Celebrity4 min(s) read
Why we don't see the richest actor in the world worth $3 billion in movies anymore - you may have never heard of her
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When you think of Hollywood’s richest stars, names like Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Margot Robbie, or Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson probably come to mind.
But what if we told you that the the wealthiest actor in the world isn’t someone you regularly see on red carpets or starring in blockbuster films.
In fact, there's even a chance you've never heard of them until now.
Her name? Jami Gertz. And her estimated net worth? Well, that sits at a jaw-dropping $3 billion, according to NME. Yes, billion.
Back in the 1980s, Gertz starred in a string of cult classics like The Lost Boys or Sixteen Candles, as well as having guest appearances on hit shows like Seinfeld, Modern Family, and This Is Us.
While her acting career may have earned her a decent living, her enormous fortune isn’t solely the result of Hollywood paychecks.
So it's no wonder that some people were confused when Gertz began trending recently. One viral post featuring a photo of the actor prompted confused reactions, with one person admitting: “I’m off to Google first cos this is giving I don’t know who this person is.”
Another asked the question on everyone’s minds: “How come I hardly see Jami Gertz in movies? Did she make it from acting, or does she have other incomes?”
Turns out, she definitely has other incomes.
Gertz has been married to billionaire businessman Tony Ressler since 1989, and together they’ve built an investment empire.
Ressler, who Forbes estimates to be worth $11.5 billion, co-founded major firms like Ares Management, and the couple also own a controlling stake in the NBA team Atlanta Hawks, as well as a minority share in the Milwaukee Beavers.
Between savvy business decisions and investments in sports, the pair have quietly become one of the wealthiest power couples in America – without the constant media glare.
And while they’ve stepped back from the limelight in recent years (Gertz’s last big screen appearance was in 2022’s I Want You Back), their influence is far from fading.
The couple are dedicated philanthropists, with their Ressler-Gertz Foundation supporting initiatives in education, health, arts, and Jewish causes. Back in 2012, the Giving Back Fund even named them the most generous celebrity donors, following a $10 million donation.
The couple made a rare public outing in April 2026, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s opening gala for its new David Geffen Galleries.
The pair were celebrating the south wing of the newly-opened galleries being named the Ressler Family Wing after they gave a $50 million donation to the museum, per the New York Times.
Gertz has also shut down the misconception that her wealth is simply from marrying rich, explaining: "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."
The couple have four children together and split their time between Los Angeles and Atlanta.
Gertz previously revealed why she's stepped back from Hollywood in recent years, while still occasionally dipping her toe into certain acting projects.
She told the Hollywood Reporter: "It’s hard to even say it out loud because I love what I do. It’s given me so many beautiful things in my life, taught me so many things about myself and the world around me."