In a weathered mid-century photograph, a young girl with wide, inquisitive eyes gazes into the camera, her expression strikingly familiar. She embodies an ordinary Midwestern childhood—no inherited privilege, no spotlight, only the quiet consistency of suburban life in Glenview, Illinois. Raised on public schools and her parents’ grounded values, nothing in that grainy image hints that this child would one day amass a fortune eclipsing those of Hollywood’s most legendary stars and global music icons combined.
Jami Gertz’s evolution from a dependable working actress into the wealthiest individual ever associated with the screen is a lesson in foresight, restraint, and long-term strategy. Her story did not begin with wealth or connections. It began when renowned producer Norman Lear discovered her during a nationwide talent search, abruptly shifting her life’s trajectory. The girl from Glenview soon found herself cast in roles that secured her place in popular culture. By the 1980s, she had become a defining presence of the era, appearing in films such as Sixteen Candles, The Lost Boys, and the unflinching Less Than Zero.
Unlike many contemporaries swept up in the frenzy of “Brat Pack” fame, Gertz charted a different course. Respected and consistently employed, she resisted the industry’s appetite for overexposure. She prioritized privacy over tabloid attention and sustainability over the relentless pursuit of blockbuster status. That discipline—both personal and professional—quietly laid the groundwork for her remarkable financial ascent.
In 1986, at the height of her early career, Gertz met Tony Ressler, then a young banker. Their relationship defied the usual Hollywood narrative. At the time, Gertz was the clear financial anchor. She has repeatedly corrected the assumption that she married into wealth, stating plainly, “I made more money—way more money—than Tony when I met him. I paid for our first house. I paid for our first vacation.” What she chose was not money, but partnership.
They married in 1989 as the global financial landscape was beginning to shift. While Gertz continued acting—earning an Emmy nomination for Ally McBeal and starring in the long-running sitcom Still Standing—she and Ressler quietly built a financial empire far removed from Hollywood sets. Together, they aligned themselves with transformational opportunities in private equity and asset management. Ressler would go on to co-found Apollo Global Management and later Ares Management, firms that now oversee hundreds of billions of dollars.
Gertz was never a passive participant in this success. She became an active architect of their shared legacy. Their ambitions expanded into professional sports, first with ownership stakes in the MLB’s Milwaukee Brewers and later as majority owners of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. Today, Gertz is often the most public face of the Hawks’ ownership, representing the franchise at league events while spearheading major philanthropic and infrastructure initiatives, including the renovation of State Farm Arena and the development of elite training facilities.
As of early 2026, Jami Gertz’s estimated net worth ranges between $8 billion and $12 billion. In context, her wealth surpasses the combined fortunes of many of the entertainment industry’s most visible superstars. She is worth more than Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and Selena Gomez combined—an extraordinary figure achieved largely outside the spotlight.
Net Worth Comparison (Feb 2026 Estimates)
Jami Gertz: ~$12.0 billion — Business, sports, acting
Taylor Swift: ~$1.6 billion — Music and touring
Rihanna: ~$1.4 billion — Cosmetics and music
Tom Cruise: ~$600 million — Film production and acting
The girl in the photograph did not simply become an actress; she became a strategist. Her life illustrates a fundamental truth: fame fades, but ownership endures. Though she never abandoned acting—her most recent film appearance came in 2022—she refused to let her identity be limited by the roles Hollywood offered. When opportunities slowed, she didn’t chase relevance; she invested in permanence.
Her story stands as a powerful reminder for the modern era: the greatest fortunes are often built far from the applause. Through patience, restraint, and a partnership rooted in mutual respect, Jami Gertz transformed from a wide-eyed child in an unremarkable photograph into a global force in finance and sports. She remains the quintessential quiet billionaire—a woman who passed through Hollywood’s glare only to secure her true legacy in the disciplined, enduring world of ownership.