Chris Pizzello / Invision / AP
It’s been a turbulent year for the entertainment industry, with massive layoffs and production slowdowns impacting thousands of jobs in music, film and television, and impacting the financial outlook of major companies, many of which are operating The company is considering selling, merging, or reorganizing the company. Weather the storm.
Still, in a fragmented attention economy, producing hits was as valuable as ever. In January, Forbes named legendary television producer Dick Wolf a billionaire. His Law & Order, Chicago and FBI shows serve as part of the final pillars of the television schedule. Larry David should probably join that elite club, but the Curb Your Enthusiasm star’s net worth is only half what Seinfeld co-creator Jerry Seinfeld is worth. Director Christopher Nolan, who controversially parted ways with Warner Bros. in 2020, bet himself on his next film and reaped a huge payday when Oppenheimer became a phenomenon. Usher appeared on the Super Bowl halftime show for free, but still made millions of dollars.
Throughout the year, Forbes tracked the most successful creators in all areas of the entertainment industry. From the highest-paid movie stars on the planet, to the highest-grossing summer concerts, to showrunners who are building their own television kingdoms, to deceased celebrities who still amass millions of dollars each year. , we tracked how power is measured in cold, hard cash. .
Elsewhere, we delved into the decades-long battle for profits for the creators of “The Blair Witch Project” and scoured documents showing the profitability of Disney’s recent film releases. In honor of Dick Van Dyke’s 99th birthday, we take a look back at his career and write an analysis of the $170 million lawsuit filed against the creators of the hit show Baby Reindeer. I did.
But a few stories from this year stand out above the rest and represent the best storytelling and analysis about the entertainment business in 2024.
Downward Spiral: In 2019, Forbes estimated Sean Combs’ worth at $740 million. His fortune is now almost half that amount.
Martin Scholer of Forbes
Inside the rubble of Didi’s empire
Written by Lisette Wojtko-Best
Sean Combs was once well on his way to becoming a billionaire. But as sexual assault allegations and civil lawsuits mounted in the first half of this year, his business partners fled and his brand became increasingly worthless. In June, Forbes conducted a comprehensive investigation into what’s left in his portfolio and how it could be affected by his ongoing legal troubles.
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Cultivating Greatness: Most of the art in Snoop’s Compound is created by his fans.
Ramona Rosales of Forbes
Written by Matt Craig
The hip-hop legend became one of the biggest stars of this 2024, thanks to his parental advice to become family-friendly and his appearance on the Olympic broadcast from Paris. Forbes caught up with DO-double-G at his home in Los Angeles in August, where he was looking for new material and how he’s handling the attention, including joining The Voice and releasing a new album produced by Dr. Dre. We talked about how to make the most of it. Joint ventures (including the ones you roll with) will likely sustain his grandchildren for the rest of their lives.
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“I wanted to be that face, take that chance and take that risk and be driven by people saying, ‘Why sponge?'” Mendes says of Sura Style products.
Jamel Toppin writes for Forbes
Written by Alex York
She put Hollywood on hold 10 years ago to raise a family with Ryan Gosling. This year, the 50-year-old actress re-emerged as a cleaning products entrepreneur and opened up about why washing dishes is her happy place.
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Better days: “As success increased, there was something about that ‘rich man in a poor man’s shirt’ that left a bad taste in the mouth,” Springsteen wrote in his 2016 memoir. There is.
Sergione Infuso/Corbis/Getty Images
Written by Lisette Wojtko-Best
Boss went from E Street to Easy Street by staying true to his humble roots and rolling up his sleeves and going to work. At 75, he still tours and performs three-hour shows. Here’s how our blue-collar hero joined the 10-figure club.
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Ava DuVernay was one of the Rising Stars on this year’s Forbes 50 People Over 50 list.
Mary Beth Koss writes for Forbes
Written by Maggie McGrath
The first black woman to direct a movie that grossed $100 million at the box office is shunning studios and their rules and relying on philanthropists like Melinda French Gates. In August, DuVernay sat down for a lengthy interview about her career and how she’s paving the way for other women to follow in her footsteps.
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Cut below: Forbes estimates Bear star Jeremy Allen White will make $750,000 per episode this season, but one veteran contract source says, “If this were 2021, he’d be making $120,000 per episode.” “I would have expected it to be $1,000,000.”
FX
Written by Matt Craig
Creating a hit TV series like The Bear was once a path to riches for the cast and creators. But with the massive changes in new entertainment, the development of groundbreaking programming is now worth hundreds of millions less than it used to be. But in Hollywood’s post-strike, all-streaming landscape, no one seems to be happy with the amount of money in circulation. Forbes gave the opportunity to hear from some of the biggest dealmakers in television.
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Beyoncé Knowles-Carter collaborated with LVMH subsidiary Moët Hennessy to develop a new whisky, Sir Davis.
Mason Poole (left), Julian Dakduk (right)
Written by Rachel King
The 32-time Grammy Award winner has released a new top-shelf shiny object in the shape of a Japanese style-inspired whiskey created in collaboration with Moët Hennessy. Its creators say the pop star was heavily involved in the process, including the name and bottle design. They explain how they created a spirit blend that accurately reflects Beyoncé’s brand and taste.
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