The woman in this photo grew up to become the richest actress in the world

The little girl in this photo grew up to become the richest actress in the world. Can you guess who she is?

Ask most people to name Hollywood’s wealthiest star, and you’ll likely hear names like George Clooney, Meryl Streep, or Angelina Jolie.

They’re all icons—but none come close to the extraordinary fortune held by a woman many remember from just a handful of films in the 1980s and 1990s.

She doesn’t dominate tabloid headlines. She rarely walks red carpets or headlines blockbuster movies. Yet her net worth is estimated at more than $3 billion.

So how did a relatively low-profile actress surpass every A-lister in Hollywood?

From suburban roots to the big screen

Long before her wealth stunned the world, she was simply a girl growing up in suburban Glenview, Illinois—far removed from the glamour of Los Angeles. She attended public schools, and her father worked as a builder and contractor.

Nothing about her childhood suggested billionaire status. That changed when she was discovered through a nationwide talent search. As a teenager, she landed roles in films that would later become cult classics.

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“I was found in a search and thrown right in—that was it,” she once recalled.

Her performances were warm, relatable, and instantly memorable. Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in some of the decade’s most beloved movies—the kind that defined a generation.

“When I was 16, I made more money than my dad,” she said. “That changes the dynamic. That changes a lot of things in your life.”

Choosing privacy over fame

Her career continued into the early 1990s with steady film work and memorable television appearances, including roles on popular sitcoms. She was respected, recognizable, and on a clear upward path.

But unlike many rising stars, she chose not to chase fame for fame’s sake. She stepped back from the Hollywood spotlight, prioritizing privacy, stability, and a meaningful life beyond constant public attention.

That decision proved pivotal.

A partnership that changed everything

It was during this period that she met the man who would become her husband—an ambitious young financier who had little idea of her acting résumé.

They married in 1989, long before either could imagine the immense fortune that would follow. In their early years together, she was the primary earner, even paying for their first home and their first vacation.

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“All I knew was that she was a working actress,” her husband later said in The Hollywood Reporter. “I didn’t know her movie or TV credits.”

Soon after, his career took off. In 1990, he co-founded Apollo Global Management, which grew into one of the most powerful private equity firms in the world. He later co-founded Ares Management and expanded into sports ownership, acquiring stakes in major teams such as the Atlanta Hawks.

Giving back—and setting the record straight

While he built an empire, she remained deeply involved in raising their four children and shaping the family’s philanthropic mission.

Their wealth wasn’t just about accumulation. In 2012, they were named the year’s top charitable donors after contributing more than $10 million to their foundation, supporting education, the arts, healthcare, and Jewish organizations. She also serves on the board of the Melanoma Research Alliance, the world’s largest nonprofit funder of melanoma research.

Despite assumptions that her fortune exists solely because of her husband, she has consistently challenged that narrative.

“Everyone thinks I married a rich guy,” she once said. “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 richest actress in the world

Today, her wealth is the result of choices and partnerships formed long before billion-dollar valuations entered the picture.

She helped build the life she lives—and fully deserves credit for it.

And the world’s richest actress is Jami Gertz, 60.

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Known for roles in The Lost Boys and Twister, along with appearances on hit shows like Seinfeld and Modern Family, she may no longer chase fame—but she remains instantly recognizable.

More importantly, her business acumen—alongside her husband Tony Ressler—has made her the wealthiest actress alive today.