The glamorous (and handsomely paid) actors and actresses who bring our favorite films and TV shows to life often captivate us, but let us not forget that the real heroes are the artistic wizards behind the camera: the directors. They are in charge of choosing the ideal cast and setting the overall direction of the production, which includes what you see on screen.
Christopher Nolan, the genius behind Inception and Interstellar, and James Cameron, the maestro of Terminator to Titanic who maintained the excitement for Avatar 2 in 2022, more than ten years after the first film’s release, are two auteurs who established their careers through writing and directing in their own iconic styles.
But, move over Nolan and Cameron; there are some other industry giants on the list of the highest-earning directors in Tinseltown. Notwithstanding their enormous professional success, these two legendary directors pale in comparison to the likes of George Lucas, the creative genius behind the massively successful Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, and Peter Jackson, the brains behind the film adaptations of Lord of the Rings and Hobbit.
1. George Lucas: $5.5B
George Lucas, the director of the futuristic Star Wars film franchise, has amassed a fortune that most people find fanciful, akin to something from a distant galaxy.
The renowned director, 79, remains at the top of Forbes’ annual list of celebrity billionaires, with a fortune of $5.5 billion. Notable names on the list include basketball legend Michael Jordan, talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey, rapper Jay-Z, and close friend and fellow director Steven Spielberg.
Being the brain behind the Star Wars film series, Lucas has amassed a multimedia empire encompassing merchandise, theme park attractions, and more. When it comes to his bank account, it is safe to say that the force is definitely on his side. Star Wars and, of course, Lucasfilm will always be associated with George Lucas; thus, the franchise continues to be the main source of his enormous earnings.
2. Steven Spielberg: $4.8B
Steven Spielberg, 77, who has a net worth of $4.8 billion, ranks second among the richest directors. The acclaimed director who maintains he has not taken a salary since the mid-1980s (per Daily Mail), has an impressive resume that includes films like Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, and Saving Private Ryan.
Spielberg remains a prominent figure in Hollywood, having won numerous Oscars and achieved box office success. As he stated to Forbes:
“I’m a gambler. I haven’t taken a salary for almost a decade now.”
Conversely, he worked out a deal to receive a portion of the box office receipts from his films, and because of the Indiana Jones franchise, he continues to receive a cut of each ticket purchased at Universal theme parks.
The director’s last film, The Fabelmans, starring Michelle Williams and Paul Dano, took in $45.6 million worldwide on a $40 million budget (see Box Office Mozo).
3. Peter Jackson: $1.5B
Rounding out the top three is Peter Jackson, with a net worth of $1.5 billion. His work on the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which won enormous box office success in addition to critical acclaim, is what made him most famous. His knack for creating incredible worlds on the big screen has rewarded him with a devoted fanbase and a hefty bank account to match.
The most significant source of wealth for Jackson, 62, came from his visual effects company, Weta Digital, which in 2021 sold some of its assets to the video game developer Unity Software (per Variety). The Wellington-born director walked away with almost $1 billion from that deal.
While Christopher Nolan and James Cameron have impressive accomplishments and box office successes, they still have a long way to go before competing with these Hollywood heavyweights. With their combined net worth totaling over $10 billion, it can be seen that Lucas, Spielberg, and Jackson are in a league of their own when it comes to Hollywood riches.
