As the driving force behind a blockbuster franchise, Peter Jackson has not only secured a place among some of the most celebrated filmmakers in the industry, but has also made quite a fortune for himself. His journey to Tinseltown has been nothing short of extraordinary, and began with an early start in New Zealand, with multiple short films and cult classics like Bad Taste.
However, his filmmaking journey truly commenced with a 16 mm camera with his two years of savings, which has since transformed into a fortune that now surpasses the combined wealth of two Hollywood giants, Martin Scorsese and James Cameron.
Peter Jackson Reflected on His Humble Beginnings
Peter Jackson’s initial fascination with the world of cinema began with the TV series Thunderbirds and the 1933 film King Kong, which led him to experiment with his family’s home camera and stop-motion animation technique.
As he continued exploring his options with the sources available, he was also quite frustrated with not having the best gear for filmmaking, as he shared, “It was all about the frustration of trying to make films but not having the best gear,” as per the American Academy of Achievement.
With a modest income of “75 bucks” per week, Jackson realized he couldn’t afford the tools he desired. So he decided to save money for the camera. “I was only getting paid 75 bucks a week. I lived at home with my parents because I couldn’t afford not to,” he said.
Jackson did eventually buy a 16mm camera with his two years of savings. “I spent two years saving up for a 16mm camera, which cost several thousand dollars,” he shared. As soon as he got the camera, he wasted no time in putting it to use and set out to make a short film.
The short film, titled Bad Taste, would later transform into a feature film and has since gained a cult following. The two years of savings that he invested in the 16mm camera proved to be a pivotal moment in Jackson’s career, as he has since become one of the most successful filmmakers, boasting a staggering net worth of $1.5 billion.
Peter Jackson’s Net Worth Surpasses the Combined Wealth of Two Hollywood Giants
Having a decades-long fulfilling career in filmmaking, Peter Jackson is significantly known for his contributions to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogy. The franchise has collectively grossed $6 billion worldwide.
As per Forbes, he earned $10 million for each installment of The Lord of the Rings series, in addition to 10% of the profits generated from each film’s theatrical run. For The Hobbit trilogy, he likely received $20 million per film along with a 20% backend.
Jackson joined the billionaire club of Hollywood in 2021 after he sold a partial stake in his Weta digital film effects company to Unity Software for a staggering $1.6 billion in cash and stock. The King Kong director is currently worth $1.5 billion, a net worth surpassing the Hollywood icons like James Cameron and Martin Scorsese.
As per Celebrity Net Worth, Cameron’s net worth stands at $800 million while Scorsese is worth $200 million. Jackson’s net worth ranks him among the richest directors in the industry, following George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.
With the innovative WETA technology at his disposal and his upcoming projects, Jackson’s net worth is poised for continued growth. His upcoming projects also include a live-action The Lord of the Rings film focusing on Gollum, where he will serve as a producer and is said to be intricately involved in every stage of development.
