- Star Wars creator George Lucas made billions from sale of his production company
- Oprah Winfrey is the top female on the list in fourth place
- Taylor Swift makes first entrance on list and is now estimated to be a billionaire
George Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars franchise, has been named as the richest celebrity in the world, with a $5.5 billion net worth.
Lucas came out top in Forbes magazine’s annual ranking of the wealthiest celebrities. Most of Lucas’ wealth came from when he sold his production company, Lucasfilm, to Disney in 2012 for more than $4 billion.
Another filmmaker came in second on Forbes’ list – Steven Spielberg. The director, known for films such as ET and Jurassic Park, has amassed earnings of $4.8 billion over his more than 40-year career. His net worth has been build up by a canny bit of business – he makes sure that it is in his contracts that he takes a percentage of gross box office sales of the movie he is working on.
Basketball legend Michael Jordan placed third, with a wealth of $3.2 billion. His wealth was built on lucrative sponsorship deals – his partnership with Nike is probably the most famous – but was boosted last year when he sold his stake in NBA side Charlotte Hornets.
The top woman on the list was Oprah Winfrey. The US TV host and producer has a net worth of $2.8 billion, built up over a decades-long career. She has commanded huge contracts for her presenting work, but she also runs a highly successful production company, as well as other business interests, such as property.
A new entry on Forbes list was singer Taylor Swift, with an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion. Much of her wealth has come from ticket and merchandising sales from her record-breaking Eras Tour, and the film of it.
