Steven Spielberg is one of the most influential and successful directors in film history. He has directed and produced some of the highest-grossing and critically acclaimed movies of all time, such as Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, and many more. He is also the co-founder of Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks, two major film studios that have produced numerous hits. As of 2023, Steven Spielberg’s net worth is estimated to be around $8 billion.
In this article, we will explore the life and career of Steven Spielberg, and how he amassed such a huge fortune. We will also look at his income sources, his social media presence, and some interesting facts about him. If you are curious to know more about the legendary director, read on!
Steven Spielberg Biography
| Name | Steven Allan Spielberg |
|---|---|
| Birth day | December 18, 1946 |
| Birth place | Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Age | 76 years old |
| Birth sign | Sagittarius |
| Nationality | American |
| Mother | Leah Adler |
| Father | Arnold Spielberg |
| Spouse | Kate Capshaw (m. 1991) |
| Siblings | Anne Spielberg (sister) |
| College | California State University, Long Beach (BA) |
Steven Spielberg Net Worth
According to Forbes and Celebrity Net Worth, Steven Spielberg’s net worth is estimated to be around $8 billion as of 2023. He is the second richest celebrity in the world, behind George Lucas ($10 billion). He has an annual income of around $150 million.
His main source of income is from his films, both as a director and a producer. He often takes a low upfront salary ($10 million) in exchange for backend points on the gross revenue of his films. This means that he gets a percentage of the box office earnings after the production costs are deducted. For example, he earned $250 million from Jurassic Park, which was the highest-grossing film ever at the time.
He also earned $150 million from The Lost World: Jurassic Park and $75 million from Jurassic Park III, which he did not direct. He famously refused to take a salary for Schindler’s List, calling any money earned “blood money”. He instead donated all the proceeds to the USC Shoah Foundation, which he founded in 1994 to honor and remember Holocaust survivors.
Another source of income is from his film studios, Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks. Amblin Entertainment is responsible for producing films such as Back to the Future, Gremlins, The Goonies, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Men in Black, and The BFG. DreamWorks is known for films such as Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Help. Spielberg also has a stake in DreamWorks Animation, which produces animated films and television shows. In 2016, DreamWorks Animation was acquired by NBCUniversal for $3.8 billion.
Spielberg also earns money from his deals with Universal Studios. He has a long-term contract with Universal that gives him a share of the profits from the theme parks, merchandise, and video games based on his films. He also has the right to veto any project that Universal wants to make based on his films.
Some interesting facts about Steven Spielberg’s net worth are:
- He owns several properties around the world, including a $20 million mansion in Pacific Palisades, California; a $70 million estate in East Hampton, New York; a $25 million penthouse in New York City; and a $13 million ski chalet in Telluride, Colorado.
- He has a collection of rare and valuable art works, including paintings by Norman Rockwell, Edward Hopper, and Claude Monet. He also owns a copy of the original Rosebud sled from Citizen Kane.
- He is an avid philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to various causes and organizations, such as education, health care, human rights, arts and culture, and Jewish heritage. He has also supported political candidates and campaigns, mostly from the Democratic Party.
- He is a fan of video games and has collaborated with Electronic Arts to create several games, such as Boom Blox and Medal of Honor.
About Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to a Jewish family. His father was an electrical engineer and his mother was a restaurateur and concert pianist. He developed an interest in filmmaking at an early age, using his father’s video camera to make short films with his friends. He also earned his Boy Scout photography merit badge by making a nine-minute film called The Last Gunfight.
He attended Arcadia High School in Phoenix, Arizona, where he made his first independent feature film, Firelight (1964), which he screened at a local theater. He then enrolled at California State University, Long Beach, where he studied film. He also worked as an unpaid intern in the editing department at Universal Studios, where he impressed the vice president of Universal TV with his short film Amblin’ (1968). He was offered a seven-year contract to direct television episodes for various shows, such as Night Gallery and Columbo.
He made his theatrical film debut with The Sugarland Express (1974), which won critical acclaim but was a box office flop. His breakthrough came with Jaws (1975), a horror thriller about a killer shark that terrorized a seaside town. The film was a huge success, becoming the first film to gross over $100 million and launching the era of the summer blockbuster. Spielberg followed it with other hits, such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), and The Color Purple (1985).
Some of his achievements include:
- Winning three Academy Awards for Best Director for Schindler’s List (1993) and Saving Private Ryan (1998), and Best Picture for Schindler’s List.
- Co-founding Amblin Entertainment in 1981 and DreamWorks in 1994 with Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen.
- Directing or producing some of the highest-grossing films of all time, such as Jurassic Park (1993), The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), War of the Worlds (2005), Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), Transformers (2007), and Ready Player One (2018).
- Receiving numerous honors and awards, such as the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1995, the Kennedy Center Honor in 2006, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2009, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.
- Being one of the most influential and respected filmmakers in the world, inspiring generations of directors and storytellers.
Steven Spielberg Social Media
Steven Spielberg is not very active on social media. He does not have official accounts on Instagram or Twitter. However, he has a verified Facebook page, where he occasionally posts updates about his films and projects. He also has a fan page on Facebook, where his fans can follow his news and trivia. He also has an unofficial Twitter account, where he posts humorous tweets about his movies and life.
FAQs about Steven Spielberg
How much is Steven Spielberg worth?
Steven Spielberg’s net worth is estimated to be around $8 billion as of 2023.
How does Steven Spielberg make money?
Steven Spielberg makes money from his films as a director and a producer, his film studios Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks, his deals with Universal Studios, and his investments in art and real estate.
What is Steven Spielberg’s salary?
Steven Spielberg’s salary varies depending on the film he is working on. He usually takes a low upfront salary ($10 million) in exchange for backend points on the gross revenue of his films.
What are some of Steven Spielberg’s best movies?
Some of Steven Spielberg’s best movies are Jaws (1975), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Jurassic Park (1993), Schindler’s List (1993), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Lincoln (2012), and Ready Player One (2018).