What is John Lasseter’s net worth?
| Net Worth: | $100 Million |
|---|---|
| Age: | 66 |
| Born: | January 12, 1957 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Country of Origin: | United States of America |
| Source of Wealth: | TV/Film Director |
| Last Updated: | March 8, 2023 |
Introduction
John Lasseter is a well-known screenwriter, animator, and director who ran major animation film studios such as Pixar Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering.
John had a highly successful career with Disney and Pixar and continues to build his career while running Skydance Animation.
As of March 2023, John Lasseter’s net worth is estimated to be $100 Million.
John Lasseter Facts
- John graduated in 1979 and immediately got a job as an animator.
- He was fired from Disney after pushing them to use computer animation and was rehired once Disney bought Pixar in 2006.
- John founded a family winery called the Lasseter Family Winery in 2002.
- While John studied character animation at the California Institute of the Arts, he also worked as a Jungle Cruise skipper at Disneyland in 1975.
- When John was only five years old, he submitted a crayon drawing in a competition held by the Model Grocery Market and won $15.
Early Life
John Alan Lasseter was born January 12, 1957, in Hollywood, California.
After being encouraged by his mother, John entered a competition held by the Model Grocery Market and won $15.
He read about the Walt Disney animated film “Sleeping Beauty” and decided he would one day become an animator.
Later, he enrolled at the California Institute of the Arts and, in a decision that would change his whole world, took an animating course.
In 1975, he also worked as a Jungle Cruise skipper at Disneyland and, after graduating, wasted no time in starting work at Disney’s animation studio.
Career
During his early years with the studio, John worked on films such as “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” and “The Fox and the Hound”.
After some time, John started to take an interest in computer animation and pushed Disney to get on board.
Unfortunately, with his constant badgering about incorporating computer animation into their design studio, Disney decided to fire him in 1983.
Pixar’s biggest client was Disney, and its focus was to develop and sell animation software, although they also produced commercials and short films which John directed.
With Disney being one of Pixar’s biggest clients, they soon started to produce movies for them.
The first big success John had with both Disney and Pixar was Toy Story in 1995 which was developed into Toy Story 2 and starred Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Don Rickles.
By using the voices of some of the richest comedians in the world, John had hit on a winning formula and the audiences loved it.
A Bugs Life starring Kevin Spacey, Cars with Owen Wilson and Bonny Hunt, Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo with John Goodman, and Ellen DeGeneres followed and were all huge successes.
Once Disney bought Pixar in 2006, John was rehired for his talents in directing and filmmaking and his career took off.
He became the chief creative officer of both Disney and Pixar’s animation operations and, in his new position, created many famous films, such as “Inside Out”, “Up”, “Toy Story 3” and “Cars 2”.
It all came to an end once John was accused of sexual misconduct in the workplace in 2017 and he announced that he would be leaving Disney at the end of 2018.
After a year’s break, he returned in 2019 and was hired as the head of Skydance Media’s animation division.
John Lasseter’s Career Earnings
He became one of the elite in the animating world, with top studios such as Pixar Studios and Walt Disney desperate to keep him happy.
Lasseter was formerly the chief creative officer for Walt Disney Animation, Pixar Animation, and Disneytoon Studios.
While the exact terms of John Lasseter’s employment contract are not known, it is reported that he makes about $10 million per year as a salary before stock options and bonuses.
John was at the top of his game during those days but hit a wall after being accused of sexual misconduct in the workplace.
He was asked to leave and in 2018 he said goodbye to Disney and took up a new position at Skydance, although he still enjoyed a consulting role at Disney.
John Lasseter’s Net Worth Annually
At the beginning of his career, he began work at Lucasfilm Ltd in the computer graphics division and his first major job was to direct an animated short film called The Adventures of Andre and Wally B. in 1984.
The division that John worked in was bought by Steve Jobs’ Apple Computer Inc. and soon became an independent company called Pixar.
John made a huge amount of money when Disney acquired Pixar and he is known as the $6 Billion man due to the terms of his confidential employment contract.
While it is difficult to ascertain exactly how much he is worth as a large part is held in stock options, it is reported that John Lasseter’s net worth in 2022 is estimated to be $100 million.
As the films that they produced became commercially successful, Pixar became a prime investment opportunity for Disney.
In an effort to bolster its faltering animation studio, Disney acquired Pixar and with them, John Lasseter was hired to run the show.
Personal Life
John married his wife Nancy in 1988 and they have five sons together; Sam Lasseter, Jackson Lasseter, Paul James Lasseter, Bennett Lasseter, and Joey Lasseter.
John’s son Sam was diagnosed with diabetes at a young age, which pushed John to do everything in his power to help anyone who was going through similar struggles.
