It’s not a surprise that some of the biggest names in the entertainment world are also some of the richest. After decades of success, these five superstars are literal billionaires with careers in music, acting, presenting, writing, directing, and so much more. Not only are they wealthy, but every person on the list is also a philanthropist. Here is the reported net worth of the biggest stars on the planet—and how they made their fortunes.
With a net worth of $5.5 billion and a career spanning decades, George Lucas is one of Hollywood’s top earners. He founded Lucasfilm in 1971 and sold it to Disney for 4 billion, having already made a fortune from the movies and merchandising. “I took over control of the merchandising not because I thought it was going to make me rich, but because I wanted to control it. I wanted to make a stand for social, safety and quality reasons,” Lucas says. “I didn’t want someone using the name Star Wars on a piece of junk.”
Steven Spielberg’s net worth is a cool $3.7 billion, which he has amassed over decades of writing, producing, and directing some of Hollywood’s most popular and enduring films. “There’s a whole other subset of individuals who want to tell their stories, and they’re telling them right now on their iPhones, and they’re telling them right now on social media and on Twitter and on Instagram and on TikTok,” Spielberg says about the next generation of filmmakers. “I have my eye out for them all the time because that is … those are the individuals that should know what goes into preparing a script.”
With a net worth of $2.6 billion, Oprah Winfrey has done it all—acting, presenting, producing, writing, being a top executive… The list is seemingly endless. Her best advice for fans? To practice self-care. “The best way I know for sure to stay in steady makeover mode is to take care of yourself,” she says. “To feed yourself with love and loving thoughts. To eat food that’s delicious to you and to your body. To engage in loving practices, like giving yourself the gift of stillness at least five minutes a day. To surround yourself with people who bring you light, and to banish all forms of negative energy.”
Kim Kardashian has an empire worth $1.8 billion—not bad for someone who was once known as just Paris Hilton’s best friend. “My message was to anyone who wants to be successful in building a business or brand having come from that very specific space — reality show or social media fame — is to work hard,” she says. “It’s not easy. You don’t just post something on social media and overnight you become a success.”
Rihanna is worth an impressive $1.7 billion, making her the wealthiest female musician on the planet. Aside from her impressive musical career, she is also the founder of the mega-successful beauty brand Fenty Beauty. “I never thought I’d make this much money, so a number is not going to stop me from working,” she says. “I’m working out of what I love to do, what I’m passionate about.”