys, an Oscar (Streets of Philadelphia), and even a Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2021, he sold his entire music catalog to Sony for $500-600 million. He’s also dabbled in Broadway (Springsteen on Broadway) and film (Western Stars).
Springsteen owns multiple properties, including a 384-acre horse farm in New Jersey and homes in Beverly Hills and Florida. In 2023, he hit the road with the E Street Band for their first tour in six years –The Bossisn’t slowing down.
23Jim Davis
The genius behindGarfield, Jim Davis has a net worth of$800 million, thanks to the world’s favorite lasagna-loving cat. Born in 1945 in Marion, Indiana, Davis grew up on a farm and later studied art and business at Ball State University. He started in advertising before working as an assistant on the comic stripTumbleweeds. His early comic,Gnorm Gnat, flopped because, as one syndicate put it,“nobody can relate to bugs.”So, he createdGarfield, inspired byPeanuts’ Snoopy.
Garfieldlaunched in 1978 in 41 newspapers and grew into the world’s most syndicated comic strip, appearing in over 2,500 newspapers by 2013. The franchise expanded into animated TV specials, theGarfield & Friendsseries (1988–1994), and movies likeGarfield: The Movie(2004) andA Tail of Two Kitties(2006). In 2019, ViacomCBS bought Davis’s company, Paws, Inc., to develop a newGarfieldseries for Nickelodeon.
Jim lives in Albany, Indiana, and continues drawingGarfield, now digitally. He’s also an adjunct professor at Ball State, teaching cartooning.
22James Cameron
James Cameronis a genius of his time. With a net worth of$800 million, he’s behind films likeThe Terminator,Titanic, and Avatar,which are among the highest-grossing movies ever. Born in Canada in 1954, Cameron moved to California as a teen and dropped out of college to pursue filmmaking. After seeingStar Wars, he quit his job as a truck driver and jumped into the industry. Before his big break in 1984 withThe Terminator, which he famously sold for just $1 to ensure he could direct it, there was a flurry ofunderappreciatedfilms that displayed the filmmaker’s caliber.
After the massive success ofThe Terminatorseries,albeit with some regrets, cameTitanic(1997), which won 11 Oscars and made Cameron $650 million after he traded his director’s salary for a cut of the profits.Avatar(2009) became another record-breaking blockbuster, earning him at least $350 million. Between those two movies alone,he’s made over $1 billion.
Cameron is also a deep-sea explorer, becoming the first person to reach the Mariana Trench solo. Even after decades in Hollywood, Cameron isn’t slowing down. He’s got more Avatar sequels in the works and still seems at the top of his game.
21Byron Allen
Byron Allen is one of Hollywood’s most low-key but incredibly successful celebrities, with a net worth of around$800 million. He started as a stand-up comedian, making history as one of the youngest to perform onThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. That early break led to a role onReal People, where he learned the business side of TV. In 1991, he founded Entertainment Studios, which eventually produced and distributed content across multiple networks.
Allen’s business strategy is somewhat unique. He gives his shows to networks for free but keeps 50% of the ad revenue, making him a go-to for advertisers. He owns 100% of Entertainment Studios, and between that and Allen Media Group, he controls 12 cable networks and produces around 70 TV shows. In 2018, he boughtThe Weather Channelfor $300 million.
He’s also made major acquisition attempts, including bids for Tegna, ABC, BET, and even the NFL’s Washington Commanders, though none have closed yet. In 2022, however, he did buyBlack News Channelout of bankruptcy for $11 million. Beyond media, Allen owns a $100 million Malibu mansion, a Central Park South condo, and properties in Beverly Hills, Aspen, and Maui.
20David Copperfield
American illusionist and the richest magician in history David Copperfield earns $40–$60 million per year from his 515 annual shows at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. With over 40 million tickets sold and $4 billion in revenue, he has outperformed legends like Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. His Broadway showDreams & Nightmaresstill holds the record for most tickets sold in a week.
David Seth Kotkin began performing magic as a child, becoming the youngest person admitted to the Society of American Magicians at 12. After briefly attending Fordham University, he left to star inThe Magic Man, adopting the stage name David Copperfield.
