Jami Gertz was earning more than her father before she was old enough to vote. But the teenager from an ordinary Illinois family would eventually become associated with a fortune that dwarfed most Hollywood paychecks. Behind the headlines about the world’s richest actress lies a marriage that began with her paying the bills, and an entirely unexpected financial

Raised in Glenview, Illinois, Jami Gertz entered acting through a nationwide talent search, not family connections. Roles in films including The Lost Boys helped establish her career, but early success also brought financial responsibilities that complicated life at home. When she married financier Tony Ressler in 1989, she was the established earner. She has recalled paying for their first house and a vacation—a detail that challenges assumptions about how their partnership began.

Ressler subsequently co-founded Apollo Global Management and Ares Management, building the investment career behind their family’s multibillion-dollar wealth. Together, they became involved in Atlanta Hawks ownership and supported causes spanning education, healthcare, the arts, and Jewish organizations. Gertz also serves on the Melanoma Research Alliance board. Although “richest actress” rankings often blur personal and shared family fortunes, her story reaches beyond that label: an early career, a lasting partnership, and a life not defined solely by Hollywood.