He’s the richest actor in the world; and you may not even know him

However, the name that has recently come out as the winner of them all is Tyler Perry. For someone who does not minutely watch Hollywood movies, the name may not ring a bell. In fact, he is not even one of the leading superstars of Hollywood movies. Here is how he has earned his $1 billion.

Tyler Perry’s incredible success story began with shooting and filming the first 10 episodes of House of Payne. The show caught the attention of The CW and was subsequently purchased by the network. However, it was the deal with TBS that truly propelled Tyler’s career.

TBS agreed to air the next 90 episodes of House of Payne, with Tyler retaining full ownership, in exchange for a staggering $200 million. Forbes estimates that Tyler earned an impressive $138 million from this deal alone, marking a remarkable milestone in his journey.

Tyler’s famous Madea movies have been a phenomenal success, grossing over $660 million in total and generating $290 million in profits. As Tyler both stars in and produces these films, he retains a significant percentage of the earnings. 

Tyler, as per Forbes, owns 100% of the content he’s created, allowing him to keep the majority of the proceeds from his diverse body of work, including more than 1,200 television episodes, two dozen stage plays and 22 movies.

Tyler’s success extends beyond his creative endeavours. His partnership with ViacomCBS has resulted in a lucrative deal, earning him $150 million annually and a 25 percent equity stake in BET+. Forbes estimates that this stake alone is worth $60 million.

Additionally, Tyler holds $300 million in cash and investments, as well as $40 million tied up in properties and other assets, including his two private jets. His studio is valued at $280 million, and his movie library brings in an impressive $320 million.

Updated: 07 Jul 2023, 10:45 AM IST