They're directors who can almost guarantee a box office hit by having their name on the poster.
And the leading lights of the filmmakingindustry can earn millions of dollars per film from cinema reciepts and, increasingly, streaming revenue.
Add in a few adverts and shrewd investments, and these celluloid auteurs can become fabulously wealthy.
Here are the top 13 film directors in the world in 2024, according to CelebrityNetWorth.
Add in a few adverts and shrewd investments, and these celluloid auteurs can become fabulously wealthy.
9. Ridley Scott
English filmmaker Ridley Scott first found fame as the director of Alien and has gone on to enjoy a glittering career with a string of hit science fiction, crime and historical dramas. It's earned him a fortune of approximately $400 million.
J.J. (that's Jeffrey Jacob) Abrams has found great success both creating hit television shows like Lost, Alias and Fringe, writing and producing films including Forever Young, Armageddon and Cloverfield, and directing films such as Mission: Impossible III and Super 8. It's netted him around $300 million.
Favourite to take the Best Director Oscar at this year's Academy Awards, British director Christopher Nolan has enjoyed an unbroken run of success since his 1998 debut Following. His films include Memento, The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception and Tenet. He has a net worth of approximately $250 million.