Richest Academy Honorary Award Winners, According to Their Net Worths

The Academy Honorary Award celebrates those who achieved something memorable in the motion picture industry that isn't necessarily covered by an existing Academy Award. That said, those who have won an Oscar are not excluded from the running.

Since the Academy Honorary Award (previously called the Special Award) was first given in 1929, the list of honoraries has ranged from actors and directors to choreographers and animators. But who was the most successful award winner of the bunch? Just check out this list of recipients, whom we’ve ranked by their net worths.

30. Charles Burnett

Born: April 13, 1944

Net worth: $1.4 million 

Year honored: 2017

Known for: “Killer of Sheep," “My Brother’s Wedding," “To Sleep with Anger," “The Glass Shield,” “Namibia: “The Struggle for Liberation" 

How Burnett Amassed His Million

While the film director-producer isn’t among the industry's most heralded names, the UCLA product has done pretty well for himself.

His breakthrough, “Killer of Sheep,” was filmed with a hand-held camera, starred family and colleagues, and required five years to complete.

RELATED: Best Academy Award Hosts of All Time

29. Gena Rowlands

Born: June 19, 1930

Net worth: $1.5 million

Year honored: 2015

Known for: “The High Cost of Living," “Lonely Are the Brave," “Machine Gun McCain," “A Woman Under The Influence," “Two-Minute Warning," “Opening Night,” “Gloria"

How Rowlands Amassed Her Million

in a career that spanned seven decades, the retired film-stage-television actress is one of the last remaining stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Alas, if the four-time Emmy Award winner had come along a few decades later, she'd have a whole lot more in her bank account.

26. Agnes Varda (Tie)

Born: May 30, 1928

Net worth: $1.7 million

Year honored: 2017

Known for: “La Point Courte," “Cleo from 5 to 7," “Far from Vietnam," “Daguerreotypes," “One Sings, the Other Doesn’t," “Vagabond," “Jacquot de Nantes," “The World of Jacques of Demy," “The Beaches of Agnes," “Agnes Varda: From Here to There," “Faces Places"

How Varda Amassed Her Million

The late Belgian director (who passed in 2019) wasted no time making her mark.

Her debut film “La Point Courte" set the stage for the 1960s French New Waves movies that would follow it.

26. Owen Roizman (Tie)

Born: Sept. 22, 1936

Net worth: $1.7 million 

Year honored: 2017

Known for: “Stop," “The French Connection," “The Heartbreak Kid," “The Exorcist," “Absence of Malice," “Tootsie," “The Addams Family," “Wyatt Earp"

How Roizman Amassed His Million

The late Brooklyn filmmaker earned five Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography in “Tootsie," “Wyatt Earp," “The French Connection" and “The Exorcist Network."

He also served a two-year stint as the president of the American Society of Cinematographers.

26. Marvin Levy (Tie)

Born: Nov. 16, 1928

Net worth: $1.7 million 

Year honored: 2018

Known for: “Taxi Driver,” “The Deep” and “Kramer vs. Kramer," “Close Encounters of the Third Kind"

How Levy Amassed His Million

Shortly after the pitchman headed to Hollywood, Levy landed with Columbia Pictures in a company merger. There, he connected with film icon Steven Spielberg, who hired him to market "Close Encounters," among other projects.

In 2022, he became the first publicist to receive an Academy Honorary Award.

25. Anne V. Coates

Born: Dec. 12, 1925

Net worth: $1.9 million 

Year honored: 2016

Known for: “Lawrence of Arabia," “Becket," “The Elephant Man," “In the Line of Fire," “Out of Sight"

How Coates Amassed Her Million

As one of few female film editors in her day, Ann Voase Coates beat long odds in “Lawrence of Arabia," the 1962 epic for which she won an Oscar award.

It would be the first of five Academy Award nominations in a career that spanned six decades.

24. Hayley Mills

Born: April 18, 1946

Net worth: $5 million

Year honored: 1960

Known for: “Pollyanna," “The Parent Trap," “Summer Magic," "That Darn Cat," "The Family Way," “Pretty Polly," “Cry of the Penguins,” “The Kingfisher Caper"

How Mills Amassed Her Millions

The child prodigy burst on the scene in “Pollyanna," the 1960 Disney film for which she was awarded the final Juvenile Oscar award.

In the next three decades, the actor-singer would be a fixture in television and motion pictures.

RELATED: Most Valuable Disney Collectibles in the World

23. Eli Wallach

Born: Dec. 7, 1915

Net worth: $6 million 

Year honored: 2010

Known for: “Baby Doll," The Magnificent Seven," “The Misfits," “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," “How the West Was Won," “Tough Guys," “The Godfather Park III," “The Associate,” “The Ghost Writer"

How Wallach Amassed His Millions

The New York movie-television-stage performer was widely acclaimed to be among the best character actors of his time, with more than 90 films to his credit.

