Net Worth: $200 million Source: Getty Oil Oil and America. Two words that when associated with one another, generally means big bucks. Next up on our list is a man with a direct link to the Getty Oil fortune. Born Paul Getty, the now-known-as Balthazar is a musician and producer. He’s a part of a rap duo called The Wow, as well as being part of the band Ringside. As a kid too, he dabbled in his creative side, appearing in Lord of the Flies as Ralph in 1990. You might remember the film, which starred a 15-year-old Getty, and in fact developed cult status, as well as grossing over $14 million! One of our favorite roles of his though has to be in the neo-noir film by David Lynch called Lost Highway. If you haven’t seen it, we recommend you check it out!
Aside from his film career, Getty has also had quite a few TV series’ to add to his credentials, including appearing as Richard Montana in the hit series Charmed, as Thomas Grace on the action drama Alias and as Tommy Walker on drama Brothers & Sisters. What with the pile of money he’s sitting on, it’s nice to hear that Getty is part of The Lunchbox Fund, which provides food to children in need living in Africa. Ah, philanthropy!
Ariana Rockefeller
Net Worth: $2.8 billion Source: Standard Oil The Rockefellers. Yeah, you know the Rockefeller centre? That pretty, and pretty famous ice-skating rink – you know, the one with the huge Christmas tree? Ringing bells NYC’ers? Well yeah, Ariana is a part of that family. An heiress to the prominent Rockefeller dynasty, the family found its great fortune by way of oil. Standard Oil. The Rockefeller family’s legacy dates back to the early nineteenth-century, when the family patriarch founded the oil refinement company and back then he made billions! The family grew from strength to strength, investing in oil and property, and maintaining (if not growing) the family fortune. But regardless of their nigh unspeakable wealth, the family is very charitable. With all that money, really, you wouldn’t know what to do with it all!
A Columbia University graduate, Ariana initially secured an internship at the United Nations. However it seemed that she had another passion which called to her – fashion! The eponymous label has been successful, with a fair few opera coats, tweed jackets and dresses with more conservative elements – inspired by her preppy lifestyle! Her first collection was inspired by a Picasso painting which…hung in her childhood home. Yeah. She also had a stint with Reed Krakoff, designing a handbag line! So it seems that fashion has paid off for Rockefeller! But this Rockefeller isn’t only stylish – she’s a philanthropist, and a major supporter of the Human Society. She chaired the NYBG Winter Ball and regularly attends charity galas. She lives in an apartment (we’re guessing stunning) on the Upper East Side with her entrepreneur husband, Matthew Bucklin. Oh and did we mention, she’s an avid equestrienne! Makes sense – an expensive hobby, reserved for the rich and famous!
Paris Hilton
Net Worth: $300 million Source: Hilton Hotels Corporation Nowadays, people talk of Paris Hilton as the woman who brought us Kim Kardashian. We remember well those years that little Kim was a fashion accessory to the Hilton heiress, but oh how the tables have turned! Regardless of her current standing now, she is one of America’s best-known celebrities. Born in the Big Apple, Hilton is also the heiress to the Hilton Hotel fortune. Now that’s a pot of honey big enough for millions of people to dip into and prosper from! Regardless of what she decides to do, it definitely is a nice head start for any business venture, no?
But Hilton is more than just an heiress – she invested in her own brand: herself, and well, at the time, she was the talk of the town! Off the back of her socialite, fashionista status, Hilton has started a number of perfume lines. Her own retail businesses have brought in a whopping $3 billion US, earning her an income of $10 million US a year! Not to mention her stint with the DJ business – in 2014, she earned $2.7 million US for four nights’ work – that’s $347,000 US an hour, whilst she had a two-month residency on the Spanish island Ibiza. And to add another business venture for Hilton is her Paris Hilton Beach Club Resort, positioned in the Philippines. The holiday destination alone has brought in millions a year turnover! Oh and the small fact of being a celebrity – an appearance alone can earn the socialite a sweet $300K US. Not bad for a few hours eh?
Amanda Hearst
Net Worth: $100 million Source: Hearst Corporation Being born into the family of a media mogul, you’re bound to be entitled to a share of the fortune. But it seems that the New York-born socialite has found another calling, aside from being rich. Yeah – she’s attractive, so naturally, went into modeling! The now 35-year-old is a former IMG model (despite only standing at 5 foot 3 inches!), appearing on assorted covers for Town & Country, International Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan as well as being featured in Vanity Fair.
Aside from her modeling and publishing work, she is involved in her charity, Friends of Finn, which focuses on preventing and shutting down puppy mills which are known for their cruelty to dogs. If the reception of John Wick is anything to go by (the premise of the film is a guy goes and kills pretty much every assassin for killing his dog), then hey, this is bound to be a popular charity! For a bit of family background, if you don’t know the Hearst family, William Randolph Hearst was one of the biggest in the business and is now is worth a couple billion. Once it’s all been divided among relatives, that leaves Amanda with around $100 million. Not bad at all.
Brooke Shields
Net Worth: $25 million Source: Frank Shields Now that is one unforgettable pair of brows. So much so that this gorgeous brunette was spotted from young. Brooke Shields is best known for her acting career, but also for her good looks! The former child and teen model segued nicely into the film industry and made herself living out of it! Born in Manhattan, the former Princeton University attendee made her debut in the film and fashion industries from as early as 1966! As a teen growing up, she starred in the film Pretty Baby which got her noticed, and even received critical acclaim!
Following the success of the film, Shields was set to make waves again, in not one, but two films which achieved cult status later on! Even today, stills from The Blue Lagoon are seen floating around on Instagram – the bronzed, leggy, blue-eyed brunette is a teen vision! Following that, Endless Love, another 80s classic which garnered a crazy following in later years! The model and actress wasn’t quite done with making headlines, marrying superstar tennis champ Andre Agassi. Sadly, however, things didn’t last more than 2 sets, with the pair divorcing just two years after tying the knot. Following her marriage to Agassi, she met a man with whom she would have two children – Chris Hency. The pair have been married for almost twenty years! As for her fortune, well, it just so happens that this shield is heir to Revlon executive Frank Shields’ fortune. Yep. Wow!