Jami Gertz Net Worth 2025: How She Built a $12 Billion Fortune Through Acting and NBA Ownership

You might know her from The Lost Boys or Still Standing, but Jami Gertz isn’t just another ‘80s actress—she’s the richest actor in the world with a jaw-dropping net worth that towers over stars like Oprah and Taylor Swift.

Jami Gertz, 59, rose to fame in the 1980s with standout roles in cult classics and hit TV shows. But beyond her acting chops, she’s made headlines for her extraordinary financial empire, built in part through her marriage to billionaire investor Tony Ressler and their co-ownership of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks.

As of 2025, the estimated Jami Gertz net worth is an astounding $12 billion—a figure that has stunned fans and financial analysts alike. She ranks #1 on our list of the Top 50 Richest Actresses in the World.

So, why is everyone talking about Jami Gertz’s wealth right now? A recent Forbes feature and viral interviews have reignited interest in how she quietly became a billionaire.

In this article, we’ll explore Jami Gertz’s salary, wealth sources, real estate, business ventures, personal life, and how she built one of Hollywood’s most unexpected fortunes.

Jami Gertz’s Net Worth in 2025

As of 2025, Jami Gertz’s net worth is estimated at an astonishing $12 billion, according to FoxBusiness and recent financial analyses. This places her among the wealthiest celebrities in the world — and the richest actor globally — surpassing even household names like Oprah Winfrey and Tom Cruise.

Unlike most actors, Gertz’s fortune is not rooted primarily in film or television salaries. While she enjoyed a successful acting career in the 1980s and early 2000s, the key driver behind her immense wealth is her connection to high-level finance and sports ownership. Much of her net worth stems from her marriage to billionaire Tony Ressler, co-founder of Apollo Global Management and Ares Management, and their joint ventures, including a major stake in the Atlanta Hawks NBA franchise.

Estimated Net Worth Over the Years

Year	Estimated Net Worth	Notable Events/Factors
2010	$2 billion	Apollo and Ares investments grow
2015	$5 billion	Purchased Atlanta Hawks with Ressler
2020	$7.5 billion	Ongoing growth of Ares Management
2023	$10 billion	Real estate and equity value appreciation
2025	$12 billion	Forbes recognition; renewed public interest

Contributors to Jami Gertz’s Net Worth

Atlanta Hawks Ownership: In 2015, Gertz and Ressler purchased the NBA team for roughly $850 million. The franchise is now valued at well over $3 billion.

Private Equity and Asset Management: Ressler co-founded Apollo Global Management and Ares Management, two of the largest firms in the global finance industry. Gertz benefits significantly from their massive growth.

Investments & Holdings: In addition to sports franchises, the couple has diversified holdings in real estate, private equity, and venture capital.

Modest Acting Income: While not a primary source, Gertz’s acting roles and residuals add to her longstanding income stream.

“With a $12 billion fortune, Jami Gertz isn’t just the richest actor—she’s one of the wealthiest people in entertainment, period.”
— Maddie O’Connor, Senior Wealth Analyst Forbes, 2025

How Jami Gertz Makes Money

Jami Gertz’s staggering $12 billion fortune in 2025 is not the result of a traditional Hollywood income path. Instead, her wealth stems from a mix of modest entertainment earnings and major financial power plays, primarily through business and investment ventures alongside her billionaire husband, Tony Ressler.

Salaries from Acting

Gertz began her career in the 1980s, starring in cult hits like The Lost Boys (1987), Less Than Zero (1987), and Twister (1996). She later transitioned into TV roles in shows such as Still Standing and The Neighbors.

While specific salary figures are not publicly disclosed, standard rates for lead roles in major network sitcoms during the early 2000s often ranged between $50,000–$150,000 per episode. With Still Standing running for four seasons (88 episodes), Gertz likely earned several million dollars in total from that show alone.

Endorsements and Brand Deals

Unlike many Hollywood celebrities, Jami Gertz has not built her fortune through major endorsement deals or brand partnerships. She has largely remained out of the commercial spotlight, choosing instead to focus on private investments and philanthropic work.

Investments and Business Deals

This is where the bulk of Gertz’s wealth lies:

Co-ownership of the Atlanta Hawks: In 2015, Gertz and Tony Ressler led a group that purchased the NBA team for $850 million. As of 2025, Forbes estimates the team’s value at over $3 billion, potentially tripling their investment.

