Steven Spielberg attends the red carpet of the Netflix movie "Maestro" at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, California, U. S. December 12, 2023. REUTERS / Mike Blake
Director George Lucas attends the Museum of Modern Art's Party in the Garden benefit on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa / Invision / AP)
Former basketball star Michael Jordan ends the year with a net worth of $3 billion, according to Forbes. AFP
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey ends the year with a net worth of $2.8 billion. AFP
Music mogul Jay-Z now has a net worth of $2.5 billion, according to Forbes. AFP
Fashion designer Tom Ford has a personal fortune of $2.2 billion, according to Forbes. AFP
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has a net worth of $1.7 billion. AFP
Film director Peter Jackson has a net worth of $1.5 billion. AFP
Former basketball star Magic Johnson joined the billionaires’ circle this year. His fortune is $1.2 billion. AFP
Singer Taylor Swift is a notable newcomer to this year’s billionaire list, following the success of her Eras concert tour and film. Her net worth is $1.1 billion. AP
The Oscar-winning director's net worth climbed an estimated $1.25 billion in 2023. The bulk of his assets are in cash.
He has a lifelong consulting agreement with Universal Studios theme parks. The value of the agreement at the end of 2022 was $1.1 billion, Bloomberg reported.
In addition, he has personal property worth $300 million.
Spielberg, 77, is the principal partner in film production company DreamWorks Studios. He has produced about 150 films, including Jaws, Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List.
He and his wife, actor Kate Capshaw, own or have owned properties in Malibu and the Pacific Palisades in California, as well a 6,000-square-feet apartment in New York City and a four-hectare estate in East Hampton, New York, according to wealth tracking website Celebrity Net Worth.
He owns a superyacht worth $250 million and avidly collects film memorabilia and art.
Director George Lucas is the 360th richest person in the world. AP
2. George Lucas
The man behind the Star Wars and Indiana Jones movie franchises has a net worth of $6.92 billion, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index. That is an increase of about 12.4 per cent or $761 million over the previous year.
The filmmaker, aged 79, is now the 360th richest person in the world.
Most of his wealth has come from entertainment – specifically, from selling the rights of his Lucasfilm and special effects business Industrial Light and Magic to Disney for $4.1 billion in cash and stock in 2012.
The deal included 37.1 million in stock and made him the entertainment company’s second largest individual shareholder after Laurene Powell Jobs, the billionaire widow of Apple founder Steve Jobs.
Lucas’s major investment is in farmland. Skywalker Properties owns about 2,470 hectares of ranches in and around Marin County, California.
Michael Jordan has seen his net worth nearly double from $1.7 billion last year. AP
3. Michael Jordan
Former basketball star Michael Jordan ends the year with a net worth of $3 billion, according to Forbes. The magazine ranks him as the 1,042nd richest billionaire.
Jordan, 60, has seen his net worth nearly double from $1.7 billion last year.
Many regard him as the greatest NBA player of all time. He played in the league for 15 seasons, from 1984 to 2003, and earned $90 million.
Off court, he has earned another $2.4 billion before taxes from partnerships with brands including Gatorade, Hanes and, perhaps most importantly, Nike.
The $2.5 million, five-year contract he signed with the sports apparel retailer in 1984 also awarded him a percentage of all shoes sold with his likeness.
The shoe brand Air Jordans earned $5.1 billion in 2022, with Jordan taking 5 per cent, according to Front Office Sports.
This year, Jordan banked additional income from selling the Charlotte Hornets basketball team at a valuation of $3 billion.
He has also invested in headphone brand Muzik and esports company aXiomatic, while he also co-owns Nascar team 23XI, along with several restaurants.
The richest woman on the celebrity billionaire list this year is Oprah Winfrey, with a net worth of $2.8 billion. Reuters
4. Oprah Winfrey
The richest woman on our list this year is Oprah Winfrey. Despite a net worth of $2.8 billion, she ranks well outside the world’s top 1,000 billionaires, at 1,121 on Forbes magazine’s real-time list.
The entrepreneur and philanthropist ended 2022 with a net worth of $2.5 billion, down from $2.7 billion in 2021.
