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Paul Thomas Anderson is a filmmaker who has been in the entertainment industry since the mid-90s. He built up his name (and net worth) directing unexpected and alternative projects, such as his 1997 hit Boogie Nights. Over the years, Anderson has worked on many critically-acclaimed movies, from the 2007 smash There Will Be Blood to the 2014 crime film Inherent Vice

Anderson is selective about the films he works on. But the eclectic auteur’s latest movie may be the one that cements his legacy in Hollywood. Licorice Pizza not only earned Anderson multiple Academy Award nominations but undoubtedly increased his wealth, too.

When did Paul Thomas Anderson start making movies?

Paul Thomas Anderson net worth
Paul Thomas Anderson attends Outstanding Directors of the Year Award during the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on March 03, 2022 in Santa Barbara, California. | Rebecca Sapp/Getty for SBIFF

According to IMDb, Paul Thomas Anderson is a Los Angeles native who began making movies before he was even ten years old. Anderson made his feature film debut in 1996, directing and releasing the movie Hard Eight. The crime movie received critical acclaim, giving Anderson the support he needed to launch his career in Hollywood officially.

His next film, Boogie Nights, helped make young Mark Wahlberg a star while proving Anderson’s versatility. The period drama was a different beast than his debut project, telling the story of a young porn star named Dirk Diggler and his experiences in that world. In the years following the success of Boogie Nights, Anderson released several more hit films. These include Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love, and There Will Be Blood

What is Paul Thomas Anderson’s net worth?

Anderson’s eighth film, Phantom Thread, was released in 2017. The historical drama reunited Anderson with the star of There Will Be BloodDaniel Day-Lewis, and received multiple Academy Award nominations. By that time, Anderson had become noted for his ability to craft compelling films that focus on the psychological struggles of the characters that he highlights.

The director’s multiple awards and honors, including three Golden Globe Awards and eight BAFTA Award nominations, have contributed to his impressive wealth. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Paul Thomas Anderson’s net worth is around $60 million. And with the way his career is going, that amount is only likely to increase. 

Notably, Anderson never legally married his long-time partner, Maya Rudolph. However, the filmmaker and the star share multiple children and properties, keeping their finances somewhat intertwined. 

Anderson’s movie ‘Licorice Pizza’ received universal acclaim

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Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2021 film, Licorice Pizza, is brand-new territory for the veteran filmmaker. The movie is a coming-of-age flick. It details the story of 15-year-old Gary Valentine and his budding relationship with a woman named Alana Kain. Anderson was inspired to make the film after witnessing a teenage boy flirting with an older woman. 

“It was picture day, and I saw this very energetic teenager flirting with the girl who was taking pictures,” Anderson told Variety. “It was an instantly good premise.”

The director was initially hesitant to set the movie in LA, he kept coming back to the themes and visuals of the area. He ultimately decided to go with his original instinct and base it in the San Fernando Valley in the ’70s.

Licorice Pizza debuted in December 2021 to almost immediate critical acclaim. The film received three Academy Award nominations, including Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Original Screenplay. With more fans discovering the movie daily, Paul Thomas Anderson’s influence in Hollywood — and net worth — will only grow in the years to come.