Leos Carax Highest-Paid Director in the World
- By Carol Kearney
- Paris
- Last updated on
Hot news
- Movie News February 5, 2026
- Breaking Up January 28, 2026
- Rumor Central February 2026
It's been a rough year for the director, but at least he has his millions of dollars to ease the pain. 65-year-old Leos Carax has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid directors for 2026 with an estimated $82 million in combined earnings.
UPDATE 05/02/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)
Leos Carax tops annual list of highest-paid directors
In 2023 it looked like the director’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, he was back on top. People With Money reports on Wednesday (February 4) that Carax is the highest-paid director in the world, pulling in an astonishing $82 million between January 2025 and January 2026, a nearly $50 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 director has an estimated net worth of $245 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 Carax Burger” chain) in Paris, a Football Team (the “Suresnes Angels”), has launched his own brand of Vodka (Pure Wondercarax - France), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Leos) and a fashion line called “Leos Carax Seduction”.
The ranking is significant for many Leos fans, who have been waiting for his triumphant return to the glory days for what seems like a lifetime.
© 2026 MediaMass All rights reserved. Do not reproduce (even with permission).
Leos Carax: Recent News
- Buzz February 5, 2026
- Music February 2026
- Love February 5, 2026
Celebrity Central