Celebrity Wealth: The Surprising Net Worth of Some of the Most Popular Stars
Curiosity about the net worth of our beloved Hollywood stars is understandable, considering their lavish lifestyles. Let's delve into the fortunes of these celebrities who have amassed considerable wealth, providing a glimpse into their lives of luxury. You won't believe how much some of these stars are worth...
Keep on reading to find out! Comment and let us know if any surprise you!
Bono - $700 Million
Bono, the Irish frontman of U2, boasts a remarkable net worth of $700 million, which can be attributed to a combination of extensive touring and astute investments. Leading U2 since 1976, the band has garnered an impressive 22 Grammy Awards. With an average gross of around $2.1 million per U2 show, Bono's wealth has further been bolstered by his 2.3 percent share in Facebook, adding to his financial success.
Steve Harvey - $200 Million
After securing the hosting role for It's Showtime at the Apollo, Harvey's career took off. He went on to host several other notable television shows, including The Steve Harvey Show and Family Feud. Despite facing public ridicule for his infamous mix-up during the announcement of the 2016 Miss Universe winner, Harvey's financial success was no laughing matter. His career achievements have undoubtedly contributed to his financial prosperity.
Dr. Dre - $830 Million
Dr. Dre, a musician who began his career as a producer and performer with N.W.A, has built a musical empire that rivals even Jay-Z's. After venturing into a solo career, he founded Aftermath Entertainment, signing renowned artists such as Eminem and 50 Cent. In addition to his music ventures, Dr. Dre's fortune expanded with the success of Beats By Dre headphones. He struck a remarkable $3.2 billion deal by selling the headphone technology to Apple. Even after the sale, he retains a 1/4 ownership stake in Beats, ensuring his continued financial success.
Dolly Parton - $650 Million
The queen of country burst onto the scene with her debut album Hello, I'm Dolly in 1967. While she topped the charts for years, she's also been hustling numerous side businesses to up her net worth.
She also owns her own label, Dolly Records.
Shania Twain - $400 Million
She might be a Canadian girl, but the country singer has racked up a major fortune in US dollars. Twain has been in the music industry since she was a teenager. Her self-titled debut album had decent sales, but her second studio album shot her to fame and led her on the path to making millions.
Since her debut in the 1990s, she's made her fortune by releasing iconic songs like "Man, I Feel Like A Woman" and "Honey I'm Home." Twain is still releasing new music to this day and touring, which just keeps adding to her $400 million net worth.
Simone Biles - $16 Million
The pint-sized gymnast who stole our hearts at the Olympics is only in her twenties, yet she already has a net worth of $16 million. How did a gymnast end up with that big of a fortune? Well, when you become the most decorated gymnastics in United State history, brands want to partner with you.
By the time she was 19 years old, she held a combined 18 medals between the Olympics and World Championships. Just imagine what she'll do with the rest of her life.
Jimmy Buffett - $600 Million
Most people probably think that Jimmy Buffett was wasting his money away on a beach somewhere while sipping on margaritas and they'd be totally wrong. Yes, he made a lot of money from his music career, but most of his net worth comes from his Margaritaville Cafe and Cheeseburger in Paradise chains.
The singer also launched a beer, opened a casino, invested in a. $1 billion retirement village, and written a Broadway musical.
Tyler Perry - $800 Million
The multi-talented writer, director, producer, and actor Tyler Perry is most famous for his "Madea" franchise, which has grossed more than $660 million. Starting out in local theater in the 1990s, Perry now owns Tyler Perry Studios, a 330-acre complex in Atlanta.
Perry owns 100% of his content and a large portion of his vast fortune comes from his library of work dating back to the early '90s. Perry is incredibly generous with his time and money, and is known to donate frequently to causes that are important to him.
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson - $800 Million
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson begun his entertainment career with WWE in 1996, and he quickly rose to stardom.
