James Cameron has become only the fifth film director to reach billionaire status, with an estimated net worth of $1.1 bn, according to Forbes, just days before the release of his next film, Avatar: Fire And Ash.
The 71-year-old joins an elite group of filmmakers that includes George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Tyler Perry. Forbes notes that Cameron is unique among them for earning the bulk of his fortune directly from box-office revenues rather than studios or franchises.
Cameron’s films, including The Terminator, Aliens, Titanic and the Avatar series — have collectively generated nearly $9 bn worldwide. He remains the only director to have made three films that each surpassed $2 bn in global ticket sales: Titanic, Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water.
His wealth is expected to grow further with the release of Avatar: Fire And Ash, which Forbes estimates could add at least $200 mln to his personal earnings.
