What is Paul W.S. Anderson's Net Worth?
Paul W.S. Anderson is a British director, screenwriter, and producer with a net worth of $80 million. This is a combined net worth with his wife, actress Milla Jovovich, known for her role in the Resident Evil series. Anderson gained fame for directing and producing the successful 'Resident Evil' film franchise, which is the most successful video game adaptation ever, grossing hundreds of millions globally.
Anderson initially gained recognition with his film 'Shopping', starring Jude Law and Sadie Frost. His second film, 'Mortal Kombat', was more commercially successful, propelling him to larger projects like 'Event Horizon' and 'Soldier', which unfortunately did not fare well at the box office. Still, he found massive success with 'Resident Evil' and continued with projects such as 'Alien vs. Predator', 'Death Race', 'The Three Musketeers', 'Pompeii', and more.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Paul William Scott Anderson was born on March 4, 1965, in Wallsend, North Tyneside, England. Interested in filmmaking from a young age, he used a Super 8 film camera to create movies at nine years old. He studied at the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle and later attended the University of Warwick, becoming the youngest graduate with a B.A. in film and literature.
Anderson started his professional career writing for the British crime drama-comedy series 'El C.I.D.' from 1990 to 1992. In collaboration with producer Jeremy Bolt, he established Impact Pictures and directed his debut film 'Shopping' in 1994. Although controversial at its release, it opened doors for Anderson in Hollywood after being screened at the Sundance Film Festival.
Mortal Kombat and Commercial Success
In 1995, Anderson directed 'Mortal Kombat', based on the popular video game by Midway Games. The film, recognized for its visual style, succeeded despite mixed critical reviews, grossing over $122 million on an $18 million budget and topping the US box office for three weeks. Its success marked one of the first successful video game adaptations to film.
Soldier, Event Horizon, and The Sight
Following the success of 'Mortal Kombat', Anderson embarked on the sci-fi action film 'Soldier', written by David Peoples. Concurrently, he directed 'Event Horizon', praised for its visuals but failing at the box office. Anderson faced further disappointment with 'Soldier', leading to a pause in his career. He then created 'The Sight', which, despite high ratings, did not proceed as a TV series.
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Resident Evil, Alien vs. Predator, and Death Race
Anderson made a significant comeback with 'Resident Evil' in 2002. Featuring Milla Jovovich as Alice, the film was a prequel to the video game series. Despite its modest budget of $33 million and mixed reviews, it grossed over $100 million. Anderson involved himself thoroughly in the subsequent sequels, writing and producing, which led to major box office success despite consistent critical panning.
In 2004, Anderson directed 'Alien vs. Predator', merging the 'Alien' and 'Predator' franchises into a commercial hit. In 2008, he directed 'Death Race', which garnered average reviews but failed to be a box office hit.
Resident Evil: Afterlife, The Three Musketeers, and Pompeii
Anderson directed 'Resident Evil: Afterlife' in 2010, which was a financial success, grossing $300 million against a $60 million budget. He then directed 'The Three Musketeers' in 2011, a 3D action-adventure film starring Milla Jovovich. Anderson continued his success with 'Resident Evil: Retribution' in 2012, despite poor reviews. In 2014, he directed 'Pompeii', a 3D historical disaster romance film featuring Emily Browning and Kit Harington.
Monster Hunter and Future Projects
In December 2020, Anderson directed 'Monster Hunter', based on the popular Capcom video game. The film received mixed reviews and grossed $43 million against its $60 million budget. Anderson is set to write and direct a film based on George R.R. Martin's short story 'In the Lost Lands'.
Personal Life
Anderson began dating Milla Jovovich in 2002, shortly after the release of 'Resident Evil'. They got engaged in 2003 and married in 2009. The couple has three daughters, born in 2007, 2015, and 2020.
Real Estate
In 2016, Anderson and Jovovich purchased a property in Beverly Hills for $3.922 million, later renting it out for $20,000 per month. In 2018, they listed it for $4.5 million and sold it for $4.6 million in 2021. In 2005, they bought a townhouse in New York's West Village for $6.375 million, later selling it for $6.7 million in 2013. In 2007, they upgraded to an $8.5 million Mediterranean villa in Beverly Hills. In March 2022, they acquired a 9,000 square-foot mansion in Hollywood Hills for $10.2 million.