After appearing in the 2002 film The Scorpion King, Johnson became a box-office draw, and today, his films have grossed billions worldwide. He has a hefty net worth of $800 million.
Ariana Grande - $240Million
Ariana Grande's Sweetener World Tour grossed a whopping $146 million in 2019. The young diva and former Nickelodeon actress was the highest-paid female musician of 2020.
In 2019, Ms. Grande won the Fragrance of the Year-Popular award for her latest perfume, Cloud Eau De Parfum.
LeBron James - $600 Million
In 2018, the four-time NBA MVP LeBron James inked a four-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers that was worth a whopping $153 million.
He also has a series of valuable endorsements and owns multiple companies.
Ellen DeGeneres - $500 Million
After getting her start as a stand-up comedian in the 1980s, DeGeneres landed her own sitcom, Ellen.
Alongside her shows, she has authored four books and runs a record company, a production company, and a lifestyle brand.
Jon Stewart - $120 Million
Your favorite political talk show host has been quietly accumulating millions over a thirty-year career. Stewart began accumulating his net worth with stand-up gigs and writing for other comedy shows. Then, he shot to stardom in 1993 on MTV with The Jon Stewart Show.
Since that time, Stewart has hosted a variety of talk shows, but is best known for hosting The Daily Show. Stewart shocked us all by announcing his departure from The Daily Show in 2015 to work on his writing. It seems to have worked out in his favor though and his net worth isn't going to be depleted any time soon.
Roger Federer - $550 Million
The Swiss tennis powerhouse Roger Federer is ranked No. 5 in the world by the Association of Tennis Professionals, with an astonishing 20 Grand Slam men's singles titles under his belt. He shares this record with Rafael Nadal.
He does not share the title of the world's highest-paid athlete, however. Thanks to some incredibly lucrative endorsement deals, Federer reached this status for the first time in 2020. He's won $130 million in prize money over his career, but endorsements like the one he has with Uniqlo (10-years, $300 million) is where the star earns most of his wealth.
Simon Cowell - $600 Million
Simon Cowell may not have ever released his own music, but we know the producer and manager has a knack for picking out the best talent. Some of the early acts he signed as a young manager were the U.K. boybands Five and Westlife.
Then, of course, he moved on to become a judge for American Idol and The X Factor. While he's been known to be brash as a judge, both shows have launched huge careers for singers and Cowell has been the genius behind it. When you're managing people like Il Divo, Leona Lewis, Fifth Harmony, and One Direction, you're definitely making a lot of money.
Stephen Colbert - $75 Million
Another one of our favorite television hosts, Colbert has won numerous awards and has a net worth to back it up. He's earned nine Emmys, two Grammys, two Peabodys, and $45 million. Colbert actually got his start as a serious actor before transitioning to comedy and talk shows.
He started his career in an acting troupe where he was actually an understudy for none other than Steve Carell. When acting didn't work out, Colbert then transitioned to becoming a writer on shows like Saturday Night Live and The Daily Show. After serving his time as a writer, he was eventually promoted to appear on The Daily Show and the rest is history.
Elton John - $550 Million
The legendary singer-songwriter and pianist Elton John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour grossed $212 million in 2019, the second most profitable in history. He's sold over 300 million records over the course of his famed career, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time.
John released his first albums, Empty Sky and Elton John, in 1969 and 1970, and his fame and fortune have continued to grow with each passing year. John's biopicture Rocketman, about his life, grossed over $195 million worldwide in 2018.
Judy Sheindlin - $440 Million
Judge Judy runs a tight ship in her courtroom, and by doing so, she's made a fortune over the years. Yes, she is a real judge with a real law degree. Sheindlin started her career in Manhattan family courts but transitioned to our television sets in 1996. Since 1996, Judge Judy has been one of the highest-rated daytime television programs and has earned Sheindlin a nice $47 million every year!
Even her bailiff is reported to bring in $1 million for every season. How do they make so much money? Production costs are low and they shoot all 260 episodes over the course of about 50 days.
