World’s 20 Richest People Revealed (10 of 11)

3. George Lucas: $7 billion

George Lucas, the godfather of modern sci-fi, has amassed a huge following amongst nerds, dweebs, and geeks as the brainchild behind the Star Wars franchise. But his influence stretches beyond lightsabers. He revolutionized special effects with Industrial Light & Magic and nurtured Indy’s fedora-wearing adventures. Additionally, his philanthropic efforts, particularly in education and the arts, reflect his commitment to giving back to society.

Bonus Fact: Lucas’s early dream was to become a race car driver, but a near-fatal accident and a serious case of the dorkies shifted his focus to filmmaking.

2. Steven Spielberg: $8 billion

Steven Spielberg, a giant of cinema, isn’t just a blockbuster king (Jaws, Raiders). From Cold War chills (Close Encounters) to heart-wrenching alien friendships (E.T.), he’s a genre-hopping maestro. He doesn’t shy away from tackling weighty themes either, with Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan standing as powerful testaments.

Bonus Fact: Due to mediocre high school grades, Spielberg was rejected from the University of Southern California three times. He did eventually get his degree, though, when he was 60.