Eleven billionaires have earned recognition at the Academy Awards. Their achievements span directing, producing, and creative roles in film. This group includes industry titans who are as successful in business as they are in Hollywood, proving that wealth and creative talent can go hand in hand.

Steven Rales, with an estimated net worth of $8.3 billion per Forbes, is chairman and co-founder of Danaher. He founded the film production company Indian Paintbrush in 2006 and has worked with director Wes Anderson. He won Best Live-Action Short Film in 2024 for "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar."

Jeffrey Lurie, valued at $5.3 billion, purchased the Philadelphia Eagles in 1994. With a background in film, he has produced over a dozen movies. His grandfather founded the General Cinema movie theater chain. Lurie won three Oscars as executive producer for "Inside Job" (2011), "Inocente" (2013), and "Summer of Soul" (2022).

Steven Spielberg, with a net worth of $5.3 billion, is a legendary director and producer. He is known for blockbuster films like "Jurassic Park," "Jaws," and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial." Spielberg won Best Director for "Schindler's List" in 1994 and for "Saving Private Ryan" in 1999.

Jeff Skoll, with a net worth of $5.2 billion, was eBay’s first president from 1996 to 1998. He founded Participant Media in 2004 to produce films on social issues. Skoll won Best Picture for "Spotlight" (2016) and "Green Book" (2019), with his company earning 21 Oscars over 86 nominations.

George Lucas, estimated at $5.2 billion, created the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" franchises. He founded Lucasfilm in 1971 and sold it to Disney for $4 billion in 2012. In 1992, Lucas received the Irving G. Thalberg Award for his creative production work in Hollywood.

Oprah Winfrey, with a net worth of $3 billion, is a media mogul. Known as one of the most powerful women in media, she was once a black billionaire. Winfrey won the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2011 and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 1985 for "The Color Purple."

Pat Hanrahan, with a net worth of $2.3 billion, is a computer graphics researcher and founding employee at Pixar. As a Stanford professor, he helped develop animation software for films like "Toy Story." He won a Scientific and Engineering Award in 1993 and Technical Achievement Oscars in 2004 and 2014.

Steve Tisch, with an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion, is the chairman, co-owner, and executive vice president of the New York Giants. He has produced over 40 films, including "Forrest Gump," which won the Best Picture Oscar in 1995.

Peter Jackson, a New Zealand filmmaker with a net worth of $1.5 billion, directed the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" franchises. He is the fifth highest-grossing director. In 2004, Jackson won Oscars for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture for "The Return of the King."

Tyler Perry, with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion, is a filmmaker and playwright known for creating the Madea character. He founded Tyler Perry Studios in 2006 and unveiled a 330-acre studio in Atlanta in 2019. Perry received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2021.

Richard Anthony Wolf, also known as Dick Wolf, has a net worth of $1.2 billion. He is best known for creating the "Law & Order" franchise. Wolf founded Wolf Entertainment in 1988 and won the Academy Award for Best Short Film as a producer for "Twin Towers" in 2003.

PHOTO: REUTERS/DANIEL COLE

This article was created with AI assistance.