Ron Howard - $200 Million
Not only is Ron Howard a successful actor and filmmaker, but he was born into it, too. His father is a director, writer, and actor while his mother was an actress, too. Howard started his acting career as a child, playing Opie Taylor of The Andy Griffith Show.
He went on to become a widely successful director and producer in both film and television and has not one but two stars on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. At 65-years-old, Howard's net worth is estimated at $160 million.
Clint Eastwood - $375 Million
Iconic actor, director, and producer Clint Eastwood began amassing his fortune in the entertainment industry in the 1960s after a rough start in the 50s. Eastwood's paycheck for his role in the film, Hang 'Em High (1968) earned him $400,000 plus an additional 25% of its net box office. The same year, his paycheck for Where Eagles Dare was $750,000.
His career continued to flourish throughout the decades and he branched out into producing and directing. One of his biggest films directing was American Sniper, which grossed over $547 million globally. Alongside his acting career, Eastwood also started a production company. Eastwood's net worth is currently estimated to be $375 million.
Robert De Niro - $500 Million
De Niro has built a legitimate Hollywood empire thanks to him starring in some of the most iconic films in history. His role as Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II was enough to put him (and his money) on the map but he also added films like Taxi Driver and Cape Fear to the list.
The impressive part is that much of his current net worth is thanks to his investment in the Nobu restaurant chain and Tribeca Enterprises. Founded in 1994, Nobu is expected to earn $1 billion by 2023 and the Tribeca Film Festival brings millions in for De Niro each year.
Gordon Ramsay - $220 Million
British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay stars in multiple television reality shows including MasterChef and Hell's Kitchen, and he also owns 35 restaurants around the world. Those eateries have been awarded 16 Michelin stars in total.
Ramsay's TV programs rake in $150 million yearly in ad sales for Fox. Over the next five years, he's likely going to see his fortune grow even more since Lion Capital is going to invest $100 million to build 100 Gordon Ramsay restaurants in the U.S. over that time span.
Beyoncé - $500 Million
Queen Bey has been in the industry for a long time and she's got a net worth to reflect it. After years with Destiny's Child and then a successful solo career, Beyoncé has built enough wealth to last a lifetime. That's probably why she's not shy about spending her cash on outrageous items.
Bey is known for indulging in multimillion-dollar mansions, insane beauty treatments, and luxurious vacations. She's also reportedly a great gift-giver and has dropped cash gifting her husband Jay-Z a private jet, a car, a million dollar Rolex, and much more. Oh, and don't forget the time she rented out the Louvre.
Kylie Jenner - $1 Billion
Kylie Jenner has spent much of her life in the spotlight. She was just 10 years old when Keeping Up with the Kardashians aired on E! Now at 21, Jenner is still as relevant as ever and just became the world's youngest self-made billionaire.
Her net worth is largely thanks to her wildly popular makeup line, Kylie Cosmetics. In 2018 alone, Kylie Cosmetics' revenue climbed 9% to around $360 million. The company is valued at a cool $900 million and Jenner owns all of it. Add in the money that Jenner has already earned from the profitable business (and her other business ventures) and she has an estimated fortune of over $1 billion.
Richard Gere - $120 Million
We might not see much of Richard Gere in Hollywood anymore, but in the 1990s, he was a certified A-lister. Gere came to prominence in the film American Gigolo, which cemented his status as a certified Hollywood hunk. He held that title for nearly two decades and in 1999 was voted People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.
Being good looking doesn't make you $120 million though. Being the king of 1990s romantic comedies does. After starring in favorites like Runaway Bride, Pretty Woman, and Dr. T & The Woman, he earned his fame and fortune and is an icon in rom-com history.
