Hollywood actor and producer, Tyler Perry is a billionaire, but he didn’t come from a rich family. Instead, he was abused and had a rough start. Was he homeless, and how did he become so rich?
The comedic mastermind behind the Madea franchise, Tyler Perry, recently reached billionaire status. Between his extensive library of movies and TV shows, investments, his production studio, his many homes, and his equity stake in BET+, it’s no surprise that the Hollywood icon is now part of the “three comma club,” as they say.
However, the media mogul didn’t come from money. In fact, he has a seriously inspirational backstory. Tyler Perry was once homeless before making it big. Stay tuned for more regarding the 53-year-old’s incredible rags-to-riches story.
Before he got famous, Tyler Perry lived a very different life.
Tyler didn’t always live a life of luxury. According to Biography, he grew up in New Orleans, La. as one of four children, and his father was extremely abusive. He was also sexually abused by numerous adults outside of his home, and at one point, he attempted to take his own life before dropping out of high school. Eventually, Tyler was able to earn his GED, and he went on to work several unfulfilling odd jobs. However, he ultimately found that his passion lay in writing plays.
By the time Tyler was in his early 20s, he had saved up $12,000 and moved to Atlanta to launch his first original musical, I Know I’ve Been Changed. At the time, according to Inc, he was working out of a used car and worked as a bill collector on the side. He expected a 1,200-person turnout on the opening night of his first show, but only 30 people came. After that, he started missing car payments and rent and ended up living on the street with no money.
Tyler, however, didn’t throw in the towel. He continued writing and working odd jobs, and in 1998, he rented out Atlanta’s House of Blues to showcase I Know I’ve Been Changed one more time. According to Biography, that’s when his career took off. He started selling out tickets and eventually had to move the show to a larger theatre. On the side, he continued writing more plays and eventually created the popular Madea series, which was when he rose to fame.
SOURCE: INSTAGRAM
Tyler Perry credits Oprah as his biggest source of inspiration.
Tyler realized his love for writing when he was watching Oprah’s talk show, according to J Rank Biography. She said that writing down experiences can be “cathartic,” and upon looking up the definition of that word, he decided to write, digging up memories from his life. In his journal he changed the names of people, in case it ever fell into the wrong hands, and his writings became his creative work.
After Tyler released his first movie in the Madea franchise in 2005, Oprah invited him to her Legends Ball, which was beyond him, according to ET Online.
“In 2005, Oprah invited me to her Legends Ball… I saw Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Tom Cruise and Sidney Poitier, and I said, ‘What am I doing here?” he recalled of the life-changing experience.
We’re so proud of Tyler and all his accomplishments. If anyone deserves fame and fortune, he definitely does.
Profile Summary
| Celebrated Name: | Tyler Perry |
| Net Worth: | $800 million to $1 billion |
| Salary: | $80 million per year |
| Profession: | Screenwriter, Playwright, Film Producer, Television producer, Actor, Film director, Theatre Director, Television Director, Author, Songwriter |
| Full Real Name: | Emmitt Perry, Jr. |
| Date of Birth: | September 13, 1969 |
| Age: | 53 years old (as of 2023) |
| Birthplace: | New Orleans |
| Nationality: | United States of America |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
What is Tyler Perry’s net worth?
Perry was born Emmitt Perry, Jr., on September 13, 1969, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He did not complete high school but earned a GED.
Tyler began writing as a way to help heal his mental wounds while suffering from abuse at the hands of his family members. During his early 20s, an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, which described the positive and therapeutic impact writing can have on a person, inspired him to pursue a career in the field.
Now, he owns BET after years of having a stake in the network company. Media mogul Perry has successfully acquired BET and VH1, making him the first African American to own two major television networks.
So, how much is Tyler Perry worth right now? Forbes estimated that Tyler Perry has a current net worth of $1 billion making him the 2610th richest person in the world. However, Celebrity Net Worth pegs his fortune at $800 million adding that he earns $80 million per year. Known for being an American actor, director, playwright, and producer, Tyler Perry has made his money through various ventures, including films, plays, television shows, scene plays, writing, real estate, merchandise, and other business ventures.