Minority stake in the Milwaukee Brewers: The couple also holds a smaller equity share in this MLB franchise, contributing additional portfolio value.

Private Equity and Asset Management: Tony Ressler co-founded Apollo Global Management and Ares Management, two of the world’s most powerful investment firms. As Ressler’s spouse and business partner in some ventures, Gertz benefits from equity positions and shared wealth generated by billions in managed assets.

Lime Orchard Productions: Gertz founded this production company, which released the Oscar-nominated A Better Life (2011). While not a significant money-maker, it reinforced her credibility in Hollywood circles.

Other Income Sources

Real Estate Holdings: While specific properties haven’t been made public, it’s common for ultra-high-net-worth individuals to hold luxury real estate worth tens of millions across locations like Beverly Hills, Malibu, or New York.

Philanthropy and Foundations: While not income-producing, Gertz is active in charitable giving through the Ressler-Gertz Foundation, which has donated millions to healthcare, education, and Jewish causes.

“Her acting career laid the foundation, but Gertz’s financial power comes from high-stakes investing and strategic ownership in pro sports.”
— Daniel Keane, Editor-at-Large Finance Monthly, 2024

Jami Gertz Career Timeline

1965 – Born on October 28 in Chicago, Illinois.

1981 – Makes her television debut in Diff’rent Strokes and The Facts of Life, launching her acting career as a teen.

1982 – Appears in Square Pegs, a cult-favorite high school sitcom.

1984 – Stars alongside Andrew McCarthy in Sixteen Candles (uncredited role); becomes part of the ‘80s Brat Pack era.

1987 – Breakthrough role as Star in The Lost Boys, a box office hit that cemented her status in pop culture.

1987 – Stars in Less Than Zero with Robert Downey Jr., portraying a drug-addicted teen—one of her most critically noted roles.

1996 – Appears in the blockbuster Twister, playing the fiancée of Bill Paxton’s character.

2000–2002 – Recurs on Ally McBeal, earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.

2002–2006 – Stars as the lead in Still Standing, a CBS sitcom that ran for 4 seasons and 88 episodes.

2011 – Produces A Better Life through Lime Orchard Productions; the film is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor (Demián Bichir).

2012–2014 – Leads the cast of ABC’s The Neighbors, a sci-fi sitcom.

2015 – Purchases the Atlanta Hawks NBA team alongside husband Tony Ressler for $850 million.

2020 – Named one of the most generous celebrity philanthropists, with the Ressler-Gertz Foundation donating millions to healthcare and education.

2023 – Featured in Forbes for her unique financial success as a Hollywood star turned billionaire investor.

2025 – Estimated net worth reaches $12 billion, making her the wealthiest actor in the world.

“Jami Gertz made her mark in Hollywood with heart and humor—she was a staple of ’80s film culture and a steady presence on television well into the 2000s.”
— Rita Morales, Senior Entertainment Writer Variety, 2023

Also see: Top 50 Richest Actresses in the World

Jami Gertz’s Assets and Luxury Lifestyle

While Jami Gertz is known for maintaining a relatively private profile, her billionaire status is reflected in a collection of luxury assets and a lifestyle that blends understated elegance with elite access.

Real Estate Holdings

Though Gertz and her husband Tony Ressler keep much of their real estate portfolio off the public radar, several high-value properties have been linked to the couple:

Beverly Hills, California: Their primary residence is believed to be a sprawling estate in this exclusive neighborhood, valued at over $30 million.

Malibu, California: A beachside retreat estimated to be worth $15–20 million, consistent with celebrity ownership norms in the area.

New York City (rumored): Given their financial and philanthropic presence, a high-end Manhattan property is considered likely, though not publicly confirmed.

Cars and Private Transportation

Gertz and Ressler are not known for flaunting luxury vehicles, but it’s reasonable to assume their garage includes:

• Luxury sedans (e.g., Mercedes-Maybach or Bentley)
• SUVs suitable for family and security needs
• Private jet access: As a billionaire couple attending NBA events and philanthropic functions nationwide, access to private aviation is almost certain—whether via ownership or fractional services like NetJets.

