The 10-Figure Club: Hollywood’s Ultimate Power Ranking (2026 Edition)
By The Editorial Team • February 20, 2026
Celebrity is a currency, but wealth? Wealth is the vault. In 2026, the line between “famous” and “financial empire” has not just blurred; it has been obliterated by private equity deals, streaming rights, and nine-figure acquisitions. We are no longer impressed by box office gross or platinum records. Those are quaint metrics from a bygone era. Today, the true titans of the entertainment industry don’t just star in the movie; they own the studio, the distribution platform, and the merchandising rights to the t-shirt you’re wearing while you stream it.
This year’s ranking of the richest celebrities is a masterclass in diversification. It features a filmmaker who hasn’t directed a blockbuster in two decades but still earns more while sleeping than most studio heads do while screaming. It includes a shapewear mogul who reshaped American beauty standards to fit her balance sheet. And yes, it includes a certain “King” of Bollywood who has finally, officially, crashed the billionaire boys’ club.
But be warned: This list isn’t just about who has the most cars. It’s about who has the most leverage. These are the ten cultural architects who have turned their personas into sovereign economies. Welcome to the 2026 velvet-roped VIP section of capitalism.
1. Jami Gertz
If you are scratching your head, you aren’t paying attention to the right rooms. Jami Gertz is the ultimate “if you know, you know” flex. While the world was distracted by her roles in The Lost Boys or Twister back in the day, Gertz was busy executing the most successful pivot in Hollywood history: marrying brilliant capital and then compounding it. She is the silent titan of this list, sitting atop a mountain of wealth that makes our other entries look almost… quaint.
- Full Name:Jami Beth Gertz
- Age/DOB:60 (October 28, 1965)
- Net Worth:$8.2 Billion
- Origin:Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Known For:The Lost Boys, owning the Atlanta Hawks, and quiet domination.
- Current Status:Managing the massive Ares Management portfolio and courtside operations.
Impact Analysis: Gertz is the exception that proves the rule. While her peers were chasing backend points on syndication deals, she and her husband, Tony Ressler, were building an empire in private equity and professional sports. Her wealth is less about “celebrity” and more about “dynasty.” She represents the ceiling of what is possible when Hollywood fame is merely the opening act for high-finance dominance.
2. George Lucas
George Lucas didn’t just create Star Wars; he invented the modern merchandising license. That decision, made in a smoke-filled room in the 1970s, remains the single most lucrative contract negotiation in entertainment history. In 2026, despite being largely retired from filmmaking, the Force is still compounding in his portfolio. Every Baby Yoda plushie, every Disney+ spinoff, and every lightsaber sold at Galaxy’s Edge deposits a royalty check into the account of a man who would rather be building museums.
- Full Name:George Walton Lucas Jr.
- Age/DOB:81 (May 14, 1944)
- Net Worth:$5.5 Billion
- Origin:Modesto, California, USA
- Known For:Creating the galaxy far, far away.
- Current Status:Focusing on the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and philanthropy.
Impact Analysis: Lucas is the patron saint of IP ownership. He taught the industry that the movie is just a 2-hour commercial for the ecosystem. His $4 billion sale of Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012 now looks like a bargain for the Mouse House, but the Disney stock he took in the deal has ballooned, keeping him firmly ensconced as the wealthiest creative in the game.
3. Steven Spielberg
If Lucas is the architect, Spielberg is the King. The most commercially successful director in history hasn’t lost his touch, or his points on the backend. Unlike Lucas, Spielberg remains an active, vital force in cinema, but his wealth is bolstered by a deal with Universal Theme Parks that is effectively an annuity that pays out forever. He gets a cut of every ticket sold at Universal parks—a “thank you” for saving the studio with Jaws and E.T. decades ago.
- Full Name:Steven Allan Spielberg
- Age/DOB:79 (December 18, 1946)
- Net Worth:$5.3 Billion
- Origin:Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Known For:Defining the summer blockbuster.