Justin Timberlake - $250+ Million
In 1993 Justin Timberlake's career took off when he joined the future all-star cast of Disney's The All-New Mickey Mouse Club. As the lead singer of NSYNC, Timberlake was at the forefront of the boy band phenomena. He took a big chance starting a solo musical career, but Timberlake proved that he had more talent than just singing and performing-- he's a talented songwriter, too.
In 2022, Timberlake sold the rights to his music catalog, containing around 200 songs. The deal is estimated to be worth $100 million.
Pete Davidson - $8 Million
Actor and comedian Pete Davidson became the youngest member to join the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2014 at 20 years old. He started his career young and continues to grow his fortune, all the while dating some of the most successful women in the entertainment industry!
He earns an estimated $315,000 annually on SNL and has a net worth of $8 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Oprah Winfrey - $3.5 Billion
Everything Oprah touches seems to turn to gold, so it's not really shocking to see her insane net worth. Oprah has been ranked as one of the wealthiest African-Americans in the United States, and the first female black billionaire ever.
Oprah came from humble beginnings so she doesn't exactly blow her fortune on just anything. She primarily invests in real estate around the globe, creating new businesses, and donating money to charity. While Oprah spends most of her time now focusing on health and wellness, she's still raking in cash thanks to the OWN Network and re-runs of her television shows.
Stephen Curry - $160 Million
It seems that basketball can be quite a lucrative sport if you're good at it. Just ask Steph Curry, point guard for the NBA's Golden State Warriors. In 2017, he signed the NBA's first $200 million contract.
The two-time MVP also runs a company called SC30, which manages his brand partnerships, investments, and philanthropic ventures. In addition, Curry owns a production company and has a valuable endorsement deal with Callaway (among others). In early 2022, Forbes estimated Curry's net worth to be $92.8 million. After winning another NBA championship, CelebrityNetWorth estimates that it could be closer to $160.
Chuck Norris - $70 Million
Chuck Norris, who has a black belt in Judo, Tang Soo Do, and Brazilian jiu jitsu, got his start by training celebrities in martial arts. After a minor role in the 1969 film The Wrecking Crew, he went on to bigger and better parts, eventually becoming a wildly popular action film star in movies like The Way Of The Dragon, Delta Force, Lone Wolf McQuade, and more.
In addition to being one of the most successful action actors of all time, Norris is also a writer who has appeared on the New York Times' bestselling list twice now. His estimated worth is around $40 million.
Leonardo DiCaprio - $300 Million
Yes, he finally has an Oscar, but with a net worth of $300 million, we doubt Leonardo DiCaprio cared that much about it. DiCaprio got his start in the industry when he was a young boy on the sitcom Growing Pains. He even received his first Oscar nomination for his role in What's Eating Gilbert Grape. None of that mattered though until 1997 when he shot to international fame in Titanic.
Since then, DiCaprio has been in box office hit after hit. He's one of the most bankable actors in Hollywood and without a wife (or any divorces) to fund, DiCaprio's $300 million net worth is all for himself.
Jay-Z - $1.3 Billion
Now that we know how rich Beyoncé is, what about her husband Jay-Z? Believe it or not, he's actually worth more than Queen Bey. His impressive $1.3 billion net worth is thanks to his numerous business ventures. Jay-Z has investments in entertainment labels, a clothing line, alcohol brands, the music streaming service Tidal, and even owns an upscale sports club.
All of that is on top of Jay-Z's revenue from his own music. The $1.3 billion net worth led him to be named America's richest musician by Rolling Stone and number five on Forbes' rankings of celebrity net worths.
Sandra Bullock - $250 Million
She might seem to fly under the radar, but Sandra Bullock is one of Hollywood's top 20 actresses when it comes to her net worth. With a 30-year career under her belt, Bullock has amassed a major fortune, and in 2014, she actually topped the Forbes' Highest Paid, Actresses List. She's earned her luxe living thanks to movies like Miss Congeniality, The Blind Side, Gravity, Oceans 8, and Bird Box.