He garnered British Academy Film, Tony and Emmy awards before his death at 98 years of age in 2014.

20. Cicely Tyson (Tie)

Born: Dec. 19, 1924

Net worth: $10 million

Year honored: 2018

Known for: “Odds Against Tomorrow," “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter," “Sounder," “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," “Just An Old Sweet Song," “The Marva Collins Story," “Fried Green Tomatoes," “The Road to Galveston," “The Rosa Parks Story,” “The Help"

How Tyson Amassed Her Millions

In 1972, the erstwhile fashion model reached stardom as Rebecca Morgan (in “Sounder”). At age 48, no less, although she routinely looked 10 years younger than her age. I

n addition to an honorary Academy Award, she claimed three Emmy Awards as well as Screen Actors Guild, Tony and Peabody awards.

20. Maureen O’Hara (Tie)

Born: Aug. 17, 1920 

Net worth: $10 million 

Year honored: 2014

Known for: “Jamaica Inn," “The Hunchback of Notre Dame," “How Green Was My Valley," “The Black Swan," “Sinbad the Sailor," “The Miracle of 34th Street," “Rio Grande," “Parent Trap," “Only the Lonely"

How O’Hara Amassed Her Millions

In 1939, the redhead got her first big break, courtesy of producer Alfred Hitchcock in “Jamaica Inn."

She moved to Tinseltown a short time later, signed with RKO Productions and forged her legacy on the silver screen.

20. Elaine May (Tie)

Born: April 21, 1932

Net worth: $10 million

Year honored: 2021

Known for: “Enter Laughing, Luv," “The Graduate, “A New Leaf," “California Suite," “In the Spirit," “Small Time Crooks”

How May Amassed Her Millions

The May-Mike Nichols duo elevated comedy to another level in the 1950s, but it wasn’t until May's career morphed into that of a film actress turned writer-director that she struck it richer two decades later.

Her two Academy Award nominations came 20 years apart for “Heaven Can Wait” (1978) and “Primary Colors” (1998).

19. Lina Wertmüller

Born: Aug. 14, 1928

Net worth: $14 million

Year honored: 2019

Known for: “Seven Beauties," “The Seduction of Mimi," “Love and Anarchy,” “Swept Away" 

How Wertmüller Amassed Her Millions

In a seven-year period that stretched from the “Seduction of Mimi” (1972) to “Blood Feud” (1978), the Italian film director-screenwriter went from Euro groundbreaker to international acclaim.

She was cited “for her provocative disruption of political and social norms delivered with bravery through her weapon of choice: the camera lens."

18. Peter Weir

Born: Aug. 21, 1944

Net worth: $15 million

Year honored: 2022

Known for: "Man on a Green Bike," "Homesdale," "Witness," "The Mosquito Coast," "Dead Poets Society," "The Truman Show," "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," "The Way Back"

How Weir Amassed His Millions

The six-time Academy Award nominee was a big shooter in the Australian New Wave cinema scene for the better part of two decades.

In 2022, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences cited him as "a director of consummate skill and artistry whose work reminds us of the power of film to reveal the full range of human experience.”

17. Lynn Stalmaster

Born: Nov. 17, 1927

Net worth: $17 million 

Year honored: 2016

Known for: “Fiddler on the Roof," "Harold and Maude," "The Cowboys," "Deliverance," "Rollerball," "Silver Streak," "Black Sunday," "Coming Home," "Convoy," "The Rose," "Superman," "Being There"

How Stalmaster Amassed His Millions

The late Omaha native (who passed in 2021) got his start as an actor in “The Steel Helmet” and “The Flying Leathernecks”, but his fall-back plan proved to be more successful.

The acting director was part of more than 60 television shows and motion pictures, for which he became the first in the profession to receive an Academy Award.

14. Liv Ullmann (Tie)

Born: Dec. 16, 1938

Net worth: $20 million 

Year honored: 2021

Known for: “Persona," “Hour of the Wolf," “The Passion of Anna," “The Emigrants," “The New Land," “Cries and Whispers," “Scenes from a Marriage," “Liv and Ingmar," “Two Lives,” “Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words"

How Ullmann Amassed Her Millions

Not long after the Norwegian actress hooked up with Swedish director Ingar Bergman — they would combine on 10 motion pictures — she made a name and fortune for herself as a motion picture superstar.

In 2022, the AMPAS recognized her for "bravery and emotional transparency that has gifted audiences with deeply affecting screen portrayals.”

14. Piero Tosi (Tie)

Born: April 10, 1927

Net worth: $20 million

Year honored: 2013

Known for: “Senso," "Bellissima," "The Leopard," "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow," "Death in Venice," "The Night Porter," "La Traviata"

How Tosi Amassed His Millions

In a career that spanned five decades, the late Italian (who passed in 2019) was the source for costume design.