- Current Status:Developing his next historical epic and producing for Amblin.
Impact Analysis: Spielberg’s legacy is dual-pronged: artistic excellence and ruthless business acumen. He was one of the first directors to demand—and get—gross percentage points, not net. That distinction is the difference between being a millionaire and being a multi-billionaire. He embodies the “Creative Capitalist” ideal.
4. Michael Jordan
Decades after hanging up his jersey, His Airness is flying higher than ever. The sale of his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets in 2023 was a masterstroke of timing, liquidating a massive asset at peak valuation. But the engine of his wealth remains the Jumpman. Nike’s Jordan Brand is no longer just a sneaker line; it is a global streetwear sovereign state. Jordan earns more annually from Nike royalties in 2026 than he did in his entire NBA playing career combined.
- Full Name:Michael Jeffrey Jordan
- Age/DOB:63 (February 17, 1963)
- Net Worth:$3.8 Billion
- Origin:Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Known For:Being the G.O.A.T. and the shoe that changed the world.
- Current Status:NASCAR team owner (23XI Racing) and tequila mogul (Cincoro).
Impact Analysis: Jordan redefined the athlete’s lifespan. He proved that an athlete’s prime earning years don’t end at retirement; they begin there. By converting his name into a standalone brand, he created a blueprint that LeBron, Tiger, and everyone else is still trying to follow. He is the gold standard of the athlete-mogul.
5. Vince McMahon
The “Godfather” of wrestling may be one of the most controversial figures in entertainment, but his bank account is undeniable. The formation of TKO Group Holdings—merging WWE with the UFC—was the capstone of his career, turning his regional wrestling promotion into a combat sports monopoly. Despite scandals and corporate shake-ups, McMahon’s stock holdings have kept his net worth in the stratosphere. He understood before anyone else that sport is just a soap opera with spandex.
- Full Name:Vincent Kennedy McMahon
- Age/DOB:80 (August 24, 1945)
- Net Worth:$3.2 Billion
- Origin:Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA
- Known For:Turning the WWE into a global juggernaut.
- Current Status:Taking a backseat post-TKO merger but retaining massive equity.
Impact Analysis: McMahon’s genius was monetizing the spectacle. He didn’t sell wrestling; he sold “Sports Entertainment.” His inclusion here is a testament to the power of niche dominance. He built a walled garden, controlled the narrative, and then sold the keys for billions.
6. Oprah Winfrey
Oprah is not a person; she is an institution. Her transition from talk show host to media proprietor was the original playbook for the modern influencer economy. In 2026, her wealth is diversified across the OWN Network, massive real estate holdings (her Montecito “Promised Land” estate is practically a zip code), and astute investments in companies like WeightWatchers. She doesn’t just endorse products; she buys the company, moves the stock price with a single interview, and cashes out.
- Full Name:Oprah Gail Winfrey
- Age/DOB:72 (January 29, 1954)
- Net Worth:$3.0 Billion
- Origin:Kosciusko, Mississippi, USA
- Known For:Being the voice of America’s conscience.
- Current Status:Producing film adaptations and managing her Harpo empire.
Impact Analysis: Oprah’s billions are built on trust. She realized early on that her connection with her audience was her most valuable asset, and she refused to rent it out cheaply. By owning her show and her studio (Harpo), she ensured that she, not a network, reaped the rewards of her influence.
7. Jay-Z
Shawn Carter is the ultimate hustler turned board member. His portfolio reads like a case study at Harvard Business School. He sold a 50% stake in Armand de Brignac (Ace of Spades) to LVMH and a majority of D’USSÉ cognac to Bacardi, executing massive liquidity events. But he didn’t stop there. With holdings in Uber, Block, and his own Roc Nation empire, Jay-Z has transcended hip-hop to become a Warren Buffett for the culture.
- Full Name:Shawn Corey Carter
- Age/DOB:56 (December 4, 1969)
- Net Worth:$2.5 Billion
- Origin:Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Known For:Being the greatest rapper alive and a business, man.
