Forbes has released its 2024 list of celebrity billionaires, showcasing the financial success of prominent figures in the entertainment industry. Among those featured are Taylor Swift, Steven Spielberg, Kim Kardashian, JAY-Z, Rihanna, and others. These individuals have not only achieved fame and influence in their respective fields but have also amassed significant wealth, solidifying their status as some of the wealthiest celebrities in the world according to Forbes’ rankings.
The list:
Taylor Swift – $1.1bn
The 34-year-old American singer achieved a significant milestone last October by becoming a billionaire, thanks to her highly influential year in music. With an estimated $190 million in post-tax earnings from her groundbreaking Eras Tour, she became the first individual to reach billionaire status solely through songwriting and performing, according to Forbes.
Dick Wolf -$1.2bn
He’s the renowned creator behind acclaimed crime dramas like Law & Order and FBI, debuts on the billionaire’s list fueled by nearly $2 billion in pre-tax earnings amassed throughout his distinguished 30-year television career.
Magic Johnson – $1.2bn
Johnson initially gained fame in basketball during an era before extravagant salaries and lucrative endorsements. However, his wealth extends beyond the sport, primarily through shrewd business endeavors and strategic partnerships with fellow billionaires.
His diverse portfolio includes ownership stakes in several sports franchises, such as the NFL’s Washington Commanders (with Justin Harris), the MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers (with Todd Boehly), and interests in the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks and MLS’s LAFC. However, the majority of his wealth stems from his investment in EquiTrust, a life insurance provider based in Iowa.
LeBron James – $1.2bn
Throughout his remarkable two-decade career, the basketball legend has accumulated over $1 billion in earnings from both his on-court success and off-court endeavors.
He has judiciously invested these earnings in a range of ventures, including real estate, ownership shares in businesses like Blaze Pizza, and the creation of his production and entertainment company, SpringHill.
Notably, he has also ventured into sports investments, holding ownership stakes in Fenway Sports Group, which boasts ownership of the MLB’s Boston Red Sox, the esteemed soccer club Liverpool, and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
Tiger Woods – $1.3bn
Tiger Woods has joined an exclusive group, alongside LeBron James, as one of the few athletes to achieve billionaire status while still competing in their sports.
His immense celebrity status played a significant role in this achievement, with career earnings exceeding $1.7 billion, primarily driven by lucrative endorsement deals. Woods’ remarkable success has left an enduring legacy in the world of sports and beyond.
Rihanna – $1.4bn
The pop sensation has ownership stakes in two billion-dollar brands: Fenty Beauty, a cosmetics company co-owned with luxury goods giant LVMH, and Savage X Fenty, a lingerie business. Both brands are named after the Barbados-born singer, known by her real name, Robyn Fenty.
Tyler Perry – $1.4bn
Over the course of three decades, Perry has amassed pre-tax earnings exceeding $1 billion through his involvement in creating, acting in TV shows, movies, and stage plays. His generosity garnered attention when he offered one of his Los Angeles residences to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle following their decision to step down as senior members of the British royal family.
Peter Jackson – $1.5bn
Renowned for his directorial achievements in “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” franchises, Jackson primarily accumulated his wealth through his visual effects company, Weta Digital. In 2021, the New Zealand filmmaker made a notable decision to sell a portion of Weta Digital’s assets to game developer Unity Software. This deal resulted in Jackson receiving nearly $1 billion in cash and stock.
Kim Kardashian – $1.7bn
Kim Kardashian has leveraged her reality TV fame to achieve billionaire status, primarily through her beauty and clothing ventures. In 2023, her shapewear line, Skims, reached a valuation of $4 billion in a funding round. Furthermore, Kardashian sold a 20% stake in her makeup company, KKW Beauty, to Coty for $200 million in 2020, subsequently opting to shut down KKW Beauty.
Jay-Z – $2.5bn
The trailblazer of hip-hop’s billionaire club sold a 50% stake in his champagne brand, Armand de Brignac, to luxury conglomerate LVMH in 2021 for at least $300 million. In 2023, he also divested a controlling interest in his cognac label, D’Usse, to Bacardi for around $750 million. Beyond his beverage ventures, he holds investments in companies such as Uber and Block. Notably, his net worth does not include his wife Beyoncé’s separate fortune valued at half a billion dollars.
Oprah Winfrey – $2.8bn
In 2003, the daytime talk show host became the first black female billionaire, marking a significant milestone in her career. Over the years, she has built a formidable media and business empire, expanding her brand into ventures such as real estate and the establishment of her own production company.
Recently, after disclosing her use of a weight-loss medication, Winfrey, a longtime board member and significant shareholder of WeightWatchers, announced her decision to step down from her role within the company.
Michael Jordan – $3.2bn
In 2015, Jordan achieved the historic feat of becoming the first billionaire athlete, although his wealth wasn’t primarily derived from his illustrious basketball career or gambling triumphs. Instead, he amassed over $1.8 billion through lucrative brand partnerships, notably with Nike’s Jordan brand. Additionally, in 2010, he made a savvy move by acquiring the NBA team Charlotte Hornets for $175 million. This strategic investment proved highly profitable when he sold the team in August 2023 for an astounding $3 billion.
Steven Spielberg – $4.8bn
In 1994, Spielberg achieved the unprecedented milestone of becoming the first director to enter the list of billionaires, fueled by a string of blockbuster hits including Jaws, Jurassic Park, and Schindler’s List. Reflecting on his success, he admitted to Forbes, “I’m a gambler,” revealing that he had foregone a salary for nearly a decade.
Instead, he opted for a percentage of gross sales for his films, and he continues to receive royalties from every ticket sold at Universal theme parks due to the enduring popularity of the Indiana Jones series.
George Lucas – $5.5bn
The filmmaker renowned for Star Wars joined the billionaire ranks in 1997, earning the title of the wealthiest celebrity primarily due to his production company, LucasFilm. In a groundbreaking transaction in 2012, he sold LucasFilm to Disney for over $4 billion in a combination of cash and stock.