One of John’s most interesting hobbies is his collection of Hawaiian shirts, of which he has 1,000 all told with more on the way.
You can follow John’s official Instagram account or official LinkedIn account to see what he’s getting up to next.
Awards & Achievements
He has received two Academy Awards – one for Toy Story’s Special Achievement Award and one for Tin Toy’s Best Animated Short Film.
Here are a few of the most significant events in John Lasseter’s career:
- John earned an Academy Award for the short, animated film “Tin Toy” in 1988.
- He won another Academy Award for the high-grossing film “Toy Story” in 1995.
- John won a Primetime Emmy for Most Outstanding Animated Program called “Prep and Landing” in 2010.
- In 2010, John earned a Lifetime Achievement Award in Motion Pictures from the PGA Awards.
- He also received a Vanguard Award from the PGA Awards in 2002.
Lasseter was appointed to lead Skydance Animation in January 2019, and together with Paramount Animation and Ilion Animation Studios, they will create blockbuster animated movies.
Cars 2 has been John’s most successful project to date with an initial budget of $200 million – the movie has made a little under $560 million.
How Does John Lasseter Spend His Money?
John is a proud owner of his family winery called “Lasseter Family Winery”, which he started in 2002.
They’re not yet making the most expensive wines in the world, but given John’s history, it will surely not be long before the awards start coming.
He also owns some of the most expensive cars in the world with an impressive car collection that includes a 1952 Jaguar XK120.
With his son being a diabetic John has contributed huge amounts of his own money to many charities and has even held events to help support those foundations.
Highlights
Armed with a California Institute of the Arts education, John was able to break into the animation field after working as a guide at Disney World.
His films have grossed billions of dollars and he is one of the most successful filmmakers in the history of films, despite them being cartoons and animated stories.
Here are some of the best highlights of John Lasseter’s career:
- The famous movies “WALL-E”, “A Bug’s Life”, “Monsters INC.” and “Finding Nemo” were planned out during one brainstorming session during lunch, in 1994.
- Alongside big-time manga artist Miyazaki, John contributed to the creation of “Spirited Away”, “Ponyo”, and “Howl’s Moving Castle” after a meeting in 1981.
- The release of the childhood favorite, Toy Story, was a major highlight for John, as it was the first-ever computer-animated film in 1995.
- John and Ed Catmull were given control of Disneytoon Studios in 2007.
- Recently, John became the head of Skydance Animation in 2019.
As the head of Skydance Studios, John controls one of the most advanced and technically skilled groups of artists on the planet.
It is the top firm in the movie industry if you want an animated project produced and the results he gets are unbelievably good.
Favorite John Lasseter Quotes
John is quick to point out the difference between animation and a special effects, both of which his company is uniquely placed to create for any film project.
Here are our favorite quotes from John Lasseter:
- “When you take something inert, and through motion, give it life, make it appear to be alive, that’s animation.” – John Lasseter
- “No amount of great animation will save a bad story.” – John Lasseter
- “The art challenges the technology, and the technology inspires the art.” – John Lasseter
- “The greatest bad guys, you understand where they’re coming from.” – John Lasseter
- “Today, among little girls especially, princesses and the romanticized ideal they represent – finding the man of your dreams – have a limited shelf life.” – John Lasseter
3 Amazing Lessons From John Lasseter
John ponders whether computer animation is keeping you entertained while you drive and listen as you watch your computer-animated movies for your kids in the backseat.
He believes not. He believes that it is storytelling that is the most important part of animation’s success.
Now that you know all about John Lasseter’s net worth, here are some of the best success lessons to learn from John Lasseter:
1. Find Your Passion
John believes that once you find your passion, you should do everything in your power to pursue it and make your dream come true.
That may sound like a fairy tale, but John is in the business of making bedtime stories come to life, so anything is possible.
2. Keep Moving Forward
Lasseter has seen his career rise to great heights, only to have it dashed by company politics and then through his own, unsavory behavior towards his employees.
However, he’s learned his lesson and hasn’t allowed the setbacks he’s experienced to prevent him from following his dream.
3. Experimentation Is Good
It is sometimes good to experiment, as it takes you out of your comfort zone and forces you to adapt to new surroundings and ideas.
It was by using new technology and new ideas that John was able to create a whole new animation process which turned the film business upside down.
Summary
John Lasseter will always be remembered for creating some of the happiest childhood memories for generations of children.
During an age when animated movies were slowly experiencing a renaissance, John took new ideas and technology and exploited the market.
He helped to create what Disney and Pixar are today and he has stamped his legend on the moviemaking world forever.
As of March 2023, John Lasseter’s net worth is estimated to be $100 Million.
