At first glance, he looks like any other kid in a faded black-and-white photo — an eight-year-old boy smiling innocently at the camera.
What he didn’t know back then is that he’d grow up to become one of the most powerful names in Hollywood — and the richest celebrity in the world.
According to Forbes, that boy is now worth a staggering $5.3 billion. Yes, with a “B.”
Richer Than Jordan, Oprah, And Kim K
To put it in perspective, his fortune puts him ahead of George Lucas, Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, and Kim Kardashian.
With a net worth like that, you might think he was a football legend, a rockstar, or a blockbuster actor.
But nope — his fortune comes from being behind the camera.
The Man Behind The Biggest Blockbusters
If you’ve ever watched Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park or Indiana Jones, then you’ve already seen his genius at work.
He also reportedly receives a 2% share of ticket sales from Universal Studios’ theme parks, meaning the brand-new Epic Park is basically another cash machine for him.
And this all started with a teenager and a $500 budget. His first movie, Firelight, screened in 1964 when he was just 17. Ticket sales came to $501 — making a profit of exactly $1.
That “failed” attempt was the launchpad for the most successful directing career in film history.
Worth Billions, Grossing Billions More
The little boy in the photo grew up to be none other than Steven Spielberg.
His films have pulled in more than $10 billion at the global box office. His highest-grossing hit remains Jurassic Park at $1.058 billion, followed by E.T. at $797.3 million and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull at $786.6 million.
Not every masterpiece was a money machine — Schindler’s List, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Catch Me If You Can didn’t crack the top ten earners — but they helped cement him as one of the greatest directors of all time.
Hollywood’s Billionaire Storyteller
Spielberg first landed on Forbes’ wealthiest Americans list back in 1994, and he hasn’t slowed down since. Decades later, his legacy is measured not just in Oscars and classics — but in billions.
So, did you recognise the little boy in that old photo?