Bullock also owns her own production company, Fortis Films. With all that money coming in, Bullock makes sure to give back, and after Hurrican Harvey, she donated $1 million to the American Red Cross.
Michael Phelps - $100 Million
If you thought the most decorated swimmer in history earned a lot of sponsorship money, what about the most decorated Olympian in history? Phelps began his career at the 2000 Sydney Olympics where he qualified but didn't win. Fast forward to the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Phelps took home more medals than 161 countries.
With a total of 28 medals, Phelps is a walking, talking goldmine for advertisers. Nike, Speedo, and Kellogg's are just a few sponsors that have paid him millions. In 2009, a video of Phelps using a substance was released which caused him to lose some sponsorships, but not enough to hurt his net worth.
Maria Sharapova - $195 Million
As one of ten women to obtain a career Grand Slam in professional tennis, the Russian-born tennis player is one of the best the world has ever seen. After Sharapova turned pro in 2001, she made most of her money off of prize winnings and endorsements. In 2004, she signed contracts with Motorola, Tiffany and Co., Nike, Gatorade, and Tropicana.
Sharapova has also been featured as a model in many campaigns thanks to her striking looks and long, tall figure. In 2016, she was banned from women's tennis for 15 months but lucky for her, it didn't affect her net worth that much.
David Letterman - $400 Million
When you think of iconic television hosts, David Letterman is right up there with Johnny Carson and Jack Paar. Letterman has had an impressive career that spans all the way back to 1982. His shows, Late Night with David Letterman and The Late Show, ran a total of 6,080 episodes and he was ranked as one of TV Guide's 50 best TV stars of all time.
In 2015, Letterman announced his retirement from television. His $400 million net worth just keeps growing though since Letterman now hosts a Netflix series and his production studio makes money from re-runs of The Late Late Show and Everybody Loves Raymond.
Tyra Banks - $90 Million
Starting out as a supermodel, Tyra Banks has spent years transforming her good looks into a multi-media empire. After struggling to find her place in the fashion industry alongside industry giants like Naomi Campbell and Gisele Bundchen, she finally broke through.
Banks landed acting roles until 2003 when she created the still-running television series America's Next Top Model. Two years later, she began hosting her own daytime television talk show. From there, she's only expanded her empire into music, cosmetics, writing, and other businesses. The model with humble beginnings is still considered as one of Time magazine's most influential people.
George Strait - $300 Million
The king of country music was credited with bringing country music back to its roots in the 1980s, and he was rewarded financially for it. His first single, "Unwound," was a massive hit in 1981 and the next seven albums topped the country charts. All that success led Strait to embark on tours that earned him $99 million in only three years.
For his contributions to country music, Strait has become one of the best-selling artists of all time and the 12th best-selling artist in the United States overall. While he's not making music anymore, Strait is still making money with a tequila brand endorsement and other business ventures.
Jerry Seinfeld - $950 Million
He might have started out as a lowly stand-up comedian but after creating the television sitcom Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld has become one of the highest-paid comedians in the world. He was making a lot of money when the show was airing but most of his fortune has come after the show's end. Seinfeld and co-creator Larry David receive a big, fat check for every time a Seinfeld re-run in aired on television.
He's also made money as an author, public speaker, and with endorsement deals. In 2017 alone, Seinfeld took home $69 million thanks to a new partnership with Netflix. What does he do with his fortune? He buys fancy cars and gets coffee.
Garth Brooks - $400 Million
Consider the fact that this country music legend brought in $70 million in just 2015, it's not shocking to hear he has a net worth of $280 million. To date, Brooks is one of the world's top earning country music singers.
He could probably retire any day and be set for life, but Brooks doesn't sit back and waste his time. From 2014-2017, he embarked on a worldwide comeback tour. After returning home, he released a new single and announced yet another stadium tour. It sounds like Brooks is just going to keep increasing his net worth.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. - $400 Million
Earnhardt Jr. comes from a long line of professional race car drivers who earned plenty for their family, but he's made the most money by far. Over his nearly two-decade career, Earnhardt Jr. has taken home numerous cash prizes for races but most of his money was made from car advertisers.