- Current Status:expanding Roc Nation Sports and collecting art.
Impact Analysis: Jay-Z’s mantra—”I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man”—is the thesis statement of this list. He showed that cultural capital is real capital. He didn’t just rap about luxury; he infiltrated the luxury market and forced it to pay him for the privilege of his association.
8. Kim Kardashian
Laugh all you want, but Kim Kardashian is laughing all the way to the bank. The reality star turned private equity shark has built Skims into a category-killing behemoth. In 2026, Skims is not just shapewear; it is an apparel giant valued north of $4 billion, and Kim owns a massive chunk of it. Add in her skincare line, her mobile game legacy, and her venture capital firm SKKY Partners, and you have a woman who turned a sex tape into a sovereign wealth fund.
- Full Name:Kimberly Noel Kardashian
- Age/DOB:45 (October 21, 1980)
- Net Worth:$1.7 Billion
- Origin:Los Angeles, California, USA
- Known For:Breaking the internet and branding the pieces.
- Current Status:Expanding Skims into menswear and brick-and-mortar retail.
Impact Analysis: Kardashian proved that attention is a commodity that can be refined and sold at a premium. She is the Henry Ford of the selfie era, industrializing fame in a way no one thought possible. Her pivot from “famous for being famous” to “famous for being rich” is complete.
9. Taylor Swift
The newest entrant to the high-stakes table, Taylor Swift did something nobody thought possible: she became a billionaire strictly through music. Not sneakers, not vodka, not makeup. Music. The Eras Tour wasn’t just a concert run; it was a global economic stimulus package. In 2026, having re-recorded her catalog and owned her masters, Swift stands as the most financially powerful musician in history. Her net worth is a testament to the value of owning your art in an era of streaming pennies.
- Full Name:Taylor Alison Swift
- Age/DOB:36 (December 13, 1989)
- Net Worth:$1.6 Billion
- Origin:West Reading, Pennsylvania, USA
- Known For:Writing the soundtrack to your breakup and the Eras Tour.
- Current Status:Directing her first feature film and counting tour receipts.
Impact Analysis: Swift is the anomaly. In an industry that usually requires selling out (selling vodka, selling makeup) to cash out, she doubled down on the product. She bet on her songwriting and her relationship with her fans, and she won. She is the first billionaire of the streaming age who didn’t need a side hustle.
10. Peter Jackson
While you were watching The Lord of the Rings for the hundredth time, Peter Jackson was busy revolutionizing the tech industry. The New Zealand director slips into the Top 10 thanks to the massive sale of his visual effects studio, Weta Digital, to Unity Software. That deal unlocked billions in value for technology he built simply because he needed it to make his movies. He is the accidental tech mogul of Hollywood.
- Full Name:Sir Peter Robert Jackson
- Age/DOB:64 (October 31, 1961)
- Net Worth:$1.5 Billion
- Origin:Wellington, New Zealand
- Known For:Middle-earth and Weta Digital.
- Current Status:Restoring Beatles footage and developing new tech.
Impact Analysis: Jackson’s wealth underscores a hidden truth of Hollywood: the tools are often worth more than the art. By building the infrastructure of modern blockbusters (motion capture, digital rendering), he made himself indispensable to the entire industry, not just his own filmography.
The Verdict
The 2026 list tells a brutal, brilliant truth: Equity is King. Not a single person on this list got here by earning a salary, no matter how high. They got here by owning the underlying asset—whether that asset is a basketball team, a shapewear brand, a film library, or a visual effects engine.
We are seeing the “CEO-ification” of the celebrity. The days of the “dumb actor” are dead. The modern icon is a shark in a Tom Ford suit, reading P&L statements between takes. As we look toward 2027, watch for the newcomers—the YouTubers turning into media networks, the athletes buying into AI. The velvet rope is moving, and the entry fee just went up. Again.
