Steven Spielberg rises to top as world's richest celebrity Forbes reveals

US filmmaker Steven Spielberg has topped the list of the richest celebrities in the world, according to the 39th annual ranking of billionaires. 

Spielberg got rich by making some of the most popular movies of the late 20th century, including Jaws, E.T., Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Having secured himself a fortune long ago—he first appeared on Forbes list of the wealthiest Americans in 1994—he shows no sign of slowing down, continuing to direct hits like 2021’s West Side Story remake. In addition to film earnings, Spielberg has negotiated to get 2 per cent of ticket sales at Universal theme parks in perpetuity.

Another US filmmaker George Lucas came second in the ranking. Lucas created Star Wars, a franchise that is still going strong nearly 50 years after its first film debuted (many future movies are planned, including The Mandalorian & Grogu, expected in 2026). But he’s not getting direct cuts of the new offerings: He sold the Star Wars IP back in 2012, when Disney bought his LucasFilm for $4 billion in cash and stock. 

NBA legend Michael Jordan became the first athlete to rank on Forbes’ list of the 400 wealthiest people in the US in 2023, eight years after becoming the first-ever billionaire athlete. Jordan made the bulk of his fortune through brand partnerships. Nike currently pays him over $100 million per year in royalties on his namesake Jordan brand.

Fame and fortune often come hand in hand. But although many celebrities are wealthy, it’s rare for their net worths to stretch all the way to ten figures. Less than two dozen people on the planet have accomplished that feat.

Most obtained their celebrity billionaire status in the last decade. The economics of their industries have been shifting: Sports has seen massive spikes in salaries and the values of endorsement deals, and athletes are building companies now more than ever, helping stars like NBA great LeBron James add a third comma to their fortunes. In pop music, it’s becoming more common to leverage fame to garner attention for other business ventures. Rihanna and Jay-Z, for example, became billionaires through the brands they started in fashion, beauty and liquor, rather than their songs.

By Naila Huseynova