What is Luc Besson’s net worth?
| Net Worth: | $100 Million |
|---|---|
| Age: | 63 |
| Born: | March 18, 1959 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Country of Origin: | France |
| Source of Wealth: | TV/Film Director |
| Last Updated: | March 8, 2023 |
Introduction
Luc Paul Maurice Besson is a French film director, producer, and screenwriter who has come to be associated with the Cinema du look movement.
Still very active in the industry, Besson earns millions every year as he continues working on successful films.
As of March 2023, Luc Besson’s net worth is estimated to be $100 Million.
Luc Besson Facts
- Before hitting it big, Besson was rejected from the National Film School of France in 1997 after citing Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg as two of the directors he most admired.
- Luc Besson is close friends with actor Gary Oldman, and he directed Oldman’s film, Nils By Mouth, in 1997.
- In 2000, Besson was President of the Official Competition jury at the 53rd Cannes International Film Festival.
- Along with directing, Besson wrote four children’s books between 2002 and 2005, with his Arthur series selling over 1 million copies in 30 countries.
- Two of Besson’s films, The Big Blue in 1988 and The Fifth Element in 1997, opened the Cannes International Film Festival during their respective release years.
Early Life
Luc Paul Maurice Besson was born on March 18, 1959, in Paris, France, to parents who both worked as scuba-diving instructors.
Due to his parent’s careers, Luc was inspired to become a marine biologist, and he spent much of his youth traveling to resorts in Italy, Yugoslavia, and Greece.
However, his parents divorced when he was 10, and by the age of 17, he had suffered a diving accident that left him unable to dive anymore, putting his dreams of marine biology on hold.
While becoming a marine biologist was his biggest dream, he had also become interested in writing as a teenager, having penned the first drafts of Le Grand Bleu before he turned 18.
Falling back on this, Luc decided to take odd jobs on film sets across Paris to get a better feel for the industry before diving in himself.
Career
Luc Besson started out as an assistant to directors, including Patrick Grandperret and Claude Faraldo.
He then moved on to directing short films and a couple of commercials before moving to the United States, where he started his own production company in 1980.
During the early 80s, Besson met composer Eric Serra, who he tapped to write music for his short film L’Avant Dernier.
While Besson worked on directing many films, his biggest hit came in 1997 with The Fifth Element, starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, and Gary Oldman.
Since the late 90s, Besson has written and produced numerous action movies, including the hit Taxi and Transporter series.
He also served as the writer and producer for the Taken series with Liam Neeson, which became another huge success for him.
Luc Besson’s Career Earnings
Having become one of the richest directors in the world, it is safe to say that Luc Besson has earned quite a bit of money as a director, producer, and writer.
While his annual earnings have never been made public, we do know a bit about how he gained his fortune.
- In addition to the money he made as a director, Besson also founded his own production company in 1980 called Les Films du Loup, later renamed Les Films du Dauphin.
- In 2000, his production company was superseded when he co-founded EuropaCorp, a French motion picture company.
- Besson became the non-executive chairman of EuropaCorp in 2020, with an annual salary of $6.4 million.
Despite not having a net worth as large as Michael Bay, Luc Besson has earned a fortune so far, and we can expect to see his wealth continue to grow exponentially as he continues working.
Personal Life
Luc Besson has been married four times, first in 1986 to actress Anne Parillaud, whom he had a daughter, Juliette with, in 1987, before the couple divorced in 1991.
Besson’s second marriage was to actress and director Maiwenn Le Besco, who he started dating when he was 31, and she was 15.
They later married in 1992, when Le Besco was 16 and pregnant with their daughter Shanna, who was born in 1993.
After Le Besco and Besson divorced in 1997, Besson then started dating actress Milla Jovovich while filming The Fifth Element.
Later that same year, Jovovich and Besson married but divorced in 1999.
In 2004, Besson married again to film producer Virginie Silla, and the couple has three children; Thalia, Sateen, and Mao Besson.
Starting in 2018, Besson has faced numerous allegations of rape and sexual assault, though he denies the claims and has yet to be found guilty.
On social media, Luc Besson can be found on his official Twitter account, where he posts mainly about his work.
Awards & Achievements
As a celebrated director, Luc Besson has earned numerous awards for his work behind the camera.