His career took off withThe Magic of David Copperfieldspecials from 1978 to 2001. He made the Statue of Liberty disappear, walked through the Great Wall of China, and performed for world leaders, earning 21 Emmy Awards and 11 Guinness World Records.
Copperfield investments seem magical too, with a $200–$300 million real estate empire. His crown jewel is theIslands of Copperfield Bayin the Bahamas, an 11-island retreat featuring luxury villas and Houdini’s pool table, rentable for up to $50,000 per night.
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Copperfield’s $500 million magic memorabilia collection is the largest in the world, featuring Houdini’s artifacts and rare historical items. HisInternational Museum and Library of the Conjuring Artspreserves magic’s history. Despite personal controversies, Copperfield remains the most commercially successful magician of all time, with an estimated net worth of$800 million.
Queen of PopMadonnais the best-selling female recording artist of all time, with 300 million albums sold. Worth around$850 million– not quite a billionaire, despite rumors, Madonna’s catchy pop coupled withcontroversial lyrics and imagerymade her into a cultural juggernaut.
She also has had a solid acting career, winning a Golden Globe forEvitaand starring in films likeDesperately Seeking SusanandA League of Their Own. A savvy businessperson – Madonna owns Maverick entertainment company and fashion ventures, including collaborations with H&M and Dolce & Gabbana. Her coffee table bookSexwas a massive success, selling 1.5 million copies in just days.
18Herb Alpert
Herb Alpert, a record executive and producer, boasts a staggering$850 millionnet worth. He’s much revered as the trumpeter behindHerb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, a group that was so massive in the ’60s that they outsoldThe Beatlesin 1966, moving over 13 million albums. Across his career, Alpert released 28 albums, with five hitting #1, 14 going Platinum, and 15 going Gold.
But music was just part of his empire. In 1962, Herb co-founded A&M Records with Jerry Moss, a label that helped launch the careers ofThe Carpenters, The Police, Janet Jackson, Sheryl Crow, andSting. They sold A&M to PolyGram in 1989 for $500 million, later winning an extra $200 million in a lawsuit. He and Moss also started Rondor Music, a music publishing label, selling it in 2000 for $400 million.
Born in Los Angeles in 1935, Alpert was raised in a family of musicians. He picked up the trumpet at eight years old and later performed in the USC Trojan Marching Band. He found early success as a songwriter, co-writing(What A) Wonderful Worldfor Sam Cooke, with his breakthrough coming withThe Lonely Bullin 1962.
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Alpert is a dedicated philanthropist. Through the Herb Alpert Foundation, he’s donated millions to music and arts education, including $10M to LA City College and $9.7M to the Harlem School of the Arts.
17Brock Pierce
Former child actor Brock Pierce gained immense wealth through early Bitcoin investments. He started acting as a toddler and gained fame as Gordon inThe Mighty Ducksfranchise, and also appeared inFirst Kid,Little Big League,Problem Child 3, andThree Wishesbefore retiring from acting at 17.
Pierce transitioned to tech entrepreneurship in 1999, joining Digital Entertainment Network (DEN) as a minority owner and executive vice president, earning $250,000 per year. DEN raised $88 million but collapsed amid a scandal when co-founder Marc Collins-Rector was indicted for child endangerment. In 2001, Pierce founded IMI Exchange (formerly Internet Gaming Entertainment), which reportedly generated $500 million in annual volume by 2005.
In 2013, he co-founded Blockchain Capital, later raising $85 million to fund crypto startups. He became a Bitcoin Foundation director in 2014 and co-founded Tether, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar. He exited Tether in 2015.
By 2018, his assets were estimated between$700 million and $1.1 billion. When Bitcoin hit $8,000, his stake was rumored to be worth $1 billion, with speculation placing his peak paper net worth as high as $18 billion
16Jerry Seinfeld
Comedy legend and TV producerJerry Seinfeldhas a net worth of around$1 billion– though some reports have tried to push him into billionaire status (his team calls that“inaccurate”). Most of his money comes fromSeinfeld, one of the most successful sitcoms ever.
Jerry co-created the show with Larry David, and their 15% backend stake has earned themhundreds of millionsover the years. When Netflix bought the rights for $500 million in 2019, Jerry and Larry each pocketed $75 million.