Tyler Perry is, far and away, one of the most financially successful directors in the entertainment industry. Over the course of his career, he has directed and produced more than 30 movies, 20 stage productions, and eight TV shows. Every year, he personally earns between $200 and $250 million from his sprawling entertainment empire. His production company currently earns $150 million per year from one deal alone with ViacomCBS.
What properties does Tyler Perry have? He has over 10 cars, 15 house properties, 1 private jet, and 4 yachts, per CA Knowledge. Yes, he has not one but two Gulfstream III private jets which cost around $125 million. In 2020, it was revealed that Perry’s metro Atlanta mansion boasted 35,000 square feet, 1,200 acres, and a runway for his personal aircraft. On February 2023, he took to his Instagram page to note that “airplanes and making movies” are the two things he loves.
What kind of car does Tyler Perry have? According to Car HP, Tyler Perry recently purchased a new Bentley Bentayga. Tyler Perry also has a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, which is worth more than $327,750. He also owns a Range Rover Autobiography, a Bentley Continental GT, a Cadillac Escalade, and a Rolls-Royce Wraith.
He reportedly gifted Oprah Winfrey and her best friend Gayle King a Bentley each. In 2012, Gayle King told Vanity Fair that Perry gave her a Bentley after surprising her with it when picking up her and Oprah for lunch. “Oprah liked it, so he sent her the same exact car,” our editor-at-large said. Per oprahwinfrey.com, it is one of her best gifts so far.
How did Tyler Perry make his money?
Tyler Perry is one of just a few directors/actors/producers to cross over from “mere” millionaire to billionaire with a Capital B. And he’s been a billionaire for years. According to Forbes, who seems to know what they’re talking about when it comes to America’s richest people, Tyler has been earning over “$1.4 billion in pretax income since 2005.” So, how does Tyler make—and more importantly, spend—all this money? Let’s get into it.
House of Payne Was His Big Huge Break
Tyler shot and filmed what would go on to be the first ten episodes of House of Payne in Atlanta, and then he went to Hollywood where it was purchased by The CW. The show was such a hit that TBS made a deal with Tyler to air the next 90 episodes—which he’d own fully—for $200 million. He reportedly pocketed $138 million of that $200 million, according to Forbes. Think we can all agree this is truly an incredible story.
The Madea Franchise Just Keeps Making Money
According to Forbes, Tyler’s famous Madea movies have grossed more than $660 million in total, netting him $290 million in profits. Considering he stars in and produces them, Tyler’s obviously keeping a huge percentage of the profits. In fact, Forbes notes that Tyler owns “100 percent of the content he’s created” which means he keeps the lion’s share of pretty much everything he touches. This reportedly includes more than 1,200 television episodes, two dozen stage plays, and 22 movies.
He Literally Has His Own Movie Studio
Warner Brothers Studio, whomst? Tyler opened Atlanta’s Tyler Perry Studios in 2019, which has 12 soundstages and sets which, per Forbes, includes a replica of the White House. The studios allow Tyler to produce all his content in-house, which is obviously a genius move on his part.
He Has a Huge Stake in BET+
Tyler has a massive deal with ViacomCBS that nets him $150 million a year and gives him a 25 percent equity stake in BET+. The stake alone is worth $60 million, but Tyler also has $300 million in cash and investments as of Forbes‘ reporting in 2020 (so…likely way more by now), not to mention $40 million tied up in “homes and toys” (gonna assume “toys” refers to his two private jets), as well as $280 million in his studio, and $320 million from his movie library.
He makes money from merchandise, too.
Perry reportedly sold more than $100 million worth of tickets to his plays, as well as $30 million worth of related videos and merchandise.
Tyler Perry is been extremely generous with that money.
In February 2023, Tyler donated $2.75 million to help older homeowners in Atlanta pay their property taxes. In 2009, he donated $1 million to the NAACP, and in 2018 he covered over $430,000 worth of holiday layaways for customers at Walmarts in Atlanta. But his generosity extends beyond just money—he also famously offered Prince Harry and Meghan Markle his Los Angeles home when they had nowhere to stay after stepping away from senior royal duties—without ever having met them before. Basically, he seems like a great person and if anyone deserves to have a billion in the bank, it’s him!