Jon Peters Net Worth

What is Jon Peters's Net Worth and Salary?

Jon Peters is an American film producer and former hairdresser who has a net worth of $300 million. Jon Peters spent decades as one of Hollywood's most controversial and unconventional power players, rising from a Beverly Hills hairdresser to one of the most influential producers of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. His entry into the film industry began through his relationship with Barbra Streisand, whom he met while working as a stylist. Peters transitioned into producing when he helped manage and shape Streisand's image, ultimately earning his first major producing credit on "A Star Is Born" in 1976. The film's success opened doors throughout the industry and launched Peters into a long run of high-profile studio projects.

In the 1980s Peters partnered with fellow producer Peter Guber, forming one of Hollywood's most powerful producing duos. Together they delivered major commercial hits, including "Flashdance," "The Color Purple," "Batman," "Rain Man," and "Bonfire of the Vanities." Their partnership temporarily extended into corporate leadership when Sony Pictures hired them to run its newly acquired Columbia Pictures division. The experiment was short-lived but cemented Peters' status as a larger-than-life industry figure known for both creative instincts and behind-the-scenes chaos.

After leaving the studio executive world, Peters returned to independent producing. His later career included long stretches spent developing superhero films, most notably "Superman Lives," an ambitious Nicolas Cage project that ultimately collapsed but left behind a legendary trail of rewrites, concept art, and industry lore. When "Superman Returns" was released in 2006 and "Man of Steel" followed in 2013, Peters still held significant backend participation rights in the franchise. Those residual points paid off enormously. He later acknowledged that he collected about $85 million from the two films combined, despite having no involvement in their actual production.

Outside of his film-producing career, Jon is notable for relationships with a number of high-profile women, including Barbra Streisand and Pamela Anderson. In 2021, Bradley Cooper portrayed a somewhat fictionalized version of Jon Peters in the film "Licorice Pizza."

Early Life

Jon Peters was born on June 2, 1945, in Van Nuys, California. He grew up working in his mother's family-owned salon on Rodeo Drive, where he learned hairstyling and eventually became one of the most in-demand hairdressers in Beverly Hills. By the early 1970s he was considered the top stylist in Los Angeles, charging premium rates and maintaining a large celebrity clientele.

Entry Into Hollywood

Peters' path into the film industry began in 1974 when he was hired to design a wig for Barbra Streisand in the film "For Pete's Sake." The collaboration quickly turned into a romantic relationship, even though Peters was married to Lesley Ann Warren at the time. Through Streisand, he transitioned into producing and earned his first major credit with the 1976 remake of "A Star Is Born." The film earned more than $100 million against a $6 million budget and received four Oscar nominations. Peters also worked on several of Streisand's musical projects, producing a series of successful albums.

Partnership With Peter Guber

In 1980, Peters partnered with producer Peter Guber. Their first venture, Polygram Productions, evolved into Boardwalk Productions after Neil Bogart joined the team. With Guber, Peters produced several major hits, including "Caddyshack," "An American Werewolf in London," "Flashdance," and "The Color Purple." Their achievements led to a lucrative production deal at Warner Bros., culminating in the massive success of 1989's "Batman," which grossed more than $400 million worldwide on a budget of $35 million.

Sony Chairmanship

The success of "Batman" made Guber and Peters prime acquisition targets. Sony acquired their company, Guber-Peters Entertainment, for $50 million and installed them as co-chairmen of Sony Pictures. The move triggered a major legal battle, as Warner Bros. sued for breach of contract and ultimately received a $500 million settlement from Sony to release the pair from their obligations.

Once in charge at Sony, Guber and Peters oversaw a slate of enormously expensive productions. Their tenure became infamous for runaway budgets and a string of box-office disappointments. During their leadership, Sony spent roughly $8 billion on production and related costs, resulting in more than $3 billion in losses. When they exited the company in the mid-1990s, both men received severance packages estimated at $30 million to $50 million.

Peter Guber would eventually go on to buy the Golden State Warriors with a group of investors. Peter and fellow co-lead investor Joe Lacob bought the team for $450 million in 2010. A few months later, the team drafted Steph Curry. The Warriors went on to win multiple NBA championships and turned Peter into a billionaire. Today, the Warriors are worth at least $10 billion.

Superman Rights and Later Career

During the 1990s, Peters acquired the film rights to the Superman franchise. He spent many years attempting to produce a new Superman movie, including the abandoned "Superman Lives" project that would have starred Nicolas Cage. Although he was not involved creatively in the later films, Peters still held substantial backend participation rights. When "Superman Returns" was released in 2006 and "Man of Steel" premiered in 2013, those rights paid him approximately $85 million. He later admitted that he earned that amount without contributing to production and was even barred from the "Man of Steel" set by producer Christopher Nolan. Peters also received credit on the 2018 "A Star Is Born" remake.

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Personal Life

Jon has been divorced four times. He was married to actress/singer Lesley Ann Warren from 1967 to 1974.

In 2020, he shocked the world when it was revealed that he had married actress/model Pamela Anderson. They actually dated briefly in the 1980s. Unfortunately, the marriage lasted just 12 days. In a 2023 interview, Jon revealed that he set aside $10 million in his will for Pamela.

According to legend, Jon once used the Sony corporate jet to deliver flowers to supermodel Vendela Kirsebom.

Real Estate

Over the years, Jon has owned a number of extremely valuable houses, primarily in Los Angeles. In 2002, he sold a longtime Beverly Hills mansion for $10.5 million. In 2009, he sold a hilltop mansion in the exclusive gated community of Beverly Park for $12 million. Today, his primary residence is a 3,000-acre ranch in Santa Barbara, California.

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