He made serious money whileSeinfeldwas on air too – starting at $20,000 per episode and eventually becoming thefirstactor to earn $1 million per episode in Season 9. NBC even offered him$5 millionper episodeto do a 10th season, but he walked away. Today, he still earns $40-50 million annually from syndication, touring, and Netflix deals.
Jerry is ahugecar guy. He owns around 150 cars, including 45 rare Porsches. His collection is worth an estimated $85-100 million, with some serious collector pieces like a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder and a 1949 Porsche 356/2 Gmünd.
Seinfeld also has prime real estate, including a12-acre Hamptons estate(bought from Billy Joel) worth $70-100 million, a massive NYC penthouse, and a former Telluride estate he sold for $14 million. He even owned a138-foot yachtcalledMOKA, which he later sold for $25 million.
15Zhao Wei
One of China’s“Four Dan Actresses’from the late 90s, Zhao Wei has a net worth of approximately$1 billion. Born in Wuhu, Anhui, in March 1976, Zhao got her first taste of acting in high school when she landed a small role inA Soul Haunted by Painting. Inspired, she pursued acting at the Beijing Film Academy.
Wei’s big break came in 1998 when she starred as Xiao Yan Zi inHuan Zhu Ge Ge, which became a massive hit. She reprised the role in 1999 and went on to star in popular TV series likeTreasure Venture(2000),Profound Love in Heavy Rain(2001), andMoment in Peking(2005).
Zhao also built an impressive film career, starring in hits likeShaolin Soccer,Mulan,Red Cliff,Painted Skin, andSo Close.She’s won numerous acting awards from the Golden Rooster Awards, the Hundred Flowers Awards, and the Shanghai International Film Festival. Her biggest financial move, however, came in 2014 when she and her husband invested $400 million in Alibaba Pictures, following a tip from Jack Ma.
14The Olsen Twins
The notoriously private Olsen twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have built abillion-dollarempire despitestepping away from actingover a decade ago. Their acting careers took off early, withFull Houserunning from 1987 to 1995. Alongside the show, they starred in countless direct-to-video movies likePassport to ParisandHoliday in the Sun.They launchedDualstar Entertainmentin 1993, producing movies, TV shows, and even their own fan club.
Their last film together,New York Minute, came out in 2004, after which Ashley retired from acting. Mary-Kate made a few TV appearances, including onWeedsmand they declined to joinFuller Housein 2015, citing different career paths.
Fashion became their true passion. They started with a Walmart line before launchingThe Row, a luxury brand known for minimalist, high-quality designs. They also createdElizabeth and James,Olsenboye, andStyleMint.The Rowbecame a major success, earning CFDA awards. In 2024, they sold a minority stake in the brand at a $1 billion valuation to investors, including Chanel’s Wertheimer family and L’Oréal heiress Francoise Bettencourt Meyers.
13J.K Rowling
British author and film producerJ.K. Rowlingwith a net worth of$1 billionmakes her one of the wealthiest citizens in the UK. She is also the first author to achieve billionaire status, though she has denied it, possibly due to her $150 million+ in charitable donations. Rowling gained worldwide fame for theHarry Potterseries, which has sold 500 million copies and spawned a $15 billion franchise, including films, merchandise, and theme parks.
Rowling had a difficult childhood in Gloucestershire, England, and has said she basedHermione Grangeron herself at age 11. She studied French and Classics at the University of Exeter before moving to Portugal to teach English. While working as a secretary in 1990, she conceivedHarry Potterduring a train ride.
Rowling completed the first book in 1995 as a struggling single mother on welfare and faced 12 rejections before Bloomsbury gave her a £1,500 advance. Scholastic later bought U.S. rights for $105,000, launching the global phenomenon.
TheHarry Potterbooks shattered sales records, withThe Half-Blood PrinceandDeathly Hallowsselling 9 and 11 million copies in 24 hours. The Warner Bros. films, beginning in 2001, grossed billions. Rowling retained creative control, insisting they be shot in Britain with an all-British cast. A freshHarry Potterseries was also announced late in 2024, with Rowling once again playinga big role in development.
