How Atlanta’s Tyler Perry Became A Billionaire

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Has Tyler Perry bought BET? There’s no official word yet. What is widely known is that Atlanta movie mogul Tyler Perry is now a billionaire.

The “Madea” creator has made a series of shrewd business decisions over the last 20 years to grow his religious plays into culturally relevant full-length movies with moral endings.

How Tyler Perry Became A Millionaire

Most of Perry’s wealth is tied into his content, which he owns outright. A quarter of his worth comes from Tyler Perry Studios, which he bought from the city of Atlanta and transformed into a historic movie house.

The actual breakdown of Perry’s wealth is this:

  • Cash and Investments — $300 million
  • Stake in BET+ — $60 million
  • Homes and Toys — $40 million
  • Film Library — $320 million
  • Tyler Perry Studios — $280 million

Perry says he was told that the audience he was catering to wouldn’t be able to support full-feature films.

“ ‘Black people who go to church don’t go to the movies,’ ” Perry told Forbes that he was told back then. “I came from a place where Black people had already embraced me and loved me. I was completely happy there, and still am.” 

 
Perry joins an exclusive list when it comes to being one of the richest businessmen in the state. Here is Georgia’s billionaires club.

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Tee Johnson: Tee Johnson is the co-founder of AtlantaFi.com and as an unofficial ambassador of the city, she's a lover of all things Atlanta. She writes about Travel News, Events, Business, Hair Care (Wigs!) and Money.