MUMBAI: In the run up to the Academy Awards on 22 February, Wealth-X has released a list of the top 10 richest individuals in the American film industry. George Lucas tops the list with $5.4 billion as the wealthiest Hollywood tycoon.
Lucas is the director and producer of the Star Wars blockbuster films. His fortune of $5.4 billion is mostly derived from revenue from the Star Wars franchise and the sale of LucasFilm to Disney for $4 billion in 2012.
Unlike other directors and producers, Lucas, 70, banked on one film idea, directing only six feature films over the course of his career – four of which were Star Wars movies.
In contrast, Steven Spielberg – who ranks third on the Wealth-X list with an estimated fortune of $3.3 billion–has directed more than 30 feature films, including classics such as ET, Jaws and Jurassic Park.
All 10 individuals on the Wealth-X Hollywood Rich List are male film producers and directors. Collectively, they control more than $20 billion of personal wealth.
The complete list of the richest movie moguls in Hollywood is as follows:
1) George Lucas – $5.4 billion (Star Wars films)
2) Arnon Milchan – $5.2 billion (Pretty Woman, 12 Years A Slave)
3) Steven Spielberg – $3.3 billion (ET, Jaws)
4) Austin Hearst – $1.9 billion (The Vow)
5) Ryan Kavanaugh – $1 billion (The Social Network, Little Fockers)
6) Jeffrey Katzenberg – $910 million (The Lion King, Shrek)
7) Thomas Tull – $870 million (The Hangover, 300)
8) Jerry Bruckheimer – $850 million (Top Gun, Pirates of The Caribbean)
9) Steve Tisch – $720 million (Forrest Gump)
10) James Cameron – $670 million (Avatar, Titanic)