12Dick Wolf
Dick Wolf, the man behind theLaw & Order,One Chicago, andFBIfranchises, has a staggering net worth of $1 billion as of 2025, according toForbes. His prolific TV career has ensured a continuous presence on NBC since 1990.
In January 2020, Wolf’s net worth was estimated to be at $550 million, with monthly earnings of $10–$12 million. Shortly after, NBCUniversal secured exclusive streaming rights to his series for $300 million, followed by a $1 billion deal for five more years of his content.
Wolf’s divorce from his ex-wife Christine in 2003 resulted in a $33.5 million settlement, including a $17.5 million lump sum and $2 million annually for eight years. Despite Christine’s later legal battles over concealed assets, the original agreement remains intact.
11Paul McCartney
The Beatles’ sweetheartPaul McCartneyis currently worth around$1.27 billion. Over their decade together, The Beatles released 12 studio albums, all going Gold or Platinum. McCartney has since won 18 Grammy Awards, co-written 32 Billboard Hot 100 #1 hits, and remains one of the highest-earning musicians annually, making $50-70 million from touring alone.
A Liverpool boy, McCartney lost his mother at 14 and soon turned to music. He joined John Lennon’s band, which became The Beatles in 1960. The band revolutionized music (yes, they actually did), selling 600 million records globally. Internal conflicts led to their split in 1970, after which McCartney launched a solo career.
McCartney’s financial empire extends far beyond touring. His company, MPL Communications, owns the rights to numerous classic songs. He, however, famously lost ownership of The Beatles’ catalog in the ‘60s, with Michael Jackson later acquiring it. In 2017, McCartney regained control through a settlement with Sony ATV.
McCartney also owns an extensive real estate portfolio worth at least $100 million, including homes in New York, Los Angeles, Arizona, and the UK. His childhood home in Liverpool was auctioned for $231,000 in 2015.
10Selena Gomez
Pop singer and child actorSelena Gomezhas an estimated net worth of$1.3 billion, thanks largely to her highly successful makeup brand,Rare Beauty.Gomez began her career onBarney & Friendsbefore landing a breakout role in Disney’sWizards of Waverly Place.
Later building a successful music career, she released three gold-certified albums with her bandSelena Gomez & The Scenebefore going solo. She also stars in Hulu’sOnly Murders in the Buildingalongside Steve Martin and Martin Short.
In 2020, Gomez launchedRare Beauty,which generated $350 million in 2023. With a 51% stake, her ownership makes up themajority of her fortune.Rare Beautyis valued at $1.4 billion and was reportedly considering a $2 billion acquisition offer in early 2024. She also co-founded the mental health startup Wondermind, backed by Serena Williams’ venture fund, and invested in Serendipity ice cream and Gopuff.
9Tyler Perry
Tyler Perrybuilt his$1.4 billionempire from scratch, starting with a single play,I Know I’ve Been Changedwhile living in his car. Now, he’s directed and produced over 30 movies, 20 stage productions, and multiple TV shows – earning around $200–$250 million per year.
Perry is best known for theMadeafranchise, which grossed nearly $700 million at the box office, all while keeping costs low. Thanks to smart moves – like his Lionsgate deal, where he co-financed his films and kept half the profits – he’s made serious money. On TV,House of PayneandMeet the Brownswere major hits, with TBS paying him $200 million upfront while he kept ownership.
In 2019, he opened Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta on a massive 330-acre lot, becoming the first African-American to own a major studio. It’s been used for huge productions likeBlack PantherandThe Walking Dead, while companies like Netflix and Amazon rent space there for millions annually.
The second richest female musician in the world,Rihanna, has a net worth of$1.4 billion. While she has sold 60 million albums and 120 million singles, much of her fortune comes fromFenty Beauty, her cosmetics brand in partnership with LVMH, which generates over $100 million annually. Rihanna owns 50% ofFenty Beauty, valued between $2-3 billion, and 30% of Savage X Fenty, a lingerie brand worth $1 billion.
