Net Worth:

$1 billion +16%

Last Year:

$859 million

Age:

56

Residence:

Beverly Hills

Source of Wealth:

Entertainment

The Money:

Longtime entertainment executive sold the DreamWorks SKG movie studio he founded with Geffen and Spielberg last year. His take was approximately $175 million. Currently owns about $250 million worth of shares in DreamWorks Animation spinoff, where he serves as chief executive.

Buzz:

Looking to score big with “Shrek the Third”, the third installation of the popular computer animated film series. The second film was extremely successful for the animation spin-off when it grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide. It is the third highest grossing movie domestically ever. The studio is in need of a major blockbuster as “Flushed Away” had not yet covered its costs even though it brought in $176 million worldwide, according to the company’s first quarter earnings report. On the political front, Katzenberg has teamed up with many others in Hollywood to support Barack Obama in his 2008 presidential bid. He has also donated to the John Edwards campaign. Katzenberg is the former prot & #233;g & #233; of Michael Eisner, who forced him to resign from his position with Disney when Katzenberg wanted a promotion to second in command. He later sued Disney to recover money he felt he was owed, and settled out of court during the trial. Donated $1.25 million to Boston University following the graduation of two children from the school in 2005.