Arnold Schwarzenegger's ascension to the status of a billionaire was not a result of the accumulated pension of an A-lister over the course of his successful career in Hollywood. The star of films such as The Terminator and True Lies has faced more ups and downs in his career than an amusement park roller coaster.
How did Arnold Schwarzenegger become a billionaire?
In addition to his real estate empire, Schwarzenegger has several other side hustles that have helped him reach billionaire status. Schwarzenegger is a savvy investor who has stakes in some of America's biggest brands.
How many companies does Arnold Schwarzenegger own?
Schwarzenegger owns Arnold's Sports Festival, Oak Productions and Fitness Publications. He also has a slew of real-estate investments and has ownership stakes in Dimensional Fund Advisors and Columbus' Easton Town Center. Express estimates he may have ownership stakes in as many as 100 different businesses.
Despite being a “show about nothing,” Jerry Seinfeld's eponymous sitcom continues to be a huge moneymaker for the actor and comedian—now a billionaire according to Forbes. After going off the air in 1998, Seinfeld generated as much as $400 million each syndication cycle for its co-creator and writer.
Dwayne Johnson, a powerhouse in both Hollywood and the wrestling ring, has built an impressive fortune estimated at $800 million, as reported by Celebrity Net Worth. A significant portion of his wealth comes from his 30–40% stake in Teremana Tequila, now valued at around $2 billion.
At the moment, Arnold is clearly ahead of Sylvester in terms of net worth. With more diversified and strategic earning routes, Schwarzenegger indeed built quite an empire for himself. However, both of the stars did a remarkable job in finding their success, each craving their own unique and impressive route.
Tom Cruise is not a billionaire despite a decades-long successful career in Hollywood. Here's why. Tom Cruise has enjoyed decades of success in Hollywood — being paid as much as $100 million for a single film.
The magazine notes that "his fortune comes from his share of the syndication revenue the show generates, as well as income from touring, films and other projects". Jerry Seinfeld became a billionaire due to the success of his sitcom, Seinfeld.
Mel Gibson became a top movie star quickly but faced controversies that derailed his career for years. Despite a tumultuous past, Gibson's net worth hit around $425 million from his film work. The actor/director faced a decade of blacklisting due to various incidents involving racism and abuse.
In 2017, Pratt was ranked the nineteenth-highest-paid actor, with earnings of $17 million. According to The Numbers, as of April 2025, his films as a leading actor have grossed over $14.1 billion worldwide, making him the fifth-highest-grossing box office film star and third-highest-grossing male actor of all time.
Jay-Z's investment portfolio is similarly impressive, with stakes in companies like Uber and SpaceX. Ultimately, no other artists comes close to Jay-Z's net worth, making him by far the world's richest musician.