Discovered in Barbados by producer Evan Rogers, Rihanna was signed to Def Jam Records by Jay-Z in 2004. She shot to fame with hits likeUmbrella, We Found Love and Diamonds.Over her career, she has won 9 Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, and 13 American Music Awards. After a seven-year hiatus, she returned withLift Me Up(2022) and headlined the Super Bowl LVII halftime show,the most-watched in history.
Rihanna has also ventured into acting, starring inOcean’s 8,Battleship, andHome, and co-owns the music streaming platform Tidal. In terms of property, she owns $100+ million in real estate, including places in Beverly Hills, New York, London, and Barbados.
7Peter Jackson
New Zealand director, writer, and producer,Peter Jacksonboasts a net worth of$1.5 billion. The man behindThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy, his LOTR and Hobbit films have grossed over $6 billion worldwide. Jackson personally earned $180 million from LOTR alone and holds the third installment –Return of the Kingtobe his personal favorite.
Born in Wellington in the early 60s, Jackson developed a passion for filmmaking early, making short films with a Super 8 camera. He left school at 16 to work as a photo engraver while saving for film equipment. His directorial debut,Bad Taste(1987), led to cult splatter films beforeHeavenly Creatures(1994) earned him critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination.
In 1997, he secured rights to LOTR, which launched him to global fame. The trilogy won multiple Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. Following LOTR, Jackson headed a $600M-grossing King Kong remake, earning a record-breaking payday of $20M plus 20% of box office earnings. He later directedThe Lovely Bones(2009) and expanded The Hobbit into a trilogy.
In 2021, Jackson sold his VFX company, Weta Digital, to Unity Software for $1.65 billion, pocketing $1 billion in cash and stock. His vast real estate holdings, worth over $150 million, include a private New Zealand estate with a 100-seat theater and Frodo’s LOTR home set. A passionate aviation enthusiast, he also owns over 40 World War I-era aircraft and a $60M Gulfstream G650.
6Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift, with a net worth of$1.6 billion, officially reached billionaire status in 2023 during the European leg of herErastourand overtook Rihanna as the richest female musician.
The tour, which has alreadygenerated over $1 billion, is the highest-grossing concert tour of all time. The accompanying concert film grossed $260 million, and a Disney streaming deal added another $75 million, bringing her total earnings from the film to $205 million. Between ticket sales, merchandise, and movie revenue, Swift is projected to personally net $500-$600 million from the tour.
A 14-time Grammy winner, Swift is the only artist to win Album of the Year four times. She also holds 40 American Music Awards and 40 Billboard Music Awards, the most for any artist. H
Swift developed an early passion for music, inspired by Shania Twain. She moved to Nashville at 14 and was later discovered by Scott Borchetta, becoming the first artist signed to Big Machine Records. After releasing six successful albums, she left the label in 2018 and signed with Republic Records, securing ownership of her future masters. Today, Swift’s music catalog alone is valued between $400-$500 million.
Beyond music, Swift owns $150 million in real estate across the U.S., including properties in New York, Rhode Island, Nashville, and Beverly Hills. Her riches also include lucrative endorsements with brands like Capital One, Diet Coke, AT&T, and CoverG
5Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashianneeds little to no introduction, for someone with a net worth of$1.7 billion. She earns $50–80 million annually including endorsement deals, businesses, and TV appearances. The bulk of her wealth, however, comes from two major companies: KKW Beauty and Skims.
Launched in 2017, KKW Beauty quickly became a success, generating over $100 million annually. In 2020, Kim sold 20% of the company for $200 million, valuing it at $1 billion.
Her shapewear brand, Skims, has been even more lucrative. After multiple funding rounds, it reached a $4 billion valuation in 2023. Kim owns an estimated 1/3 stake, making her share worth $1.32 billion. Skims earned $500 million in 2022 and was on track for $750 million in 2023.
Kim first gained fame in the early 2000s, working as a stylist for Paris Hilton before starring inKeeping Up with the Kardashians. Since then, she has built a media empire, including reality TV spinoffs, film roles, brand endorsements, and a mobile game that earned $200 million. Notably, she still collects 28% of its revenue.
ShawnJay-ZCarter grew up in the Marcy Houses of Brooklyn and found his passion for music after his mother gifted him a boombox. After struggling to land a record deal, he co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995 and dropped his debut album,Reasonable Doubt(1996). His career took the next big step withThe Blueprint,The Black Album, and4:44, making him one of hip-hop’s most influential artists.
