Spike Lee | $50 Million

A man of talent and substance, Spike Lee is one of America’s great pillars in the entertainment industry. Lee came from an artistic, imaginative, and education-grounded foundation; his father was a jazz artist, and his mother, a teacher. Lee is known for his tenacious and bold approach to filmmaking. It was his film She’s Gotta Have It that set his career in motion. The film, produced for only $175,000, made a total of $7 million at the box office.

From there, Lee then proceeded to make more movies, which garnered him numerous awards. Through his production company, 40 Acres and A Mule Filmworks, Lee continues to create and direct both independent films and projects for major studios. He has also created internship programs for aspiring filmmakers, released music, and helped build community outreach organizations. From all of this, Lee has made himself a total of $50 million. All credit goes to his passion and boldness in his field.