Taylor Hill/Film Magic
George Lucas' decision to sell his production company in 2012 certainly paid off.
of Star Wars The creator is currently the world's richest celebrity billionaire with a whopping $5.5 billion net worth and tops Forbes magazine's annual ranking of the richest A-list people. According to the publication, most of the Hollywood director's fortune comes from acquisitions by Lucasfilm. Lucas founded Entertainment Studios in 1971, which he later sold to Disney in a deal worth more than $4 billion.
Fellow filmmaker Steven Spielberg is best known for his blockbuster films such as: jaws and Jurassic Park, ranked second with an estimated lifetime income of $4.8 billion. Spielberg made his fortune by taking home a portion of each film's gross box office receipts. forbes report. As of 2018, he holds the title of the world's highest-grossing director, according to The Wrap.
Peter Jackson (Lord of the Ring, Hobbit), becoming the seventh richest celebrity with a net worth of $1.5 billion. Actor, director, and producer Tyler Perry took the No. 8 spot with $1.4 billion, while Dick Wolf, creator of long-running crime series such as The Big Apple, took the No. 8 spot with $1.4 billion. Law and orderranked 13th with an estimated lifetime income of $1.2 billion.
Returning to the top of the list is former NBA star Michael Jordan, who ranks third with a net worth of $3.2 billion. The 61-year-old basketball player became the first billionaire athlete in 2015 thanks to numerous brand partnerships, including a lucrative contract with Nike. Last summer, he cashed out his investment in the Charlotte Hornets, selling a majority stake in the team for a staggering $3 billion valuation.
Three more sports stars finished in the top 14. Among them is Tiger Woods, whose net worth of $1.3 billion puts him in 10th place. LeBron James and Magic Johnson were close behind in 11th and 12th place, respectively, with lifetime earnings of $1.2 billion.
Oprah Winfrey came in fourth with a net worth of $2.8 billion, and reality TV star Kim Kardashian came in sixth with a net worth of $1.7 billion. The Skims founder rose to prominence through her makeup and clothing brands. Most notably, her shapewear company was last valued at $4 billion, according to Forbes.
Similarly, pop star Rihanna has amassed a $1.4 billion fortune thanks to two hugely successful brands. Fenty Beauty, which is part of LVMH, and her lingerie company Savage X Fenty. Last but not least, there was Taylor Swift. She is the first Barbados-born singer to become a billionaire solely from her music and concert income. Forbes estimates her net worth at $1.1 billion, much of which came from record-breaking ticket and merchandise sales from the Elas tour and subsequent films.