The definition of rich within the celebrity sphere seems to be constantly evolving. While a net worth of $100 million was once considered a significant milestone, today, several celebrities boast billionaire status. This drastic shift is attributed to factors like lucrative investments, endorsement deals, and ownership of successful businesses. Here are the top 20 wealthiest celebrities in 2024, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Read on to find their respective net worth and how they have amassed their fortunes.
George Lucas — $8 billion
Best known for creating the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, George Lucas generates income through film royalties and merchandising. After the American filmmaker sold Lucasfilm to Disney for a staggering $4.05 billion (by way of cash and Disney stock), he became the largest individual shareholder of Disney (according to CNBC), which is likely where half his wealth is coming from.
Jami Gertz — $8 billion
Although actress and producer Jami Gertz is best known for her roles in films and the small screen, her fortune is made primarily from her various business ventures with her billionaire husband, including the partial ownership of a sports team. Gertz gained recognition for her roles in Less Than Zero (1987) and The Lost Boys (1987). In 2000, she landed a recurring role as Kimmy Bishop on the popular Fox series Ally McBeal (1997–2002), which earned her an Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series category.
Steven Spielberg — $8 billion
As a prolific filmmaker, Steven Spielberg’s primary source of income is from directing and producing blockbuster movies like Jaws (1975), Jurassic Park (1993), and Schindler’s List (1993). Spielberg was one of the co-founders of DreamWorks before he and his business partner, Jeffrey Katzenberg, sold it to Comcast for $3.8 billion. The filmmaker also generates revenue through his co-ownership of entertainment company Amblin Partners, (founded in 2015), and involvement in various entertainment ventures.
Oprah Winfrey — $3.5 billion
Oprah Winfrey‘s wealth comes from her media empire, including television production, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN Network), and partnerships with various brands. She is also involved in philanthropy.
Brock Pierce — $2 billion
Brock Pierce is an American entrepreneur who made his fortune primarily through cryptocurrency. His early investments in Bitcoin and co-founding of Tether, a major stablecoin, are believed to be his biggest financial wins. Pierce started young, founding Digital Entertainment Network, where he reportedly made a substantial sum. As a former child actor, Pierce starred in the Disney films The Mighty Ducks (1992), D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994), and First Kid (1996), among others.
Jay-Z — $2 billion
Jay-Z is a multifaceted entrepreneur, earning through his music career, record label (Roc Nation), investments in Uber and other tech companies, champagne brand (Ace of Spades), and partnerships with major brands like Nike.
Kim Kardashian — $1.7 billion
Kim Kardashian’s wealth primarily comes from her reality TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians (2007-2021) and its various spin-offs, brand endorsements, and business ventures such as KKW Beauty and SKIMS, her cosmetics and shapewear lines, respectively.
Peter Jackson — $1.5 billion
Likely the richest New Zealander in the entertainment world, Peter Jackson is a filmmaker known for The Lord of the Rings trilogy. His income comes from directing, producing, and involvement in other major projects in the film industry. Jackson is the co-founder of the visual effects company, Weta Digital (Now Wētā FX). In November 2021, he sold the company’s VFX tools development division to video game software company Unity Technologies for a whopping $1.625 billion.
Rihanna — $1.7 billion
As a singer, actress, and entrepreneur, Rihanna’s income stream comes from multiple sources. Aside from her music and acting career, a major reason for Rihanna’s billionaire status is her cosmetics line, Fenty Beauty, and other business ventures such as Fenty Skin and Fenty Hair.
Paul McCartney — $1.2 billion
Paul McCartney earns income from his extensive catalog of Beatles songs, royalties, solo music, and live performances. The legendary musician owns several properties and routinely makes business investments in tech companies such as Jaunt. He also owns MPL Communications, a music publishing company that he established in 1969, through which he makes a substantial sum as well.
Slavica Ecclestone — $1.2 billion
Slavica Ecclestone is a former model from Croatia who was previously married to Bernie Ecclestone, the former CEO of Formula One. Her wealth is tied to their divorce settlement ($881 million) and investments made after their divorce in 2009.
David Copperfield — $1 billion
As a renowned magician and illusionist, David Copperfield’s income comes from live performances such as the ones in Las Vegas, world tours, merchandise, television specials, real estate investments, and various other entertainment projects. His shows in Las Vegas, which began in 1996, (and continue to this day) are perhaps the biggest reason for his billionaire status.
J.K. Rowling — $1 billion
J.K. Rowling reportedly rakes in $600 million through book sales alone. Aside from this, the author of the Harry Potter series profits from the film adaptations of the Harry Potter novels, the income derived from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parks, and merchandise. Rowling is also involved in various philanthropic activities.
Zhao Wei — $1 billion
Zhao Wei is a popular and hugely successful actress who has starred in numerous films and TV shows. Her breakout role was in My Fair Princess (1998–1999), and she has appeared in well-known movies like Shaolin Soccer (2001), Red Cliff (2008–2009), and Painted Skin (2008). Zhao Wei has also had a successful singing career, releasing albums that have sold millions of copies throughout Asia. More recently, she has ventured into directing, with her debut film So Young (2013) being a commercial and critical success. On the business side, she is also a savvy investor.
Jerry Seinfeld — $900 million
Jerry Seinfeld’s income primarily comes from his titular role in the iconic sitcom Seinfeld (1989-1998) his stand-up comedy specials, and various media ventures. As the co-creator of Seinfeld, the comedian and actor made a number of syndication deals for the hit TV series, which has added to his near-billionaire status. Jerry also reportedly bought the streaming rights to Seinfeld for a huge sum, adding to his already burgeoning wealth.
Taylor Swift — $900 million
As a hugely successful American singer-songwriter, Taylor Swift started out in country music and has since transitioned to pop. She’s known for her catchy tunes and narrative lyrics, often inspired by her own experiences. Taylor’s income streams come from a variety of sources, including music sales, world tours, and merchandise, among many others.
Herb Alpert — $850 million
Herb Alpert is a musician and co-founder of A&M Records, which he established with his business partner Jerry Moss in 1962. A significant portion of his income comes from his music career; his band Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass sold 13 million records in 1966 alone. In 1989, Alpert and Moss sold A&M Records to PolyGram for $500 million after making it a tremendous success. To date, Alpert has sold a staggering 72 million records worldwide.
Madonna — $850 million
Madonna, the Queen of Pop, earns through her music career, live performances, acting and directing career, real estate, and business ventures, including fashion (Material Girl and Truth or Dare) and skincare lines (MDNA).
Tyler Perry — $850 million
Tyler Perry is a successful American actor, director, producer, and writer. He’s best known for creating the popular Madea character and franchise, which has brought in over $660 million at the box office. A majority of his wealth comes from his work as a producer.
Byron Allen — $800 million
Byron Allen has worn many hats throughout his career. He started young, doing stand-up in Los Angeles as a teenager. He even holds the record for the youngest comedian to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992). He has also hosted several shows, including Real People (1979-1984) and The Byron Allen Show (1989-1992). But his real fame comes from being a media mogul. He founded Entertainment Studios, which owns a large portfolio of cable networks, including The Weather Channel, Comedy.TV, and Cars.TV. He’s also acquired several broadcast stations.