Jay-Z has also built a vast business empire. He co-founded Rocawear (sold for $204M), launched Roc Nation (an entertainment and sports agency), and owned stakes in companies like Tidal (sold to Square for $300M), Armand de Brignac champagne (sold 50% to LVMH for $640M), and D’Ussé cognac (sold 25% to Bacardi for $750M). He also invested in SpaceX, Uber, Oatly, and Sweetgreen.
Jay-Z became hip-hop’s first billionaire in 2019, and by 2023, his net worth hit$2.5 billion. He and his wife Beyoncé, who together own a $350M real estate portfolio. They also ownone of the most expensive carsin the world.
3Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfreyis a self-made billionaire who changed the media game. Born into poverty in Mississippi, she faced tough times growing up but found her passion for storytelling early on. Winfrey got a job in radio at 17 and became a news anchor at 19.
Her big break came in 1984 with a morning talk show in Chicago. She quickly became a star, but instead of just being a host, she took control of the show. She started her own company, Harpo Productions, and producedThe Oprah Winfrey Showherself. This decision made her hundreds of millions a year and turned her into a billionaire by 2000.
Beyond TV, Oprah built a huge empire with magazines, books, movies, and even a stake in Weight Watchers. She’s also a generous philanthropist, donating over $400 million to education, scholarships, and disaster relief.
She owns stunning homes across the U.S., including a 67-acre estate in Montecito and 900 acres in Maui. Now worth approximately$3 billion, Oprah remains one of the most powerful and inspiring women in the world.
2George Lucas
Visionary filmmaker, entrepreneur, and philanthropistGeorge Lucasboasts a staggering net worth of$5.3 billionin 2025. Though retired from full-time filmmaking, his influence on entertainment and the business around it still largely remains.
Born in Modesto, Lucas was captivated by sci-fi serials and developed an early passion for the medium. After studying film at USC, he co-founded American Zoetrope with Francis Ford Coppola in 1969 and later established Lucasfilm in 1971. His breakout success came withAmerican Graffiti(1973), a critical and commercial hit that earned him five Oscar nods. With newfound clout, he bet big on an ambitious space opera –Star Wars.
Initially dismissed by Hollywood,Star Warsdefied expectations upon its 1977 release, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of all time and earning 10 Oscar nominations. Lucas’business acumen proved just as revolutionary. He famously retained sequel and merchandising rights, a gamble that paid off whenStar Warstoys became a global phenomenon, outselling the film’s box office.
BeyondStar Wars, Lucas co-createdIndiana Jones, helped make huge advancements in digital filmmaking, and built Skywalker Ranch (now valued at approximately $100 million). In 2012, he sold Lucasfilm to Disney for $4.1 billion, which now contributes to much of his net worth.
1Steven Speilberg
Steven Spielberg, one of Hollywood’s most influential, has built the biggest fortune for a celebrity. Spielberg’s net worth stands at an exorbitant$5.3 billion, with his largest asset surprisingly being cash. The director’s coffers have increased by $300 million since the start of 2023.
Hailing from Cincinnati, Spielberg discovered filmmaking in his teens, later attending California State University, Long Beach. Rejected twice by USC’s film school, he eventually dropped out to pursue directing. His breakthrough came withJaws (1975), which was one of the firsts of what eventually came to be known as thesummer blockbuster.
Since 1974, Spielberg has amassed more than $2.7 billion in fees and profit shares from his projects. His earnings include proceeds from DreamWorks Animation’s 2016 sale(In 1994, he co-founded DreamWorks SKG with Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen. The studio was later sold to Viacom.), and his deal with Netflix.
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Spielberg has also founded the USC Shoah Foundation, dedicated to Holocaust education, and serves as chairman emeritus of the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Jayant Chhabra
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Jayant Chhabra is a long-form writer and Creative Producer, who has worked with several renowned publications and production houses. Yet, there’s more to Jayant than meets the word count. You’ll find him cheering for the Red Devils, trying to produce music, or yet again being enamoured by the countless films, essays, and books that he holds close to his heart.
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