Jewelry, Fashion, and Lifestyle

• Fashion: Gertz often appears at formal events in designer labels such as Oscar de la Renta, Chanel, and Elie Saab, though she’s not a regular on the fashion circuit.
• Jewelry: Public appearances show her wearing understated but high-value pieces—likely custom diamonds and vintage jewelry, suited to her classic style.
• Art & Décor: Known donors to art institutions, it’s likely their homes feature fine art collections valued in the millions.

Unique or Unusual Purchases

Atlanta Hawks Ownership: The couple’s $850 million purchase of the NBA team in 2015 remains their boldest and most public investment—and also one of the most lucrative, now valued at over $3 billion.

Philanthropic Spending: Rather than extravagant purchases, Gertz is known for spending generously on causes close to her heart, such as children’s health camps and education reform.

“Despite billionaire status, she’s famously private and philanthropic—her lifestyle is more legacy-driven than lavish.”
— Brian Wilkes, Wealth Culture Correspondent Bloomberg Wealth, 2025

Jami Gertz’s Personal Life

Born on October 28, 1965, in Chicago, Illinois, Jami Gertz is 59 years old as of 2025. She was raised in a middle-class Jewish family in the Glenview suburb of Chicago. Her father, Walter Gertz, was a builder and contractor, while her mother was a homemaker. Gertz’s humble beginnings contrast sharply with the vast wealth she would eventually come to hold.

Education

Gertz attended Maine East High School and later studied drama at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, sharpening the skills that would launch her acting career in the early 1980s.

Marriage and Family

In 1989, she married Tony Ressler, a billionaire financier and co-founder of Apollo Global Management and Ares Management. The couple has three sons and has maintained a relatively private and low-profile family life despite their immense wealth. Their long-standing marriage is often seen as a rarity in both Hollywood and high finance circles.

Lifestyle and Values

Despite her billionaire status, Gertz is known for living modestly by celebrity standards. She has largely avoided the spotlight outside of her professional endeavors and philanthropic commitments.

Philanthropy

Jami and Tony Ressler co-founded the Ressler-Gertz Foundation, which has donated millions to causes such as:

• Children’s healthcare and education
• Jewish community organizations
• The arts and public policy initiatives

She is also a co-founder of The Painted Turtle Camp, a nonprofit camp for children with serious medical conditions, alongside the late Paul Newman. Their philanthropy has placed them on lists of the most charitable celebrities in the U.S.

“I never wanted to be the richest celebrity—I just wanted to give my kids a good life and help people where I could.”
– Jami Gertz, Actress & Philanthropist Excerpted from a public interview at The Painted Turtle Gala, 2019

Fun Facts About Jami Gertz

Almost a Bond Girl – Jami auditioned for the role of a Bond girl in the 1980s but turned it down to pursue more grounded film roles.

 NBA Public Face – Though Tony Ressler is the investor, Gertz is the official representative of the Atlanta Hawks at league meetings, making her one of the few women with a public voice in NBA ownership.

Turned Down “Friends” – She reportedly passed on a chance to audition for Friends—a decision she jokingly calls “financially questionable.”

Quiet Billionaire – Despite a $12 billion fortune, Gertz has never appeared on a Forbes “Celebrity 100” list—she keeps her profile incredibly low.

Philanthropy Over Fame – She once said she prefers donating millions to kids’ medical care over walking red carpets—and she means it.

Net Worth Comparison Table

Celebrity	Net Worth (2025)	Known For
Jami Gertz	$12 Billion	Actress, Atlanta Hawks co-owner, investor
Oprah Winfrey	$2.8 Billion	Media mogul, OWN Network, Harpo Productions
Rihanna	$1.7 Billion	Music, Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty
Jay-Z	$2.5 Billion	Music, Roc Nation, Armand de Brignac, investments
Kim Kardashian	$1.4 Billion	Skims, reality TV, business ventures

FAQs

Conclusion

Jami Gertz’s journey from 1980s teen star to the richest actor in the world is nothing short of extraordinary. With an estimated net worth of $12 billion in 2025, she has quietly built a financial empire through smart partnerships, elite investments, and co-ownership of the Atlanta Hawks — all while staying grounded and deeply involved in philanthropy.

While she may not dominate headlines like other celebrities, Gertz’s story is a masterclass in long-term wealth building, blending Hollywood roots with Wall Street wisdom. And with continued business interests and potential media projects, her legacy is far from complete.

Explore more net worth profiles and celebrity financial journeys right here on our site.