Spielberg

0

Steven Spielberg

49

$1.1 billion

Film directing, production

Pacific Palisades

Millions of moviegoers around the globe have helped line the pockets of Steven Spielberg, whose audience-pleasing films are consistently among the industry’s highest grossing.

Consider the record: “Jaws,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “E.T.,” “Jurassic Park,” “Schindler’s List” and other blockbusters all came from Spielberg’s camera. “Jurassic Park” alone reportedly netted him $300 million.

Spielberg’s worth, estimated at $1.1 billion, seems to be headed ever higher, thanks to his stake in DreamWorks SKG, which he and fellow-Richest Angelenos David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg founded in 1994.

Already active in animation and limited film production, DreamWorks is envisioned as the studio for the 21st century that will ultimately produce films, television, video games, music and any other form of entertainment packaging that can turn a buck.

After more than two years, the 1,000-plus-employee DreamWorks has much in the pipeline, but little product to show for itself. Still, given the names involved, few are betting against Spielberg and the would-be studio.

Not bad for a Cal State Long Beach drop-out who started in the biz as a second director for the old “Colombo” television series. As a teen, Spielberg made his first film with $400 he borrowed from his father, an engineer at General Electric. The film grossed $500. (Spielberg’s mother, Leah, long has operated the Milky Way, a kosher restaurant in Los Angeles.)

Spielberg is married to actress Kate Capshaw and lives with her and their five children in homes in Pacific Palisades and New York.

Ben Sullivan

No posts to display