If asked to guess who the richest actor in the world is, names like Dwayne Johnson or Tom Cruise might come to mind, or perhaps Margot Robbie following her recent success with Barbie.
However, it’s actually an actress whose name might not be familiar to you.
Renowned for her roles in films and TV series from the 1980s to the 2000s, Jami Gertz has unexpectedly emerged as the wealthiest actor globally.
Gertz has starred in popular works like Twister, The Lost Boys, Still Standing, and Sixteen Candles. Her most recent role was in the 2022 romantic comedy ‘I Want You Back’ on Prime Video.
As of 2023, Gertz was reported by NME to possess an astonishing net worth of $3 billion, surpassing figures such as Robert De Niro, Jennifer Lopez, and Jackie Chan to claim the title of richest actor in the world.
While her acting career has certainly contributed significantly to her wealth, it is her ventures outside of Hollywood that have truly propelled her financial success.
In 1989, Gertz married American businessman Tony Ressler, who subsequently founded private equity firms, including Apollo Global Management, now boasting a net worth of $10.5 billion according to Forbes.
Together, the couple has invested their wealth in various sports teams, including co-owning the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and holding minority ownership of the Milwaukee Beavers baseball team.
Additionally, Gertz founded her own production company, Lime Orchard Productions, in 2010.
Despite Ressler’s higher overall net worth due to his business ventures, Gertz revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that she earned more than him when they first met, underlining her independent financial success.
With their substantial wealth in mind, both Gertz and Ressler are noted for their philanthropy, regularly making significant charitable donations through their foundation, The Ressler-Gertz Foundation.
Their charitable endeavors have included a notable $10 million donation in 2012, leading them to be recognized as the top celebrity donors.
Beyond their philanthropic work, Ressler and Gertz have also invested millions in renovating the State Farm Arena, contributing $50 million of their own funds to the $192 million project, which concluded with the arena reopening in late 2018.
