14 Celebrities Who Are Actual Billionaires, Ranked By How Much They Earned It

Who Is He: Steven Spielberg, a film director, screenwriter, and producer, is the mastermind behind some of cinema's most acclaimed and financially successful films, including the Jaws franchise, the Indiana Jones franchise, the Jurassic Park franchise, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Schindler's List, and Saving Private Ryan.

How He Made Billions: As of March 2024, Spielberg's estimated net worth is $4.8 billion. The three-time Academy Award winner is the most commercially successful director at the worldwide box office in cinema history. The auteur co-founded Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks; the film production and distribution studios not only release Spielberg films, but also movies from other filmmakers, including box office smashes like Back to the Future and Transformers.

The Color Purple director also serves as a consultant for the Universal Studios theme parks and earns a cool $30 million a year for his consulting work.

Who Is He: George Lucas is a movie director, screenwriter, and producer, as well as founder of Lucasfilm Ltd., a production company that includes the visual effects division Industrial Light & Magic. He created the Star Wars franchise and co-created, along with Steven Spielberg, the Indiana Jones franchise.

How He Made Billions: As of March 2024, Lucas’s net worth is estimated at $5.5 billion. The film director started Lucasfilm Ltd. in Northern California in 1971 so he could have total creative freedom over all of his projects. His biggest moneymaker is the Star Wars franchise. Not only did Lucas earn money from the films; he also got a cut of the billions of dollars in Star Wars merchandise. In 2012, he sold Lucasfilm to Disney for $4.1 billion in cash and stock.

Lucas also developed Skywalker Ranch in 1978, a sprawling property - also in Northern California - that serves as a motion picture sound and recording facility. Its estimated worth is more than $100 million. 

Who Is He: New Zealand native Sir Peter Jackson is a film director, producer, and screenwriter best known for his work on the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit trilogy, which earned him millions of dollars and dozens of awards and accolades.

How He Made Billions: As of March 2024, his estimated net worth is $1.5 billion. He reportedly made $10 million for each LOTR movie and earned 10% on the backend. The Hobbit reportedly brought in about $20 million per film for Jackson, with 20% on the backend. 

In 2021, Jackson achieved official billionaire status after selling off a piece of his visual effects company Weta Digital for $1.6 billion. He was able to negotiate a deal that made him the majority owner of Wētā FX, which is a separate unit.

Who Is He: Michael Jordan was a professional NBA basketball player from 1984-2003 (including two short retirements) who won six championships with the Chicago Bulls; many consider him the greatest basketballer ever. He became an international icon and his popularity transcended the sports world. 

How He Made Billions: As of March 2024, Jordan's estimated net worth is $3 billion. Throughout 15 pro seasons, he earned about $90 million playing in the NBA. But that's just a small part of his vast net worth. 

The player known as Air Jordan reinvented how professional athletes negotiate endorsement deals. He's earned at least $1.5 billion since he signed a contract with Nike in 1986 and changed the brand forever. He continues to earn hundreds of millions every year, thanks to his 5% license agreement. Jordan also had endorsement deals with Hanes, Gatorade, Upper Deck, and 2K Sports. In 2023, he sold his majority stake in the NBA team the Charlotte Hornets for around $3 billion.

Who Is She: Taylor Swift is a singer, songwriter and musician famous for writing deeply personal lyrics and having a rabid fanbase known around the world as “Swifties.” One of the most influential names in pop culture, she currently holds numerous awards, including 14 Grammys, 40 American Music Awards, and 40 Billboard Music Awards.

How She Made Billions: As of March 2024, Swift's estimated net worth is $1.1 billion. She reached official billionaire status in 2023 during her Eras tour, which comprised 152 shows around the world. What makes Swift's lofty bottom line even more impressive is that she doesn't have many investments in products unrelated to her music career.

Swift's music catalog consists of studio albums, re-recorded studio albums, and live albums, which all together have sold more than 200 million copies worldwide. She also receives about $500 million from royalties and touring.

Who Is She: Oprah Winfrey, AKA the “Queen of All Media,” is a talk show host, producer, author, actor, and entrepreneur. She is perhaps best known for O, The Oprah Magazine and for her daytime syndicated talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show, which aired nationally for 25 seasons.

How She Made Billions: As of March 2024, Winfrey's estimated net worth is $2.8 billion. She is considered one of the most influential people in the world not just as a TV personality, but also as a business mogul. 

In 1986, she founded Harpo Productions, which includes Harpo Print and a minority interest in the cable network OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). It's estimated she made $37 million in 2019 from the OWN network alone. Her former company Harpo Films produced several acclaimed movies, including Beloved, Selma, and 2023’s The Color Purple.

In 2015, the self-made billionaire bought a 10% stake in Weight Watchers and reportedly earned $75 million in just one day with the company. In 2024, she left its board of directors after nearly a decade with the weight loss giant. In 2020, Winfrey sold most of her ownership of OWN to Discovery, in exchange for a stake in the company of at least $35 million. Winfrey also earns about $1.5-$2.5 million in speaking fees for various engagements.