The World’s Celebrity Billionaires 2025

Posted on by Aditi Rao

Fame can open a lot of doors — but turning it into a billion-dollar fortune is an achievement very few celebrities can claim.
According to Forbes, less than two dozen people on the planet have managed to do it.

Interestingly, most of these stars reached billionaire status only within the past decade, thanks to big changes in how wealth is built in entertainment and sports.

  • In sports, athletes are not just relying on salaries and endorsement deals anymore. They’re building brands and companies of their own. Look at LeBron James — he’s become a billionaire not just through basketball but also through investments, media, and business ventures.

  • In music, artists are leveraging their fame to create major businesses. Rihanna and Jay-Z, for example, built empires in beauty, fashion, and liquor that helped skyrocket their wealth far beyond their music earnings.

Who Counts As a “Celebrity” Billionaire?

For this list, Forbes focused on those who first became famous, then used that fame to build billion-dollar fortunes.
It does not include people who got famous for being rich or successful entrepreneurs, like Donald Trump or Mark Cuban.

The result? A lineup mainly filled with entertainers and athletes who turned their personal brands into serious businesses.

The World’s Celebrity Billionaires of 2025

This year, Forbes identified 18 celebrity billionaires, together worth $39 billion — an increase from 14 celebrities worth $31 billion last year.

New additions to the list include Jerry Seinfeld, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vince McMahon, and Bruce Springsteen.

Here’s the full list of stars who made it, ordered by their net worth:

1. George Lucas

  • Net Worth: $5.5 Billion

  • Age: 80

  • Citizenship: U.S.

The mastermind behind Star Wars remains the wealthiest celebrity billionaire, thanks largely to selling Lucasfilm to Disney for $4 billion in 2012.

2. Steven Spielberg

  • Net Worth: $4.8 Billion

  • Age: 78

  • Citizenship: U.S.

The legendary filmmaker behind Jaws, E.T., and Jurassic Park has built a fortune through decades of box office hits and savvy business moves.

3. Michael Jordan

  • Net Worth: $3.2 Billion

  • Age: 62

  • Citizenship: U.S.

The NBA legend earned less than $100 million during his playing days — but today, most of his fortune comes from endorsements, a stake in the Charlotte Hornets (which he sold), and his iconic Jordan Brand partnership with Nike.

4. Oprah Winfrey

  • Net Worth: $2.8 Billion

  • Age: 71

  • Citizenship: U.S.

From The Oprah Winfrey Show to OWN Network, Oprah built an empire that stretches into media, wellness, and investments like her early stake in Weight Watchers.

5. Jay-Z

  • Net Worth: $2.5 Billion

  • Age: 55

  • Citizenship: U.S.

The rapper-turned-mogul made smart moves in liquor brands (Armand de Brignac Champagne and D’Ussé Cognac), streaming (Tidal), and investments, making him one of the richest figures in music.

6. Kim Kardashian

  • Net Worth: $1.7 Billion

  • Age: 44

  • Citizenship: U.S.

From reality TV to beauty mogul, Kim’s SKIMS shapewear line and KKW Beauty have helped her grow into a global brand and billionaire.

7. Rihanna

  • Net Worth: $1.4 Billion

  • Age: 37

  • Citizenship: Barbados

The singer made the bulk of her fortune not through music, but with her Fenty Beauty cosmetics line and her Savage X Fenty lingerie brand.

8. Peter Jackson

  • Net Worth: $1.4 Billion

  • Age: 63

  • Citizenship: New Zealand

The director of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies became a billionaire largely after selling part of his visual effects company, Weta Digital, for $1.6 billion.

9. Tyler Perry

  • Net Worth: $1.4 Billion

  • Age: 55

  • Citizenship: U.S.

The media mogul behind the Madea franchise, Tyler Perry Studios, and numerous TV shows, Perry owns a massive catalog of content that keeps generating income.

10. LeBron James

  • Net Worth: $1.2 Billion

  • Age: 40

  • Citizenship: U.S.

The NBA superstar made history as the first active NBA player to become a billionaire, thanks to endorsements, investments in SpringHill Entertainment, Blaze Pizza, and Fenway Sports Group.

11. Tiger Woods

  • Net Worth: $1.2 Billion

  • Age: 49

  • Citizenship: U.S.

One of the most dominant golfers ever, Woods built a fortune through tournament winnings, endorsements, and his brand collaborations, even after personal setbacks.

12. Magic Johnson

  • Net Worth: $1.2 Billion

  • Age: 65

  • Citizenship: U.S.

The former Lakers star turned entrepreneur made shrewd investments in Starbucks franchises, real estate, and ownership stakes in sports teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers.

13. Jerry Seinfeld

  • Net Worth: $1.1 Billion

  • Age: 70

  • Citizenship: U.S.

Most of his fortune comes from the syndication of Seinfeld, where he and Larry David still earn about 15% of all profits. Netflix also paid Seinfeld $20 million for his special 23 Hours to Kill.

14. Arnold Schwarzenegger

  • Net Worth: $1.1 Billion

  • Age: 77

  • Citizenship: U.S.

The Terminator star turned California governor made his money through acting, real estate investments, and businesses long before his political career.

15. Paul McCartney

  • Net Worth: $1.0 Billion

  • Age: 82

  • Citizenship: U.K.

The legendary Beatle continues to earn royalties from his timeless music catalog, as well as income from tours and licensing deals.

16. Vince McMahon

  • Net Worth: $1.0 Billion

  • Age: 79

  • Citizenship: U.S.

The wrestling magnate behind WWE saw his fortune soar after the merger of WWE with UFC under parent company TKO Group Holdings.

17. Bruce Springsteen

  • Net Worth: $1.0 Billion

  • Age: 75

  • Citizenship: U.S.

“The Boss” joined the billionaire ranks after selling his music catalog to Sony for a reported $500 million.

18. Kylie Jenner

  • Net Worth: $1.0 Billion

  • Age: 27

  • Citizenship: U.S.

The beauty mogul behind Kylie Cosmetics first reached billionaire status in her early 20s and continues to expand her brand empire.

From Hollywood legends to hip-hop icons and sports superstars, these 18 celebrities have proven that fame can indeed be just the beginning — if you know how to build wealth smartly.

Their journeys show that building a billion-dollar fortune isn’t just about talent — it’s about vision, business smarts, and making the right moves at the right time.