Taylor Swift, Michael Jordan, Jay-Z, and Rihanna also made the list
George Lucas’s decision to sell his production company back in 2012 has certainly paid off.
The Star Wars creator now is the world’s richest celebrity billionaire with a whopping US$5.5 billion net worth, topping Forbes’s annual ranking of the wealthiest A-listers. According to the publication, the bulk of the Hollywood director’s fortune comes from the acquisition of LucasFilm. Lucas founded the entertainment studio in 1971, and he then sold it to Disney in a deal worth more than US$4 billion.
Fellow filmmaker Steven Spielberg, best known for cinematic blockbusters including Jaws and Jurassic Park, came in second place with an estimated US$4.8 billion career earnings. Spielberg built his fortune by taking home a percentage of gross box office sales for each of his movies, Forbes reported. As of 2018, he holds the title of the world’s highest-grossing director, per the Wrap.
Three other TV and film legends made the list as well, including Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit), who became the seventh richest celeb with a US$1.5 billion net worth. Actor, director, and producer Tyler Perry secured the eighth spot with US$1.4 billion, and Dick Wolf, the creator of long-running crime franchises such as Law & Order, landed in 13th place with an estimated US$1.2 billion career earnings.
Back at the top, former NBA star Michael Jordan nabbed third with a US$3.2 billion net worth. The 61-year-old basketball player became the first billionaire athlete in 2015 thanks in large part to his many, many brand partnerships including his lucrative deal with Nike. Last summer, he also cashed in on his investment in the Charlotte Hornets and offloaded his majority stake in the team for an eye-watering US$3 billion valuation.
Three additional sports stars managed to crack the top 14—including Tiger Woods, who landed in the 10 spot with a net worth of US$1.3 billion. Close behind were LeBron James and Magic Johnson, who sat for 11th and 12th place, respectively, with career earnings of US$1.2 billion.
Oprah Winfrey joined the rankings in fourth place with a net worth of US$2.8 billion, while reality TV star Kim Kardashian came in sixth at US$1.7 billion. The Skims founder earned her spot via her makeup and clothing brand. Most notably, her shapewear company was last valued at US$4 billion, according to Forbes.
Similarly, pop star Rihanna made her US$1.4 billion fortune thanks to her two uber-successful brands. There’s Fenty Beauty, which was founded under LVMH, along with her lingerie company, Savage X Fenty. Last (but not least) was Taylor Swift, who, unlike the Barbados-born singer, became a first-time billionaire off her music and concert earnings alone. Forbes estimated her net worth at US$1.1 billion, the bulk of which came from record-breaking ticket and merchandise sales from the Eras Tour and the film that followed.
This story was first published on Robb Report USA. Featured photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
