Steven Spielberg

From Rejected Film Student to the Most Successful Director in History

entertainment creative
Steven Spielberg

Net Worth

$5B

Born

December 18, 1946 (age 79)

Country

United States

Occupation

Film Director, Producer, Co-Founder of DreamWorks

Gender

male

Generation

Boomer

Marital Status

married

Children

7

Single Parent Household

No

Education

College Dropout

University

California State University, Long Beach

Industries

entertainment, creative

Wealth Category

billionaire

Wealth Origin

self-made

First-Gen Wealth

Yes

Overcame

  • • Rejected from USC film school three times
  • • Dropped out of college; no formal film education
  • • Jaws production nearly derailed by mechanical failures
  • • Faced criticism for being too commercial early in career
  • • Struggled with dyslexia diagnosed later in life

Steven Spielberg is the most commercially successful filmmaker in history. From Jaws to E.T. to Jurassic Park to Schindler's List, he has directed some of the most beloved and influential films ever made. A college dropout who was rejected from film school three times, he built an empire spanning directing, producing, and studio ownership through DreamWorks. His films have grossed over $10 billion worldwide.

Career Timeline

1946

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio

1958 Age 12
Milestone

Made first amateur film with father's 8mm camera

1963 Age 17
Milestone

Made 140-minute film Firelight; screened at local theater

1965 Age 19

Rejected from USC film school; enrolled at Cal State Long Beach

1968 Age 22
Turning Point

Made short film Amblin'; signed to Universal contract

1971 Age 25
Milestone

Directed first TV movie Duel

1974 Age 28
Milestone

Directed first feature The Sugarland Express

1975 Age 29
Achievement

Jaws released; became highest-grossing film ever

1977 Age 31
Achievement

Close Encounters of the Third Kind released

1981 Age 35
Achievement

Raiders of the Lost Ark released; launched Indiana Jones franchise

1982 Age 36
Achievement

E.T. released; became highest-grossing film ever

1984 Age 38
Milestone

Founded Amblin Entertainment

1985 Age 39
Milestone

The Color Purple released; first dramatic film

1993 Age 47
Achievement

Jurassic Park released; highest-grossing film ever

1993 Age 47
Achievement

Schindler's List released; won Best Director Oscar

1994 Age 48
Milestone

Co-founded DreamWorks SKG with Katzenberg and Geffen

1998 Age 52
Achievement

Saving Private Ryan released; won second Best Director Oscar

2002 Age 56
Milestone

Minority Report released; embraced new technology

2005 Age 59
Milestone

Munich released; addressed controversial subject

2012 Age 66
Achievement

Lincoln released; 12 Oscar nominations

2015 Age 69
Milestone

Bridge of Spies released; continued historical dramas

2021 Age 75
Milestone

West Side Story released; remake of classic musical

2022 Age 76
Achievement

The Fabelmans released; semi-autobiographical film

Notable Quotes

"The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves."

— Interview, 2012

"Every single movie is a different experience. The only thing they all have in common is fear."

— Interview, 2015

"I don't dream at night, I dream at day, I dream all day; I'm dreaming for a living."

— Interview, 2008

"People have forgotten how to tell a story. Stories don't have a middle or an end any more. They usually have a beginning that never stops beginning."

— Interview, 2010

"The most amazing thing for me is that every single person who sees a movie brings a whole set of unique experiences. Now, each person's interpretation is different from the next."