What Is Edgy Filmmaker Spike Lee's Net Worth?

Spike Lee has written and directed critically acclaimed like "Jungle Fever," and "Malcolm X."

PUBLISHED OCT 11, 2023

Spike Lee has produced over 35 films since 1983 through his production company, 40 Acres and a Mule. Getty Images | Photo by Ian Gavan

Name	Spike Lee
Net Worth	$60 million
Salary	N/A
Annual income	N/A
Sources of income	Directing, producing, writing
DOB	March 20, 1957
Age	66 years
Gender	Male
Nationality	United States of America
Profession	Director, writer, producer, actor, college professor

What is Spike Lee's Net Worth?

Director, writer, producer, actor and professor Spike Lee has produced over 35 films since 1983 through his production company, 40 Acres and a Mule. Since his debut with "She's Gotta Have It" in 1986, Lee has written and directed critically acclaimed films such as "Do the Right Thing,"

"Jungle Fever," and "Malcolm X." Lee has an estimated net worth of $60 million as of September, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Spike Lee poses in the press room during the 74th Annual Directors Guild Of America Awards | Getty Images | Photo by Jesse Grant

Recently, Lee shared his thoughts on Christopher Nolan's blockbuster film “Oppenheimer,” saying that he wished it showed “what happened to the Japanese people.” Lee told the Washington Post that it was a comment and not criticism. He said that the Japanese had lasting effects from the event and people vaporized, thus he would’ve loved if the film showed what happened to the people at the end.

Spike Lee’s Career and Earnings

Lee’s career started with the feature film, “She's Gotta Have It”, in 1985, which had a budget of $175,000. Releasing in 1986, the film grossed more than $7 million at the US box office, as per Celebrity Net Worth. In 1989, Lee won his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay with the film, "Do the Right Thing". He earned another Academy Award nomination for Best Feature Documentary with his 1997 documentary "4 Little Girls," which was about the girls killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963.

His film "BlacKkKlansman" won the Grand Prix at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director. He won his first Academy Award for "BlacKkKlansman" for the Best Adapted Screenplay.

Since 1983, Lee's production company 40 Acres & A Mule has produced over 35 films, and in 2015, Lee received an Academy Honorary Award for his contributions. He received the San Francisco Film Society's Directing Award in 2007 and the Ebert Director Award at the TIFF Tribute Awards for the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.

As per Celebrity Net Worth, Lee earned about $3 million for directing 1992's "Malcolm X." He is likely to have made much more on the backend and for movies like "25th Hour," "Love & Basketball," and "Summer of Sam.” In 2020, his Netflix film, "Da 5 Bloods," earned widespread acclaim and he then signed a deal with Netflix to direct and produce more movies for the platform.

Other Endevors

Lee taught filmmaking at Harvard in 1991 and 1993. He taught at the New York University's Tisch School of the Arts as a tenured professor. With his production company, Lee has also directed commercials for several top brands like Converse, Jaguar, Taco Bell, and more.

Real Estate

Lee bought a 9,000-square-foot townhome in Manhattan's most expensive Upper East Side for $16.2 million. The mansion comprising two three-story buildings and a shared central courtyard was previously owned by celebrities like Gypsy Rose Lee, and Charles Lanier Lawrence, among others. Lee listed the property for sale in 2014 for $32 million but failed to find a buyer.

His production company is housed a three-story building in Brooklyn that he bought in 1991 for $820,000. As per Celebrity Net Worth, the current value of the property could be in the $2 million to $4 million range. One of his famous properties, Bed Stuy brownstone in Brooklyn, which featured in "Crooklyn", sold in 2023 for $4.1 million.

Lee also owns a two-acre estate in Martha's Vineyard, which he purchased for $400,000 in 1989. Located just off the 18th hole of Farm Neck Golf Club, Lee built a four-bedroom mansion on the plot which is estimated to be worth $3 to 4 million today.

Instagram

2.1 million