Tyler Perry vs. Spike Lee: Who Has the Higher Net Worth?
Spike Lee and Tyler Perry are two of the most influential filmmakers in show business. Although they experienced a contentious relationship in the past, they appear to have found common ground and mutual respect. With the controversy behind them, the pros have continued to earn admiration from fans and colleagues while also building considerable personal wealth.
Who boasts the bigger bank account, Tyler Perry or Spike Lee?
Perry and Lee have earned serious coin through their various ventures in the sphere of entertainment. Celebrity Net Worth estimates that Lee is worth a cool $50 million. And according to the outlet, Perry’s fortune amounts to about $600 million. Both creators have dozens of writing, directing, and producing credits, not to mention their on-screen roles. Here is a snapshot of some of the gigs that helped them make it to the top, including Lee’s Academy Award win and Perry’s history-making cash cow.
Spike Lee began creating prolific feature films in the 1980s
Lee boasts a catalog of films dating back to the ‘80s, beginning with the provocative romantic comedy, She’s Gotta Have It. The story about a woman named Nola and her three lovers proved that Lee is unafraid to push the creative envelope.
As the head of 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, Lee became known for his thought-provoking narratives that hold a mirror up to society. School Daze, Jungle Fever, and Do the Right Thing are just a few of his works that grip audiences with power, authenticity, and a dash of humor.
The director also displays a knack for historical films based on real events, including Malcolm X and Get on the Bus. Film buffs will also note Lee’s gift for crafting compelling documentaries, such as Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall.
With virtually every genre under his belt, Lee has solidified his place in cinematic history alongside colleagues like his famous pal, Martin Scorsese. An exciting turning point for Lee was the 2018 film BlacKkKlansman, which he co-wrote, directed and produced. Lee earned an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film and has remained on his trajectory toward making more cool movies and boosting his impressive bank account.
Tyler Perry wrote and starred in stage plays before moving to the big screen
Perry began his career as an entertainer bringing his hilarious stories to live theater audiences as a playwright and actor. His work revolves around a gun-toting matriarch named Madea, whom he portrays. After the success of his shows, Perry adapted his play, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, for the big screen and debuted Madea to worldwide audiences in 2005.
Fans gave Perry and his signature character a warm welcome. Much of the writer’s audience consists of an underserved segment of consumers; Black Americans and churchgoers. Perry leveraged the success of Diary of a Mad Black Woman and began making even more targeted content for the loyal audience.
Since 2005, Perry has launched a slew of films and created a slate of television shows, including the critical darling, I Can Do Bad All By Myself. What’s more, he has acquired partial ownership of the streaming giant, BET+, which houses much of Perry’s original content. Fans can catch Tyler Perry’s Madea Farewell Play on the streaming service beginning Aug. 27.
When Tyler Perry made history as the head of a studio, he honored Lee as a trailblazer
In a history-making move, Perry opened the sprawling Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, GA, making him the first Black American to own a major studio. What’s more, the facility is larger than Warner Bros., Walt Disney Studios, and Paramount combined, as noted by The Source.
The 300-plus acre facility boasts buildings, green space, and 12 soundstages named after Black game-changers in entertainment, including a stage named after Lee. Major television and film productions pay a production fee to utilize Perry’s state of the art campus for big-budget projects, putting even more green in his pockets.
With multiple streams of income, rock-solid Hollywood reps, and fiercely passionate fans, Perry and Lee are poised to grow their individual fortunes even more.
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