The World’s Celebrity Billionaires 2025: From Jay-Z to Taylor Swift, Here Are the 18 Stars Worth Billions
LOS ANGELES — Forbes has just released its 2025 list of the world’s celebrity billionaires, and this year, the number of star-studded entrants has grown to 18 — up from 14 in 2024 — with a combined worth of $39 billion. These celebrities made their names in music, sports, film, and TV before transforming their fame into billion-dollar fortunes.
The list includes several familiar faces like Taylor Swift, Jay-Z, and LeBron James, while newcomers such as Jerry Seinfeld, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Springsteen have joined the exclusive club.
The 18 Richest Celebrities of 2025
1. Steven Spielberg – $5.3 Billion
The legendary director behind Jaws, E.T., and Jurassic Park continues to rake in profits, even earning 2% of ticket sales at Universal theme parks in perpetuity.
2. George Lucas – $5.1 Billion
Creator of Star Wars, Lucas sold LucasFilm to Disney in 2012 for $4 billion and continues to enjoy the spoils of the most iconic sci-fi franchise.
3. Michael Jordan – $3.5 Billion
A global basketball icon, Jordan earns over $100 million annually in royalties from Nike’s Jordan Brand, cementing his place as the wealthiest athlete in history.
4. Oprah Winfrey – $3 Billion
From The Oprah Winfrey Show to real estate holdings across California and Hawaii, Oprah remains a force in both media and wealth building.
5. Vincent McMahon – $3 Billion
The former wrestling announcer turned mogul transformed WWE into a global empire. After merging it with UFC in 2023, McMahon began cashing out, growing his fortune substantially.
6. Jay-Z – $2.5 Billion
Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z holds stakes in Armand de Brignac, D’Usse, Uber, and a valuable art collection — not to mention his timeless music catalog.
7. Kim Kardashian – $1.7 Billion
Reality TV star turned fashion entrepreneur, Kardashian’s Skims shapewear empire is now valued at $4 billion, powering her billionaire status.
8. Peter Jackson – $1.7 Billion
The Lord of the Rings director made nearly $1 billion from selling part of Weta Digital to Unity in 2021.
9. Taylor Swift – $1.6 Billion
Swift entered the billionaire club in 2023 thanks to her blockbuster Eras Tour, music royalties, and catalog value — along with a real estate portfolio worth $115 million.
10. Magic Johnson – $1.5 Billion
The Lakers legend grew his fortune through strategic investments in sports teams and insurance firms, turning post-career success into generational wealth.
11. Tyler Perry – $1.4 Billion
Perry’s theatrical Madea franchise evolved into a powerhouse content library and his own production company, Tyler Perry Studios.
12. Tiger Woods – $1.4 Billion
Golf icon Woods earned heavily from endorsements and invested in real estate, luxury mini-golf, and golf course design ventures.
13. Rihanna – $1.4 Billion
The pop star turned beauty mogul struck gold with Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty, redefining what it means to scale fame into fortune.
14. LeBron James – $1.3 Billion
James is the first active NBA player to become a billionaire, thanks to endorsements, team ownership, and his entertainment company, SpringHill.
15. Bruce Springsteen – $1.2 Billion
The Boss sold his music catalog to Sony for $500 million and profited massively from touring and Broadway.
16. Dick Wolf – $1.2 Billion
Creator of Law & Order and FBI, Wolf’s television empire brings in hundreds of thousands per episode.
17. Arnold Schwarzenegger – $1.1 Billion
From Terminator to venture capital, Arnold has built wealth through film and smart investments, including early funding of Google.
18. Jerry Seinfeld – $1.1 Billion
The comedian earns 15% of Seinfeld’s profits and continues pulling in millions from Netflix and comedy specials.
What Defines a “Celebrity Billionaire”?
Forbes limits this list to stars who became famous before becoming wealthy, distinguishing it from tech or business moguls. That’s why names like Donald Trump or Mark Cuban don’t qualify — they got rich first, then famous.
These billionaires have excelled not just in their original professions but have also leveraged that success into brands, business ventures, and savvy investments — creating new models for fame-based wealth building.
Celebrity Billionaires by the Numbers
- 18 total celebrities in 2025
- $39 billion collective net worth
- New additions: Jerry Seinfeld, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Springsteen, Vince McMahon
- Most lucrative industries: Music, TV franchises, sports, cosmetics, liquor
The Future of Celebrity Wealth
As musicians like Taylor Swift, entrepreneurs like Rihanna, and creatives like Tyler Perry show, the path from stardom to the three-comma club now runs through ownership — of content, companies, and brand equity. The celebrity billionaire class is growing — and evolving.
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