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Originally published: March 19, 2025
With the 97th Academy Awards behind us over the past weekend, all eyes are on Hollywood's young stars and the golden trophies they've brought home. Behind their red carpet glamour lies a financial lesson worth noting – many of today's biggest names aren't just winning awards, they're building serious wealth before hitting 30.
Look at today's rising stars. Zendaya, at 27, has built up about $22 million through acting and smart brand deals. Her boyfriend Tom Holland, also 27, has earned roughly $25 million primarily playing Spider-Man. Timothée Chalamet has matched Holland with $25 million from roles in films like Dune.
What these young celebrities have that's more valuable than their current bank accounts is time – decades for their money to grow.
Most people buying their first stock know the feeling. The price ticks up, and suddenly you feel like a genius investor. Then it drops, panic sets in, and you learn that investing takes patience and perspective.
If Tom Holland took just $2.5 million – a mere 10% of what he's made – and put it in a standard market index fund, he might see it grow to around $27 million by retirement age without adding another penny. (Hypothetical illustration only. Actual results will vary based on market performance, timing, and other factors.) That's what happens when money has nearly four decades to compound.
For regular folks, the math works the same way, just with different numbers. Someone who starts putting away $300 monthly at age 25 could reach a million dollars by retirement. Wait until 35 to begin the same habit, and you'd need to save around $600 monthly to reach that same goal. (These are illustrative estimates. Actual amounts will vary based on assumed returns, market conditions, and other factors.) The difference isn't just the amount invested – it's the years those early dollars have to grow.
Choosing the right account structure matters too. See our guide to Roth vs. Traditional IRAs to understand which fits your situation.
For every smart Hollywood investor, there's a cautionary tale of someone who made it and lost it all. Wesley Snipes faced serious tax troubles. Nicolas Cage burned through a $150 million fortune. MC Hammer went from $30 million to bankruptcy court.
But others made smarter moves.
The Olsen twins pivoted from child acting to fashion entrepreneurship. Instead of chasing more TV and film roles, they built businesses. Their combined worth now stands around $500 million – far more than they would have made sticking to acting.
Sarah Michelle Gellar took a different approach after her Buffy fame. She's talked about living below her means, avoiding the expensive trappings that drain so many Hollywood fortunes. No fleet of cars or massive entourage – just smart choices that preserved her wealth.
Dwayne Johnson started with almost nothing. The Rock had just $7 in his pocket early in his wrestling days – a fact he commemorated by naming his production company "Seven Bucks Productions." Now worth hundreds of millions, he credits the habits he formed when broke for helping him manage wealth responsibly.
What connects these success stories? They all treated money as something to manage thoughtfully, not just spend freely. And they started building good habits early, before financial pressure forced their hand.
Hollywood stars face the same retirement math as everyone else. The difference is access. Many full-time workers don't have access to workplace retirement plans, and nearly half get zero employer matching contributions. This leaves millions of Americans trying to build retirement security with limited tools.
You don't need a Hollywood paycheck to follow sound financial principles. Starting early with whatever amount makes sense for your budget, staying consistent through market ups and downs, and giving compound growth time to work can help build a more secure future.
Effective retirement planning isn't complicated or flashy. It's about starting early, staying the course, and letting time do most of the heavy lifting.
Savvly's Longevity Benefit is designed to help investors build potential income at later life milestones. It is not insurance, not a guaranteed product, and not FDIC insured. Learn more at savvly.com/disclosures.
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax, or financial advice. Consult a qualified financial professional before making retirement planning decisions.
Disclosures
The information on this page is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended as investment, legal, or tax advice. It is designed solely to illustrate how longevity-linked investment benefits may work under certain assumptions. Actual results will vary. All illustrations, examples, and case studies are hypothetical and are intended to demonstrate potential scenarios — not to predict or guarantee actual outcomes. They do not represent the performance of any individual investor, portfolio, or account.
Key Assumptions Used in the Illustrations
Life expectancy and mortality projections are based on the most recent Social Security Administration (SSA) tables available at the time of simulation.
In the event of death or early withdrawal, hypothetical scenarios assume that investors who exit early, or their estate in the event of death, may receive 75% of the lesser of the initial investment or current market value, plus 1% for each full year the account was active. Case studies assume standardized market growth of 8% annually and do not incorporate unexpected market volatility, inflation, changes in interest rates, or changes in an investor's personal circumstances.
Simulations may assume a 3% annual early withdrawal rate prior to payout or death. All figures shown are net of fees. No forecast, projection, or hypothetical return should be relied upon as a promise or representation of future performance.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. The 8% annual market growth rate used in illustrations is a standardized assumption for modeling purposes only and does not represent the historical or expected performance of any specific investment. Note that early or voluntary withdrawals by other participants can affect fund performance and the size of distributions, and that a higher-than-expected number of participants reaching payout milestones may reduce the per-participant benefit received.
Savvly's Longevity Benefit is not a bank product, not FDIC insured, not insured by any federal government agency, not a guaranteed or insured investment, and not insurance. Investment values may decline.
Savvly's Longevity Benefit may not be suitable for all investors. Eligibility to invest is subject to qualification requirements and not all investors will be eligible. Investors should carefully consider their investment objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon, and financial situation before investing. See savvly.com/disclosures for current eligibility criteria, fees, risks, withdrawal terms, and fund assumptions.
This content is published by Savvly, Inc. Savvly has a financial interest in the products described and this content should not be interpreted as independent financial research or analysis. Investors should carefully evaluate their own circumstances and consult a qualified financial professional before making any investment decision.