A spot on Earnhardt Jr.'s car during a big race could cost an advertiser upwards of $1 million. Earnhardt Jr.'s merchandise sales also accounted for a big chunk of his net worth, and his merchandise outsold other drivers by more than 25%. He's semi-retired now but continues to bring in money as a NASCAR analyst for NBC.
Derek Jeter - $200 Million
Over his 20-year career with the New York Yankees, Derek Jeter pulled in $265 million. That doesn't even include the numerous endorsement deals he signed as one of the MLB's top players. Nike's Jordan brand and Gatorade each paid Jeter millions for sponsorship. Other partners included Rawling, Steiner Sports, Movado, and Avon.
While those numbers are impressive, they still weren't enough for Jeter to buy the Miami Marlins franchise on his own in 2017. He had to hook up with Jeb Bush and together, they financed the Marlins. Still, he is rich enough to say he owns a baseball club.
Chelsea Handler - $40 Million
Is there anything this female comedian can't do? Since she burst onto our television screens in 2007 with her show Chelsea Lately, it seems like she's everywhere. The show was an instant hit, especially because it posted small clips to YouTube to gain a following.
Handler's fortune from television is nothing in comparison to the sales from her writing. Since 2005, Handler has written five books that covered a variety of subjects, but all with her humor. Four of the five books hit number one on The New York Times bestseller list, and three of them have been turned into television series.
Carrie Underwood - $140 Million
When she stepped into the American Idol auditions back in 2005, everyone in the room seemed to know Carrie Underwood was destined to be a star. After winning the season, Underwood released her debut album that produced hit after hit that was popular for both country and pop music fans.
To date, Underwood has sold more than 65 million records worldwide. With her success, she's won 12 Country Music Awards, has been inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, and has won seven Grammys. With all her money and success, she's known as the most successful American Idol winner to date.
Matt Groening - $600 Million
It might not sound like a household name but Matt Groening's creative television shows are likely in your household every single night. Groening is the brainchild behind hit series like The Simpsons and Futurama. Understandably, he can credit most of his fortune to the success of The Simpsons.
The cartoon is the longest-running U.S. primetime television series in history. The Simpsons has won Groening 12 Emmy Awards and even garnered him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Who knew that drawing cartoon characters for a living could make you richer than most Hollywood A-listers?
Phil McGraw - $460 Million
Phil McGraw probably never expected to turn his degree in psychology into a million dollar career. That all changed after one fateful meeting with Oprah. The Dr. Phil Show premiered in September 2002 and is still running to this day.
McGraw has faced a lot of criticism for his show over the years but he's laughing all the way to the bank. In 2017 alone, he took home a salary of $79 million. His fame and fortune even launched some surprising guests to stardom, like Danielle Bregoli, AKA the "Cash Me Outside" girl.
Mariah Carey - $520 Million
As one of the best-selling singers in the world, Mariah Carey has some powerful pipes that have made her a ton of cash. The singer signed with Columbia Records in 1991 and her debut album was named the top-seller of the year after fans bought more than 15 million copies.
Since then, she's continued to put out huge songs. Her 1994 track "All I Want For Christmas Is You" has made the singer $60 million on its own. Since then, Carey has signed huge record contracts, had a Las Vegas residency, and even been a judge on American Idol.
Howard Stern - $650 Million
Howard Stern, the veteran radio and television personality, is currently the highest-paid person in radio. This is due to an eight-figure contract with SiriusXM for The Howard Stern Show, which has aired on the subscription-based satellite radio service since 2006.
Stern started his radio career in the mid-1970s and first paired with his long-term sidekick Robin Quivers in 1981. His current net worth will likely continue to grow, as demand for the controversial host's candid celebrity interviews doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
