From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Ryan Reynolds: every A-list immigrant on Forbes’ America’s most successful list

Immigrant stars—from Hollywood heavyweights to TV mainstays—dominate Forbes’ latest salute to American achievement.

Forbes just did a deep dive on 16 entertainment heavy-hitters who weren’t born in the U.S. but helped shape it anyway. The range here is wild: action stars, moguls, comedians, chefs, rock legends, even a First Lady. A few of these stories are jaw-droppers, and some of the numbers are bigger than you probably think.

"Money doesn’t make you happy. I now have $50 million but I was just as happy when I had $48 million."

- Arnold Schwarzenegger

The roll call

• Arnold Schwarzenegger (ranked No. 1 on Forbes’ list) — Landed in the U.S. from Thal, Austria in 1968 at 21 with limited English and a bodybuilder’s savings. Became a citizen in 1983, stacked an estimated $1.2 billion through movies, real estate, and investments, and at 78 he’s still based in Los Angeles, active in philanthropy and public life post-California governor. Forbes puts him at the top of their lineup, though for pure dollars, others below outpace him.
• Ryan Reynolds — Born in Vancouver in 1976, moved south in the 1990s and reportedly became a U.S. citizen around 2018. About $350 million to his name thanks to Deadpool, selling Aviation Gin to Diageo, and that $1.35 billion Mint Mobile deal. Splits time between New York and L.A. with wife Blake Lively and their kids. Charm plus ruthless deal flow is a potent combo.
• Melania Trump — From Novo Mesto, Slovenia; arrived in 1996; citizen in 2006 via the EB-1 visa (the so-called extraordinary ability route) for modeling. The first naturalized U.S. citizen to serve as First Lady. Personal assets are in the tens of millions from modeling, jewelry, and skincare. She moves between Mar-a-Lago and other Trump homes with son Barron. Odd-but-true recent beat: she showed up at the White House’s inaugural Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit with a humanoid robot named Figure Three, at an event drawing reps from 40+ countries.
• Charlize Theron ( ranked No. 134) — Left Benoni, South Africa in the mid-1990s on a modeling contract, fought through early visa headaches, and became a citizen in 2007. Oscar for Monster, a steady producing slate, and Dior deals add up to about $200 million. She’s in L.A., raising her adopted kids and pushing for broader storytelling through her production company.
• Michael J. Fox — Departed Edmonton at 18 in 1979 for Los Angeles; citizen in 2000. Back to the Future and Family Ties headlines the resume, with an estimated net worth between $65 million and $150 million. His Parkinson’s foundation has raised over $2 billion for research. Lives in New York, and remains a beloved advocate on and off the screen.
• Lorne Michaels (ranked No. 19) — Born in Toronto in 1944, came to the U.S. in the late 1960s, naturalized in 1987. Created Saturday Night Live and has steered it for decades, shaping American comedy in the process. Estimated $500 million net worth; still based in New York at 81. Half of modern comedy either went through him or was responding to something he put on TV.
• Haim Saban (ranked No. 54) — Born in Alexandria, Egypt; his family moved to Israel in 1956. He made his way to the U.S. in 1983 after stints in France and Israel. Power Rangers supercharged his media fortune to about $3.3 billion. Lives in Beverly Hills, and is a notable philanthropist and Democratic donor.
• Isaac Perlmutter (ranked No. 15) — Immigrated from Israel in 1967, right after the Six-Day War, landing in New York with $250. Helped rescue bankrupt Marvel in 1998, then engineered the 2009 sale to Disney for north of $4 billion. Net worth sits around $5.2 billion, the biggest pile on this list. He keeps a low profile in Florida, mainly Palm Beach. Fun footnote: Steve Jobs helped nudge him toward taking Disney’s offer.
• Wolfgang Puck — Came over from Austria in the early 1970s, started out washing dishes, then basically invented California cuisine at Spago in West Hollywood. Restaurants, catering, and even frozen foods turned into roughly $120 million. At 76, still in L.A. and still running the Oscars Governors Ball like it’s his Super Bowl.
• Yo-Yo Ma — Born in Paris in 1955 to Chinese parents, moved to New York at around age seven to study at Juilliard. Nineteen Grammys, a mountain of recordings, and the Silk Road Ensemble make him a global culture bridge. Estimated $30–$50 million net worth. Lives mostly in Massachusetts and somehow remains everywhere at once on tour at 70.
• Neil Young — Drove a hearse (yes, a hearse) from Toronto to California in 1966 at 20. Holds dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship. Between his solo catalog (Harvest, After the Gold Rush) and CSNY, he’s built about $200 million. Now 80, splits time between the U.S. and Canada, tours selectively, and keeps swinging on environmental issues.
• Alanis Morissette — Left Ottawa for the U.S. in the early 1990s, became a citizen in 2005 while keeping her Canadian passport. Jagged Little Pill sold 30+ million worldwide and won a small hardware store of Grammys. Around $60 million net worth. Based in L.A. at 51, still releasing music, big on wellness, and the Broadway version of Jagged Little Pill took home Tonys.
• David Byrne — Born in Dumbarton, Scotland in 1952, moved to Canada and then Maryland. Naturalized in 2012 largely so he could vote. Fronted Talking Heads and later built American Utopia on Broadway. Wealth is in the tens of millions. At 74, he’s in New York making art across basically every medium available.
• Gloria Estefan — Her family fled the Cuban Revolution when she was a toddler, settling in Miami around 1959–1960. With husband Emilio, she’s sold 100+ million records and built a hospitality and real estate footprint for a combined net worth near $500 million. At 68, she’s still performing and producing out of Miami. Recent win: her album Raices took Best Tropical Latin Album at the Grammys.
• Mikhail Baryshnikov (ranked No. 143) — Born in Riga, Latvia in 1948 (back in the Soviet era), defected during a Canadian tour in 1974 and became a U.S. citizen in 1986. From ballet to film and TV (Oscar-nominated for The Turning Point), plus real estate, he’s amassed significant wealth. Now 78, based in New York, and supports artists through the Baryshnikov Arts Center.
• Angélique Kidjo — Fled communist restrictions in Benin in the early 1980s, moved to Paris, and eventually settled in New York, where she became a U.S. citizen. Five Grammys, a signature blend of African, jazz, and funk, and a tireless humanitarian profile as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Estimated $5 million net worth. At 65, she’s touring and pushing education and women’s rights through her Batonga Foundation.

Quick reality check on the money: Forbes ranks Schwarzenegger No. 1, but the biggest personal fortunes here belong to Marvel’s Isaac Perlmutter (about $5.2 billion) and Power Rangers kingpin Haim Saban (about $3.3 billion). Either way, the through-line is the same: people who showed up with almost nothing and ended up directing the culture.

Hollywood wasn’t just made in America; it was made better by the rest of the world. Who on this list surprised you most? Drop your pick in the comments.