Jami Gertz, an American actress-turned-businesswoman, may not be a household name in the film industry, but she holds the title of the world’s richest actress.
Despite her less-than-successful acting career, Gertz has amassed a staggering $8 billion fortune, surpassing the wealth of famous stars like Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, and Rihanna combined.
A Wealthy Actress Without Box Office Hits
Unlike many of the top celebrities who have accumulated their wealth through successful careers in music, acting, or other entertainment ventures, Gertz’s fortune is largely a result of her business investments.
According to Forbes, her net worth exceeds $8 billion, which dwarfs the fortunes of even some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry.
To put this into perspective, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and Selena Gomez—among the top five richest female celebrities—have net worths of $1.6 billion, $1.4 billion, and $1.3 billion, respectively. Even combined, their wealth doesn’t come close to matching Gertz’s fortune.
Who is Jami Gertz?
Born in Chicago in 1965, Jami Gertz began her acting career in the 1980s following a nationwide talent search discovery. She made her film debut in 1981 with Endless Love and later gained recognition with her role in Less Than Zero alongside Robert Downey Jr. in 1987. That same year, she starred in her most notable role in the cult classic vampire movie The Lost Boys.
Despite these appearances, Gertz never became a leading box office star. In the 1990s, supporting roles in films like Twister constituted the majority of her acting work. However, she did make a successful transition to television, earning an Emmy nomination for her performance in Ally McBeal.
Why is Jami Gertz So Wealthy?
The key to Gertz’s immense wealth isn’t her acting career—it’s her business acumen. In 1989, she married Tony Ressler, a billionaire businessman. Ressler is the co-founder of Apollo Global Management, a highly successful private equity firm.
Together, Gertz and Ressler made significant investments in sports franchises, co-owning both the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team and the Atlanta Hawks NBA team.
These ventures, along with other successful investments, have been the primary source of her massive fortune, positioning her as the wealthiest actress in the world.
A Unique Journey to Wealth
Gertz’s path to becoming a billionaire is an exceptional story in the entertainment world. While other actresses on the wealthiest list—such as Taylor Swift and Rihanna—have built their fortunes primarily through their music and business ventures like makeup and clothing lines, Gertz’s wealth largely comes from her strategic business investments with her husband.
Her story also highlights how wealth in the entertainment industry doesn’t always stem from film or music success. Instead, smart business decisions and ownership stakes in lucrative ventures can be the key to building an empire.
Jami Gertz may not have the fame that comes with blockbuster hits, but she has achieved something far more extraordinary—becoming the richest actress in the world.
Her business investments, particularly in sports franchises, have catapulted her net worth far beyond that of any other female celebrity, demonstrating that success in the entertainment world doesn’t always come from the spotlight.
The Information is Collected from Livemint and Times Now.