Five times he received Academy Award nominations but came up short each time. He received the first honorary award in his trade as a parting gift.

14. Sidney Poitier (Tie)

Born: Feb. 20, 1927

Net worth: $20 million 

Year honored: 2001

Known for: “The Defiant Ones," Lillies of the Field," “Porgy and Bess,” “A Raisin in the Sun," “A Patch of Blue," “To Sir with Love," “Look Who’s Coming to Dinner," “In the Heat of the Night"

How Poitier Amassed His Millions

The late actor, author, film director-producer and diplomat was one of the last survivors of the Golden Age of Hollywood before his passing in 2022.

In 1958, he played opposite Tony Curtis in "The Defiant Ones," for which both earned Academy Award nominations. The Bahamian claimed the honor in "Lilies of the Field” six years later.

12. James Earl Jones (Tie)

Born: Jan. 17, 1931

Net worth: $40 million 

Year honored: 2011

Known for: “Dr. Strangelove," “The Great White Hope," “Claudine," “Star Wars," “Field of Dreams," “The Hunt for Red October,” “The Lion King"

How Jones Amassed His Millions

James has been a prominent figure in the industry for decades, and he has the Tony (three), Grammy and Emmy awards to prove it. Yet many know him best for that voice.

No, that voice, the one that’s deeper than a West Virginia coal mine, as gravelly as Tobacco Road. And to think that he stuttered as a kid...

12. Roger Corman (Tie)

Born: April 5, 1926

Net worth: $40 million 

Year honored: 2009

Known for: “It Conquered the World," “A Bucket of Blood, “The Little Shop of Horrors," “The Corman-Poe Cycle," “X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes," “The Wild Angels," “The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre," “The Trip"

How Corman Amassed His Millions

The so-called Pope of Pop Cinema has made a large fortune from low-budget films.

He imported a number of foreign directors and was a mentor for a slew of others, a list that included Ford Coppola, Ron Howard and Peter Bogdanovich, to name a few.

11. Hayao Miyazaki

Born: Jan. 5, 1941

Net worth: $50 million

Year honored: 2014

Known for: “Castle in the Sky," “Kiki’s Delivery Service," “Princess Mononoke," “Spirited Away," “Ponyo,” “The Wind Rises"

How Miyazaki Amassed His Millions

Some consider the co-founder of Tokyo-based Studio Ghibli to be the most influential filmmaker in the history of animation.

His 2001 film “Spirited Away” grossed more than any film in Japanese history and captured the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

8. Donald Sutherland (Tie)

Born: July 17, 1935

Net worth: $60 million

Year honored: 2017

Known for: “M*A*S*H," “The Dirty Dozen," “Don’t Look Now," “National Lampoon’s Animal House," “Ordinary People," “JFK," “Six Degrees of Separation," “Fallen,"”Without Limits,” “Cold Mountain"

How Sutherland Amassed His Millions

The Nova Scotia native is on the shortlist of the most underrated actors, not to mention the best ones without an Academy Award nomination to their credit. Tsk, tsk.

He’ll have to get by on his legacy of more than 200 motion pictures and television shows, which earned him a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame.

8. Spike Lee (Tie)

Born: March 20, 1967

Net worth: $60 million

Year honored: 2015

Known for: “She’s Gotta Have It," “Do the Right Thing," “Jungle Fever," “Malcolm X," “Crooklyn," “Get on the Bus," “4 Little Girls," “He Got Game,” “Inside Man"

How Lee Amassed His Millions

The New Yorker has produced 30-something films in the last five decades, but he could have quit after the first one. “She’s Gotta Have It” cost $170,000 with a return of $7 million. 

And his success has only continued to add to his net worth.

8. Robert Altman (Tie)

Born: Feb. 20, 1925

Net worth: $60 million 

Year honored: 2005

Known for: “M*A*S*H," “McCabe & Mrs. Miller," “The Long Goodbye," “California Split," “Nashville," “3 Women," “A Wedding," “Secret Honor," “The Player," “Short Cuts," “Gosford Park"

How Altman Amassed His Millions

Altman ranks among the most accomplished and innovative film producer-directors of his time. If the one-time war pilot wasn’t so fiercely independent (read: anti-Hollywood), he might have an Academy Award on his resume.

He was nominated five times, the first of which (for “M*A*S*H”)would be his signature work.

7. Angela Lansbury

Born: Oct. 16, 1925

Net worth: $70 million

Year honored: 2013

Known for: "National Velvet," "State of the Union," "The Court Jester," "The Reluctant Debutante," "The Manchurian Candidate," "Death on the Nile," "The Company of Wolves," "Nanny McPhee"

How Lansbury Amassed Her Millions

After the London lass broke in at 17 years old, she went on to receive 18 Academy Award nominations in a legendary career.

