Fame and fortune are often a matched set, but while plenty of celebrities rack up a net worth in the millions, it’s rare that figure climbs to ten figures. Rare, but not unheard of. “Forbes Australia” magazine has released its annual list of celebrity billionaires, and this year’s “World’s Richest Celebrities” list has actually grown by almost 30-percent.
“Forbes” class of 2025 boasts a roster of 18 celebrities who have achieved billionaire status, ranking them among the richest people on the planet.
The magazine defines celebrity as people who became famous first, then acquired massive wealth. And “Forbes” says most of the 18 billionaire celebs have achieved that accomplishment within the past decade.
The magazine did not include anyone who is famous for being rich, or famous for their business success, like President Donald Trump or Mark Cuban.
Four Entertainers Make the List for the First Time
The 2025 list of 18 celebrity billionaires have a combined net worth of $39 billion. That compares to 2024’s list of just 14 ultra-rich celebs with a combined net worth of $31 billion. The 2025 list adds four brand new names to the ranks who have never achieved that status before.
Those are:
Jerry Seinfeld. The 70-year-old comedian made most of his $1.1 billion net worth from his eponymous television series. But in addition to cashing in on “Seinfeld” syndication, Jerry still demands big bucks for his live comedy performances. Netflix shelled out a cool $20 million for Jerry’s special, “23 Hours to Kill.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger. The 77-year-old bodybuilder– turned movie star — turned California governor is also worth $1.1 billion. His 50-film catalog accounts for nearly half of his wealth. But the “Terminator” actor built the rest of his fortune through venture capital, commercial real estate, private equity and other investments. Arnold has proved he has both brains and brawn. The actor and politician was savvy enough to put money in Google’s Series A funding round.
Dick Wolf. The 78-year-old television writer and producer’s success with series like the “Law & Order” franchise have racked up a net worth of $1.2 billion. “Forbes” estimates the each episode of Wolf’s various hit series puts $350,000 in his pocket.
Bruce Springsteen. “The Boss” is worth an estimated $1.2 billion. Nearly half of that wealth came in 2021, when the 75-year-old musician cashed in by selling his music catalog to Sony for a cool $500 million. Springsteen has added hundreds of millions to his coffers through touring and album sales.
Forbes List Includes 14 Returning Celebrity Billionaires
The remaining 14 on “Forbes” list come largely from the entertainment and sports fields. Though many earned their wealth through other ventures. All 14 were also on this list in 2024.
They are:
Lebron James. The 40-year-old NBA superstar has a net worth of $1.3 billion. James has earned more than $500 million over the years for his performance on the court. But it’s off the court that’s a financial slam dunk for the athlete. Endorsement deals with big brands like Nike and PepsiCo have added tremendously to his wealth. So has his production company SpringHill. James is also a team owner, with stakes in soccer club Liverpool, the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Rihanna. The “Umbrella” singer’s hit music has certainly rained down a good bit of wealth, but much of Rihanna’s $1.4 billion net worth comes from her business ventures. The 37-year-old’s lingerie company Savage X Fenty and cosmetics business Fenty Beauty made her a billionaire.
Tiger Woods. In the first decade of this century, 49-year-old pro golfer Tiger Woods was the highest paid athlete on the planet. And while tournament wins added cash to his coffers, the real money came from endorsement deals. Tiger has also invested his winnings in luxury real estate, a high-end mini-golf chain and a golf course design company. All of that has adds up to a net worth of $1.4 billion.
Tyler Perry. His “Madea” character made him the queen of the silver screen, but 55-year-old Tyler Perry parlayed his alter ego into a vehicle to make him the king of movie making. Perry’s content library and his Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta add up to a net worth of $1.4 billion.
