Let’s look at the three richest movie moguls in Hollywood, according to CNNMoney:
| Rank | Name | Estimated Net Worth |
|---|
| 1 | George Lucas | $5.4 billion |
| 2 | Arnon Milchan | $5.2 billion |
| 3 | Steven Spielberg | $3.3 billion |
While the name Arnon Milchan may not be a household word, his record is worthy of a second look. Milchan is owner of New Regency Films and has produced over 130 films and is recognized as one of the most prolific producers in recent Hollywood history.
Milchan’s credits include films such as Noah, 12 Years a Slave, Once Upon a Time in America (1984) (in which he also makes a cameo appearance as the chauffeur), Brazil (1985), Pretty Woman (1990), Under Siege (1992), Natural Born Killers (1994), Boys on the Side (1995), L.A. Confidential (1997), Unfaithful (2002), and Knight and Day (2010), among others, to his credit. He was a producer on the two most recent Oscar-winners for Best Motion Picture: 12 Years a Slave in 2014 and Birdman in 2015.
An Israeli citizen, Milchan’s prior career was that of a key Israeli intelligence operative from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s. He was recruited to LAKAM, a top secret Israeli intelligence organization responsible for obtaining technology and material for Israel’s nuclear program, and other highly secretive programs. The book Confidential: The Life of Secret Agent Turned Hollywood Tycoon- Arnon Milchan details this real life adventure, which just seems to beg for a turn on the silver screen. The book is available at http://www.amazon.com/Confidential-Secret-Hollywood-Tycoon-Milchan/dp/0615433812
So next time you’re walking out of the movie theater after a show, take a glance back to the screen and look for the name of producer and mogul Arnon Milchan. This is a time when being “number two” just isn’t all that bad.