You probably remember Star from The Lost Boys. Or maybe the "can't spare a square" lady from Seinfeld. Honestly, for most of us, Jami Gertz is a nostalgic 80s icon who just sort of... stopped being everywhere. But if you look at Jami Gertz now, she isn't just "doing okay." She's currently the wealthiest actress on the planet. By a lot.
We aren't talking "successful sitcom star" money. We're talking billionaire. Eight billion? Twelve billion? The numbers keep climbing as we head into 2026. While A-listers like Jennifer Lopez or Tom Cruise are grinding for that next $20 million paycheck, Gertz is sitting on a fortune that makes their bank accounts look like pocket change. And the craziest part? She didn't get it from a blockbuster movie deal.
The $12 Billion Reality Check
So, how does an actress who hasn't headlined a major film in years become richer than Steven Spielberg? It’s not about royalties from Twister.
Basically, it’s about who she married—but not in the way people usually think. Jami met Tony Ressler back in the late 80s. At the time, she was the breadwinner. She was the star of Less Than Zero; he was just a guy in finance. She actually paid for their first vacations. Fast forward a few decades, and Ressler co-founded private equity giants Apollo Global Management and Ares Management.
Jami wasn't just a bystander during that rise. She’s been a partner in the truest sense, shifting her focus from the screen to the boardroom. Together, they bought the Atlanta Hawks in 2015 for about $850 million. In 2026, NBA team valuations have absolutely exploded. That investment alone is now worth a staggering multiple of what they paid.
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What She’s Actually Doing Day-to-Day
If you go to a Hawks game at State Farm Arena, you won't see her hiding in a darkened suite. She is the literal face of the franchise. While Tony handles the "angry billionaire in the back" stuff—crunching numbers and player personnel—Jami is the one giving pep talks to the 1,500 employees or representing the team at the NBA Draft Lottery.
- She serves as the team's primary ambassador.
- She leads massive community initiatives in Atlanta.
- She’s deeply involved in the $192 million renovation of their arena.
She once told the Hollywood Reporter that it "behooves her" to be involved. She's not just a "wife of." She's a principal owner who actually shows up.
Is Jami Gertz Still Acting in 2026?
Short answer: Not really. Her last big credit was the 2022 rom-com I Want You Back, and since then, the IMDB page has been pretty quiet.
She hasn't officially "retired," but why would she spend 14 hours a day in a trailer in Atlanta when she literally owns Atlanta? Okay, she owns the basketball team, but you get the point. There have been rumors of her doing a cameo in the various Lost Boys reboots or TV projects currently in development, but nothing has stuck.
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Instead, her "creative" energy has shifted toward production. She launched Lime Orchard Productions a while back. While it had some bumps, she’s recently been involved in executive producing high-end docuseries. A great example is Magic City: An American Fantasy on STARZ, which explores the cultural impact of the famous Atlanta club. It’s a project that bridges her Hollywood roots with her current life as an Atlanta mogul.
The Philanthropy Pivot
Money at this scale usually comes with a massive foundation, and Gertz is no exception. The Ressler-Gertz Foundation is a beast. We're talking hundreds of millions in assets. They aren't just writing checks to be nice; they are major players in:
- Melanoma Research: She’s a board director for the Melanoma Research Alliance.
- Education: Funding inner-city schools and arts programs.
- Jewish Causes: Supporting various cultural and religious organizations.
In 2024 alone, their foundation’s tax filings showed distributions in the tens of millions. It’s a full-time job managing that kind of impact.
Why We Should Stop Saying She "Married Well"
There is this annoying narrative that Jami Gertz just "hit the lottery" by marrying a finance guy. It's kinda insulting, honestly.
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When they got married in 1988, Tony Ressler wasn't a billionaire. He was a guy starting a business. Jami’s acting money provided the stability they needed to take those early financial risks. She invested in him, and they built the empire together. They live in a massive estate in Beverly Park—neighbors with Denzel Washington and Sylvester Stallone—but by all accounts, they’ve stayed married for over 35 years in an industry where marriages last about 35 minutes.
The Actionable Takeaway from Jami's Journey
If you’re looking at Jami Gertz now and wondering what the "lesson" is, it’s about the power of the pivot. Jami didn't cling to her identity as an "80s IT girl" until it withered away. She took her platform, her capital, and her visibility and moved into an entirely different lane.
What you can learn from her strategy:
- Diversification is King: Don't rely on one skill set. Jami went from actress to scent designer in France (yes, she worked for Lanvin for a bit) to NBA owner.
- Invest in People: Her partnership with her husband is a masterclass in building a shared legacy rather than competing for the spotlight.
- Presence Matters: If you’re going to own something, be the face of it. Her involvement with the Hawks has made her more relevant in 2026 than a guest spot on a sitcom ever could.
She might not be winning Oscars this year, but she's winning at life in a way very few people ever do. Jami Gertz is the ultimate proof that your second act can be infinitely bigger than your first.
Next Steps for You:
If you want to track her impact more closely, you can follow the Atlanta Hawks' community foundation updates or check out her latest production work on STARZ. Watching her transition from the screen to the owner's box offers a blueprint for anyone looking to reinvent their career in their 50s and 60s.