These Celebs Have a Net Worth of At Least $1.5 Billion Each
Magic Johnson. As famous for his smile as his skill on the court, the NBA superstar is worth $1.5 billion. And he gathered that wealth after he retired from basketball, buying minority stakes in the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Commanders. Magic also owns a majority of Iowa-based insurer EquiTrust. And he’s not just a pretty face. Johnson grew EquiTrust’s assets from $16 billion to $26 billion during his first eight years of ownership.
Taylor Swift. After the Eras tour, it can’t be a surprise to anyone that pop star Taylor Swift lands on the billionaires list. Swift raked in an estimated $190 million after taxes for just the first leg of her sold out tour. The 35-year-old singer also has a music catalog worth millions and about $115 million in real estate investments. That all adds up to a net worth of $1.6 billion.
Peter Jackson. The New Zealand filmmaker struck gold with his “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The movies made Jackson $10 million apiece up front. But thatâs nothing compared to what he earned when he sold part of his visual effects business, Weta Digital, to Unity Software for $1.6 billion in cash and stock in 2021. That epic move helped Jackson achieve a net worth of $1.7 billion.
Kim Kardashian. Forbes declared 44-year-old Kim Kardashian a billionaire in 2021. Thatâs largely thanks to her SKKN by Kim beauty brand and shapewear brand Skims. Sheâs also earned millions for her Kim Kardashian: Hollywood mobile game. The game was downloaded more than 45 million times before it shut down last year. Her familyâs reality show on Hulu and her recent forays into acting, including âAmerican Horror Story,â plus her real estate investments all contribute to Kim’s massive bottom line net worth of $1.7 billion.
Jay-Z. The hip-hop icon built his empire through not just his music catalog, but through a diverse portfolio that includes his champagne brand Armand de Brignac, his cognac label DâUsse and even a stake in Uber. His smart business moves have brought the 55-year-old a net worth of $2.5 billion.
These Celebs Are the Five Richest in the World
The common ground of uncommonly wealthy celebrities is their ability to diversify and maximize money-making opportunities. And it’s what makes these next five famous faces the richest celebrities in the world.
Vince McMahon: McMahon started off as a TV announcer for his fatherâs wrestling company (then WWF, now WWE) in the 1970s. McMahon purchased the business in 1982 and quickly transformed it into a global powerhouse. That business savvy has earned 79-year-old McMahon a net worth of $3 billion.
Oprah Winfrey. The 71-year-old media mogul started building her fortune with her eponymous talk show, which aired from 1986 to 2011. “The Oprah Winfrey Show” had such an effect on culture that a book mention by Oprah could turn it into a bestseller. By 2003, Winfrey was the first black woman billionaire in history. She still keeps a firm hand in entertainment, hosting “The Menopause Revolution” on ABC and co-starring in the 2024 war drama “The Six Triple Eight” alongside Kerry Washington. But now much of her $3 billion fortune is in real estate in California and Hawaii, where she owns 2,000 acres.
Michael Jordan. The NBA legend was the first athlete ever to hit billionaire status in 2015. And while he’s made plenty of money on the court, it’s his endorsements that continue to build on his current $3.5 billion net worth. Nike still pays the former Chicago Bull $100 million in royalties every year for his namesake Nike Jordan brand, which remains popular.
These Movie Makers Make the Most Cash
George Lucas. The man who created “Star Wars” is still cashing in nearly 50 years after the first film debuted. But the 80-year-old’s $5.1 billion wealth won’t necessarily continue to grow with new offerings from the “Star Wars” franchise. Lucas sold the Star Wars IP back in 2012, when Disney bought his LucasFilm for $4 billion in cash and stock.
Steven Spielberg. The Oscar-winning director has been gobbling up cash ever since his 1975 summer blockbuster “Jaws” made him a household name. At age 78, Spielberg continues to add to his $5.3 billion fortune by directing and producing some of the biggest movies of modern cinema. And that’s not the only thing lining the legend’s coffers. According to Forbes, Spielberg has also negotiated a deal that scores him 2% of ticket sales at Universal theme parks in perpetuity.
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