Though his career has certainly slowed down in the last few years, Richard Gere was celebrity royalty in the 1990s. His celebrity status reached new heights after the film “American Gigolo,” where he became one of America’s most swoon-worthy Hollywood hunks. After that, his salary for films such as “The Cotton Club” and “Runaway Bride” climbed from $2 million to $13 million. Being named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1999 certainly paid off, surely contributing to that skyrocket in salary.
However, it wasn’t just Gere’s good looks that gained him his fortune. It was his ability to star in one of the most lucrative genres there is in Hollywood — romantic comedies. In the 1990s, Gere was the leading man every director wanted to book for their rom-com, and Gere’s roles in cult classics such as “Runaway Bride,” “Pretty Woman,” and “Dr. T & The Woman,” certainly helped him gain the fame and fortune he enjoys today.
Carrie Underwood — $140 Million
Not all winners of "American Idol" hit it as big as Underwood did, but some people just have the “it” factor, and she’s certainly one of them. As soon as she stepped into the judging room, it seemed everyone around could smell Underwood’s impending success in the air. She won the season, unsurprisingly, and from that point on released chart-topping hits, one after the other. Her debut album combined elements of country and pop that had fans crying for more.
Underwood has sold over 65 million records worldwide. She’s also received countless accolades, including 12 Country Music Awards, seven Grammys, and an induction in the Grand Ole Opry. Just think, one audition changed her life forever. Today, Underwood is known as the most successful "American Idol" winner of all time.
Dr. Dre — $850 Million
A legend with a massively successful empire, it’s no surprise that Dr. Dre made this list. He initially got his start as a producer and performer for the groundbreaking rap group, N.W.A. Like many members of the group, Dre went on to start a solo career, where he was met with huge success. His hard work and focus paid off after he founded Aftermath Entertainment, where he signed rap legends like 50 Cent and Eminem.
Not only has he made a name for himself and an impressive fortune, but Dr. Dre has also created one of the most popular headphone companies out there, Beats by Dre. The headphones ended up being a major cash cow for Dr. Dre after he sold the technology to Apple for $3.2 billion. Not only that, but Dre remains a quarter owner in the Beats by Dre company, which means he’s still making a huge amount of money off of them.
Dolly Parton — $650 Million
Well, she didn’t make that kind of living workin’ a nine-to-five job! Dolly Parton, a legendary country icon, has had an impressive and long-lasting career, and she’s got the net worth to back it up. Emerging onto the country music radar in 1967 with her first album, "Hello, I’m Dolly," Parton has been writing hits ever since. Known for her signature blonde gingham look, Parton not only has the skills to create numerous chart-toppers, but she's also a skilled businesswoman and has been running multiple successful ventures over the years.
Not only the beauty but also the brains behind many of her successful songs, Dolly Parton is a singer and songwriter. You might not know, but Dolly actually wrote Whitney Houston’s legendary, “I Will Always Love You.” Parton also owns her own record label, Dolly Records. She didn’t just make all of her money in the early years of her career, either. She’s still rolling in massive amounts of money — she made $19 million in 2016 alone!
Phil McGraw — $470 Million
You probably don’t expect to make a fortune the size of Dr. Phil’s after getting your psychology degree. Phil McGraw was launched into national success after appearing on "Oprah" one day. Soon, "The Dr. Phil Show" premiered and Dr. Phil’s career reached new heights. The show began in 2002 and continued to air until mid-2023.
Though Dr. Phil has faced criticism for his opinions over the last few years, his net worth continues to grow and his popularity remains steady. To give you an idea of just how much Phil McGraw makes from his daytime television show, in 2017 Dr. Phil made a salary of $79 million. We doubt he cares about any criticism with a paycheck like that. Just as he gained fame from appearing on "Oprah," Dr. Phil’s television show has helped others reach stardom, such as the rapping career of Danielle Bregoli, the “Cash Me Outside” girl.