Yet it wasn’t until her 60s that Jessica Fletcher was at the height of her popularity in “Murder, She Wrote," the popular television series that spawned several made-for-TV movies.

6. Diane Warren

Born: Sept. 7, 1956

Net worth: $100 million 

Year honored: 2022

Known for: “I Get Weak," “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now," “Look Away," “When I See You Smile," “Blame It on the Rain’," “Love Will Lead You Back," “Because You Loved Me," “Un-break My Heart," “Have You Ever," “This Is for My Girls" 

How Warren Amassed Her Millions

As far back as 11 years old, the SoCal lyricist has been consumed by music. No fewer than nine of her songs were No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and 30-plus have appeared on the top-10 list.

Now in her mid-60s, she continues to collaborate with dozens of artists in all genres, including everyone from Celine Dion to Alice Cooper. Oh, and don’t let that bottom fool ya. Her publishing company, RealSongs, owns the rights to her work.

5. Steve Martin

Born: Aug. 14, 1945

Net worth: $140 million

Year honored: 2013

Known for: “Live Action," “The Jerk," “Pennies from Heaven," “Roxanne," “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles," “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," “Parenthood," “Father of the Bride," “Leap of Faith,” “The Pink Panther"

How Martin Amassed His Millions

You want funny? The future Lucky Day was a cheerleader in high school, sold Disneyland guidebooks in its early days, worked as Knott’s Berry Farm magician-musician and dropped out of college.

But, seriously, few (if any) actors-comedians-musicians-writers have done more or better than this one. (Full disclosure: “Three Amigos” is one of my all-time faves. Go ahead — soy yo.) 

4. Sophia Loren

Born: Sept. 20, 1945

Net worth: $150 million 

Year honored: 1990

Known for: “Houseboat," “Two Women," “El Cid," “The Fall of the Roman Empire," “Yesterday, “Today and Tomorrow," “Love Italian Style," “Operation Crossbow," “Arabesque,” “The Life Ahead"

How Loren Amassed Her Millions

At her zenith, Sofia Villani Scicolone was as close to a Roman goddess as ever graced the silver screen. A bit player in her late teens, the 22-year-old hooked up with Paramount and soon became the hottest international star in more ways than one.

In 1961, she was paid a reported $1 million to appear in the epic “El Cid” opposite Charleston Heston.

3. Robert Redford

Born: Aug. 18, 1937

Net worth: $200 million 

Year honored: 2001

Known for: “Butch Cassady and the Sundance Kid," “Jeremiah Johnson," “The Way We Were," “The Sting," “The Great Waldo Pepper," “Three Days of the Condor," “All the President’s Men," “A Bridge Too Far," Ordinary People,” “The Natural"

How Redford Amassed His Millions

Remember when Butch Cassady told Etta, “I've been working like a dog all my life, and I can't get a penny ahead?”

How prophetic. Six decades later, he’s about 20 billion pennies ahead. After Redford's breakthrough in "Butch Cassady and the Sundance Kid" (1969), he struck it richer in a ginormous four-year run that included “The Way We Were," “The Sting” and “All the President’s Men.” All of which made him the brightest star in Hollywood.

2. Samuel L. Jackson

Born: Dec. 21, 1948

Net worth: $250 million 

Year honored: 2021

Known for: “Do the Right Thing," “Goodfellas," “The Romance," “Pulp Fiction," “Jurrasic Park," “The Incredibles," “Marvel’s The Avengers," “Captain America: The Winter Soldier," “Incredibles," “Spider-Man: Far from Home"

How Jackson Amassed His Millions

Mr. Señor Love Daddy (“Do The Right Thing”) will consider almost any role for a buck, but don’t get any ideas. The professional negotiator drives a hard bargain — it takes upward of $20 million to persuade him.

Then again, when your 150-something movies have grossed more money than almost anyone else in Hollywood, you can be as picky as you please.

1. Jackie Chan

Born: April 7, 1954

Net worth: $400 million 

Year honored: 2016

Known for: “The Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow," “Drunken Master," “Police Story," “Operation Condor," “Supercop,” “Crime Story," “Rumble in the Bronx," “Rush Hour," “Shanghai Noon,” “Kung Fu Panda"

How Chan Amassed His Millions

His name (originally Chan Kong-sang) has been synonymous with martial arts since 1978 when “The Snake in the Eagle's Shadow” put him on the map, and his legendary performance in “Drunken Master” spawned Kung-Fu action-comedy. “Rush Hour” would gross $130 million in the United States alone.

Now in his late 60s, the guy isn’t slowing down any time soon, either.