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.”
His success culminated in fall 2019 when he opened Tyler Perry Studios in southwest Atlanta.Celebrities like Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey, and even former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were on hand for the star-studded event.
What’s Next For Tyler Perry?
Perry is currently finishing his mansion in Douglas County, Georgia. The actor and producer bought the acreage back in 2013 with plans to build on it at some point. I guess the time is now. The massive estate is currently under construction.
According to TMZ, Perry is investing a lot of planning into the property because he wants his young son to appreciate nature as well as animals, which the property will have plenty of.
Tyler Perry Studios Expansion
In 2022, Perry made a $8.4 million purchase of 37 additional acres next to his Tyler Perry Studios property come with some bodacious plans.
Perry plans to use the land parcels to transform the area into an entertainment, retail, and restaurant district that would include shops, a movie theater and more.
The businesses would be a welcome addition to rejuvenate what has been a long-forgotten area when it comes to amenities and basic food stores.
Tee Johnson: Tee Johnson is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of AtlantaFi.com, Atlanta’s independent hyper-local publication focused on news, restaurants, events, jobs, neighborhoods, and lifestyle. A 15+ year Atlanta resident and longtime journalist and content creator, she covers Travel News, Events, Business, Hair Care, and Money with a practical, Atlanta-first lens.
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A marketer by training with a degree in business management, she grew frustrated with the fragmented, hard-to-find information about what was actually happening in the city. That gap led her to create AtlantaFi as a curated, one-stop resource for the pulse of Atlanta—#ATLHAPS—without the national noise. Editorial decisions remain independent; the publication does not accept products, meals, or services in exchange for coverage.
As Editor-in-Chief, she oversees original local reporting and curated practical guides that help residents, visitors, and businesses discover and engage with the city. Readers turn to her work for timely event roundups, dining and neighborhood insights, business and travel updates, and straightforward money and lifestyle coverage grounded in firsthand observation of Atlanta.
A devoted lover of all things Atlanta, Tee enjoys pickleball, a good margarita or bourbon, and walking the Atlanta Beltline. She can be reached for editorial inquiries at tjohnson@atlantafi.com (serious inquiries only).