Jean-Louis Étienne Highest-Paid Scientist in the World
- By Carol Kearney
- Paris
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- Hot October 11, 2026
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It's been a rough year for the scientist, but at least he has his millions of dollars to ease the pain. 79-year-old Jean-Louis Étienne has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid scientists for 2026 with an estimated $46 million in combined earnings.
UPDATE 12/10/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)
Jean-Louis Étienne tops annual list of highest-paid scientists
In 2024 it looked like the scientist’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, he was back on top. People With Money reports on Sunday (October 11) that Étienne is the highest-paid scientist in the world, pulling in an astonishing $46 million between September 2025 and September 2026, a nearly $20 million lead over his closest competition.
People With Money’s factors
In compiling this yearly list, the magazine considers factors such as upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements and advertising work.
The French scientist has an estimated net worth of $145 million. He owes his fortune to smart stock investments, substantial property holdings, lucrative endorsement deals with CoverGirl cosmetics. He also owns several restaurants (the “Fat Étienne Burger” chain) in Paris, a Football Team (the “Vielmur-sur-Agout Angels”), has launched his own brand of Vodka (Pure WonderÉtienne - France), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Jean-Louis) and a fashion line called “Jean-Louis Étienne Seduction”.
The ranking is significant for many Jean-Louis fans, who have been waiting for his triumphant return to the glory days for what seems like a lifetime.
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