Here is the latest list of the world's top 20 Director celebrities [Updated February 7, 2023].
Director and producer who is best known for creating the groundbreaking science fiction franchise Star Wars. He first received acclaim for his 1973 coming of age film American Graffiti and he also created the action hero Indiana Jones, most famously portrayed by Harrison Ford in the original 1980's trilogy.
Celebrated director who achieved box office records with the blockbuster films Jaws, E.T., and Jurassic Park. He received the Academy Award for Best Director for the films Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. He also directed the action/adventure classic trilogy Indiana Jones, starring Harrison Ford, in the '80s.
Earnings and Salary: For his own films, Steven frequently opts for a relatively low upfront salary, $10 million, in exchange for backend points on the gross revenue. One such deal for 1993's "Jurassic Park", resulted in a $250 million payday for Steven. That's the same as roughly $360 million in today's dollars. He earned at least $150 million from the sequel and $75 million from the third installment, which he did not even direct.
He famously refused to accept a salary for "Schindler's List", calling any money earned "blood money". He instead directed all proceeds owed to him in perpetuity be used to fund the USC Shoah Foundation in 1994 which honors and remembers Holocaust survivors.
Earnings and Salary: For his own films, Steven frequently opts for a relatively low upfront salary, $10 million, in exchange for backend points on the gross revenue. One such deal for 1993's "Jurassic Park", resulted in a $250 million payday for Steven. That's the same as roughly $360 million in today's dollars. He earned at least $150 million from the sequel and $75 million from the third installment, which he did not even direct.
He famously refused to accept a salary for "Schindler's List", calling any money earned "blood money". He instead directed all proceeds owed to him in perpetuity be used to fund the USC Shoah Foundation in 1994 which honors and remembers Holocaust survivors.
Veteran television director with more than 50 TV pilots to his name who co-created the NBC series Cheers. James Burrows directed every episode of Will & Grace and is also notable for directing Taxi, Friends and Frasier, among numerous other classic sitcoms.
Personal Life and Net Worth Details: Jackson's net worth was estimated at $370 million in 2009 when he purchased a Gulfstream G650 private jet. The jet, which seats 18 people, is powerful enough to fly from New Zealand to the United States without having to stop to refuel, and is rumored to have cost Jackson $60 million. In addition to his Gulfstream, Jackson also owns over 40 airworthy World War I-era warbirds. He is an aviation enthusiast, and houses his warbird collection at Hood Aerodome near Masterton, New Zealand. Additionally, his collection of WWI aircraft and paraphernalia have been exhibited at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, as part of their Knights of the Sky exhibition. He also owns Wingnut Wings, a scale modeling company specializing in World War I subjects.
Jackson's partner is Fran Walsh, fellow New Zealander and a screenwriter, film producer, and lyricist. Together they have two children. The couple work closely together, and Walsh has contributed in some way to all of Jackson's films that he has made since 1989. Jackson lives on a $5 million property in New Zealand that features a private lake and Frodo Baggins' home set from the LOTR movies. Some of Jackson's charitable activities include giving NZ $500,000 to stem cell research, saving an old church in Wellington from demolition by purchasing it for around $10 million, and securing the futures of the BATS Theatre in Wellington by purchasing it in 2011, among others.
Acclaimed director of the iconic 1972 film The Godfather, for which he won the Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture. He also directed The Godfathers Part II and Part III as well as the Vietnam War epic Apocalypse Now with Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando.
Director, producer, and actor who first became known as Andy Griffith's son Opie on The Andy Griffith Show and also played teenager Richie Cunningham on Happy Days. His 2001 film A Beautiful Mind received the Academy Award for Best Picture and earned Howard the Academy Award for Best Director. He also directed the films Apollo 13 and Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
