The world’s wealthiest actor has addressed speculation surrounding the source of her $3 billion wealth.
In the realm of acting, there are several individuals who have amassed significant wealth.
Keanu Reeves holds the record as the highest-paid actor, allegedly securing a deal worth an impressive $156,000,000 for his roles in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions.
Tom Cruise is also among the top earners, consistently receiving over $100 million for various films. Meanwhile, Robert Downey Jr has received numerous lucrative packages, each worth tens of millions, for his performances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
However, for substantial earnings solely from acting, one should look beyond Hollywood to Bollywood, where Shah Rukh Khan boasts a net worth of around $1.4 billion, according to the BBC. In comparison, Tom Cruise is valued at approximately $600 million.
Yet, even Khan is not the wealthiest actor globally.
The title belongs to Jami Gertz, who began her career in acting and has now accumulated a net worth of approximately $3 billion.
Gertz has enjoyed a long and fruitful acting career, with roles in series such as Allie McBeal and Square Pegs.
That said, the majority of Gertz’s wealth stems not from acting but from prosperous business ventures with her husband, including investments in the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks.
Addressing rumors about her financial success, some have speculated that her billionaire status resulted from marrying a wealthy individual.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she clarified: “Everyone thinks I married a rich guy.
“But I made more money – way more money – than Tony when I met him.
“I paid for our first house. I paid for our first vacation. I married him because I fell in love with him.”
Gertz has also mentioned: “I get it. It’s not your everyday Hollywood actress tale.”
Originally from Chicago, she took on the role of ambassador for the Atlanta Hawks at the NBA Draft Lottery in 2018, much to the surprise of many fans.
Her husband, Tony Ressler, commented: “I’m very active on the business and player personnel decision‑making. But Jami steps in when it comes to so many parts of the business that I did not appreciate or have any experience in.”
Ressler, an investment banker, co-founded Apollo Global Management and subsequently launched Ares Management, amassing a substantial fortune.
Regarding Gertz, he noted: “I think it’s fair to say that she makes a better impression on our fan base than any of us in the organization.”