While he has numerous wins and nominations under his belt, some have been more prestigious than others.
Here are some of the most significant awards from Luc Besson’s career:
- Besson won the Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film, Nil By Mouth, in 1997.
- In 1998, Luc Besson won the BAFTA Award for Best British Film for Nil By Mouth.
- The same year, Besson won the Best Director Cesar Award for The Fifth Element.
- At the Cinema for Peace Awards, Besson won Most Valuable Documentary of the Year for The Family in 2014.
- In 2016, Besson was awarded the Inkpot Award at the San Diego Comic-Con.
He may not have earned as many accolades as James Cameron, but with 31 wins and 30 nominations to his name, Besson has done remarkably well for himself.
How Does Luc Besson Spend His Money?
In 2016, Luc Besson bought Charlton Heston’s Beverly Hills estate for $12.2 million.
The property consists of a 5,100 sqft mansion with glass-walled dining and living areas, a double-height library, and views of the stunning hillside.
A separate three-story structure on the property boasts its own elevator, staff suite, screening room, tennis court, and multi-level art studio.
Besson lived in this mansion for years until finally selling it in 2022 for $11.7 million, a massive discount from his original $14.9 million asking price.
While there is no information about where he has moved to, we’re certain it is similarly lavish and impressive.
Highlights
Luc Besson has reached many important milestones during his time as a prominent director.
Although there have been many memorable moments during his career, some have been more noteworthy than others.
Here are some of the best highlights of Luc Besson’s career:
- In 1981, Besson directed his first film, L’Avant Dernier.
- Besson directed his first English language films in 1995 and 1998, titled Subway and The Big Blue.
- In 1997, Besson directed The Fifth Element, which became one of his biggest successes.
- Besson has served as a writer and producer for numerous films, starting in 1986 with Kamikaze.
- La Femme Nikita remains one of Besson’s most well-received films, maintaining an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite not all of his films hitting their mark, Luc Besson has managed to create numerous successful films that have further increased his fame and fortune.
Favorite Luc Besson Quotes
Luc Besson has gained a lot of wisdom during his long career behind the camera, and he often shares significant insights during his interviews.
Even if you’re not a die-hard fan of his films, there is something everyone can learn from this talented director.
Here are our favorite quotes from Luc Besson:
- “I’m always attracted by people who are lost in their time. I think it helps us.” – Luc Besson
- “I said if I made 10 films in my life, I would be very lucky. That’s how I meant it. My fear after my first one was whether they would let me make another one, so I had this goal in my head.” – Luc Besson
- “You know, sometimes you’re in a position of risk, and you feel that you can turn good or bad.” – Luc Besson
- “I wanted to prove that I could do something, so I made a short film. That was, in fact, my main concern, to be able to show that I could do one.” – Luc Besson
- “It’s always the small people who change things. It’s never the politicians or the big guys. I mean, who pulled down the Berlin wall? It was all the people in the streets. The specialists didn’t have a clue the day before.” – Luc Besson
3 Amazing Lessons From Luc Besson
There are a lot of things we can learn from Luc Besson and his successful directorial career.
Now that you know all about Luc Besson’s net worth, we can look more closely at what he can teach us about reaching our own goals.
Here are some of the best success lessons to learn from Luc Besson:
1. Don’t Be Afraid To Start Small
When trying to become successful, people often make the mistake of rushing to build something big.
However, starting small is not only more realistic, but it can give you the foundation you need to grow your success.
2. Take Chances
Every successful person has to take chances, and learning when to go all in and when to step back is essential.
Calculated risks are necessary, but don’t throw away all your life savings on a whim, especially if you have no backup plans.
3. Quality Over Quantity
Similar to starting small, many people make the mistake of trying to do too much all at once.
However, if you focus on honing your skills and specializing in your field, you’ll be much more likely to get ahead without burning out.
Summary
Luc Besson has made a name for himself in the film industry as a creative director with a unique vision.
While he has faced some setbacks during his career, he continues to make films that grow his net worth.
Make sure to check back regularly so that you won’t miss any updates impacting Luc Besson’s wealth!
As of March 2023, Luc Besson’s net worth is estimated to be $100 Million.
