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In the film industry, no one is only doing one thing. While this list of individuals may be better known for their roles as actors, producers, or directors, they offer much more to the entertainment industry than just that. This list features some of the most successful people in the entertainment world and their passion projects. For them, those projects consist of running networks, clothing brands, or their own production studio.
1) Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
The son of a former professional wrestler turned wrestler who later found his calling as an actor, “The Rock” has had no boring life. Now 49, Dwayne Johnson has starred in some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters of the last two decades. Most recently, Johnson has starred in Disney’s Jungle Cruise, the Fast and The Furious franchise, and the Jumanji films. Outside of movies, Johnson has also started his own lifestyle brand in a partnership with Under Armour titled Project Rock. As of now, Johnson has accumulated a net worth of over $320 million.
2) Kevin Hart
A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hart began his career in the limelight in standup comedy. After winning several standup comedy awards across the country, Hart turned his focus to acting. While acting, Hart has starred in numerous big hits such as the Jumanji movies, The Upside, and Ride Along. However, Hart insists that he should be seen as a businessman first rather than an entertainer. Most recently, Hart joined forces with Lionsgate entertainment to launch their Laugh Out Loud streaming platform. This streaming service will include his own live performances as well as his own exclusive media. Currently, his net worth sits at around $200 million.
3) Jason Blum
Jason Blum was born to work in the film industry. Born in Los Angeles, Blum had an early introduction to the arts industry as he graduated in 1991 from Vassar College. After working for Miramax, in 2000 Blum created his own production studio Blumhouse Productions. At Blumhouse Productions, he set his focus on producing micro-budget films to which Bloomberg News later congratulated Blum for “making blockbuster movies for penny’s”. The producer is probably best known for his successful films in the late 2000s which include Whiplash and the Paranormal Activity franchise, which has collectively taken in more than $1.6 billion while comprising of a budget of less than $80 million. In the 2010’s, several of Blum’s films were later nominated for Academy Awards in BlacKKKlansman and Get Out. Blum has also dabbled in the magazine industry, purchasing fashion magazine W.
4) David Ellison
A Santa Clara, California native, David Ellison was poised for success early on. Son of billionaire Larry Ellison and Barbara Booth Ellison, David took his education to USC where many young entrepreneurs had their start. Today, Ellison is the CEO of Skydance Production, one of the largest production companies in the film business. In 2010, Ellison and his father collaborated to acquire a partnership with Paramount in a deal that saw Skydance raise over $350 million. During that deal, Ellison produced notable summer blockbusters in World War Z, the Star Trek reboots, the Jack Reacher films, and Mission Impossible: Fallout, which combined has grossed over $4 billion in sales. A member of the Producers Guild of America, Ellison continues to reach deals with studios in further aiding his credentials and experience while co-producing films. Today, he roughly has a net worth of over $2 million.
5) Megan Ellison
David Ellison isn’t the only film producer in the family. His sister, Megan, is a reputable producer herself. Starting in the film business at an early age, Ellison found herself doing work on film sets as a boom operator for her brother’s film When All Else Fails. She continued to work on several low-budget films including Waking Madison, Passion Play, and True Grit. Like her brother, Megan also runs her own production studio as she founded Annapurna Pictures. There, she has focused on low-budget films, such as critically acclaimed films that earned her Oscar Nominations in Zero Dark Thirty, Her, and American Hustle. In 2014, Ellison was the first woman and the fourth person ever to receive two Oscar nominations for Best Picture in the same year for her work on Her and American Hustle. The Advocate later named her to their “Best 40, under 40” watchlist that same year.
6) Tyler Perry
Perhaps one of the most prolific entrepreneurs in Hollywood, Tyler Perry has been crafting his own craft since his career’s inception. A native of New Orleans, Perry initially established himself as one of the industry’s premier comedic talents. However, Perry isn’t limited to comedy. He has starred in Star Trek and Vice. Outside of being in front of the camera, Perry launched Perry Studios in 2005. There, blockbuster films such as Black Panther has used his 330-acre lot to shoot their films. With his diverse career, Perry has brought his net worth to over $1 billion.
7. Oprah Winfrey
With her roots as a local journalist, no one could have expected the empire Oprah would build for herself in the coming years. The Illinois native has accumulated a net worth of over $2.7 billion. In addition to her world-famous television show, she has developed her own network as well in The Oprah Winfrey Network. She has also founded and run Harpo Productions, a production company she developed back in the mid-’80s.
Who are some of your favorite entrepreneurs in Hollywood? Let us know down in the comments.
This article originally published on GREY Journal.