Besides from her eponymous talk show, which ran for 25 years, Winfrey, 69, has also profited from films including Beloved and Selma, through her Harpo Productions company.
Reinvested, the profits from these entertainment properties total more than $2 billion, Forbes reports.
Her current projects include the Oprah Daily website and the musical retelling of the 1982 book The Color Purple. This film adaptation releases in cinemas around the world today.
Music mogul Jay-Z has a net worth of $2.5 billion, according to Forbes. Reuters
5. Jay-Z
Music mogul Jay-Z, real name Shawn Corey Carter, now has a net worth of $2.5 billion, according to Forbes.
At the end of 2022, his net worth was reported as $1.3 billion.
The difference likely comes down to his beverage business. Luxury goods company LVMH purchased a 50 per cent stake in his Armand de Brignac brand in 2021. This year, he sold a majority of his D'Usse brand to Bacardi.
The 54-year-old is also the owner of entertainment company Roc Nation, founded in 2008.
As an investor, Jay-Z has stakes in companies including Block, Uber and Therabody.
Fashion designer Tom Ford has a net worth of $2.2 billion, according to Forbes. AFP
6. Tom Ford
Fashion designer Tom Ford catapulted to billionaire status in 2022 after he sold his eponymous label and a separate fragrance and cosmetics business to Estée Lauder. Forbes magazine puts his net worth at $2.2 billion.
He founded the label in 2005 and owned 63.7 per cent of the company, according to Forbes.
Ford, 62, also owns a film production company, Fade to Black.
He has a real estate portfolio, with homes in Paris, Los Angeles, London, New York and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has a net worth of $1.7 billion, mainly from her stake in clothing brand Skims. Reuters
7. Kim Kardashian
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian, 43, has a net worth of $1.7 billion, most of which is from her stake in clothing brand Skims.
The company has been valued at $4 billion after a funding round this year, raising Kardashian’s net worth.
It is on track to make about $750 million this year, TheNew York Times reported.
She also owns a high-end skincare line, SKKN by Kim, and a private equity firm, SKKY Partners.
Director Peter Jackson has a net worth of $1.5 billion. AFP
8. Peter Jackson
Holding steady at $1.5 billion is director Peter Jackson. The New Zealander is best known for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies.
Jackson, 62, became a billionaire when he sold his Weta Digital special effects studio to Unity Software for $1.6 billion in cash and stock in 2021.
His investments include $150 million in real estate, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
An aviation fan, he owns a Gulfstream G650 private jet, more than 40 airworthy First World War-era warbirds and Wingnut Wings, a scale modelling company specialising in First World War subjects.
Former basketball star Magic Johnson has a net worth of $1.2 billion. AFP
9. Magic Johnson
Also joining the billionaires’ circle this year was former basketball star Magic Johnson. In October, Forbes put his net worth at $1.2 billion.
He earned $40 million over 13 seasons in the NBA. Outside basketball, he has investments and partnerships in cinemas, Starbucks franchises, real estate, health care and other companies.
The largest share of his fortune comes from a 60 per cent ownership stake in life insurance company Equitrust, which has $26 billion in assets under management.
Johnson, 64, also owns stakes in several sports teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Taylor Swift's net worth is $1.1 billion, according to Forbes. AP
Her net worth is $1.1 billion, according to Forbes.
The tour could earn her as much as $4.1 billion when it closes next year, The Washington Post reported.
The 12-time Grammy winner was also the year’s most streamed artist on Spotify, earning $131 million from 26.1 global streams over the 11 months to November.
She has more than 182 million in total equivalent album sales over her career.
Swift, 33, is one of the world’s richest self-made women. She is also one of the world’s youngest self-made billionaires.
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), EsekaiaDranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), JaenBotes (Exiles), KristianStinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), EmosiVacanau (Harlequins), NikoVolavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), ThinusSteyn (Exiles)
Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
8 UAE companies helping families reduce their carbon footprint
Greenheart Organic Farms
This Dubai company was one of the country’s first organic farms, set up in 2012, and it now delivers a wide array of fruits and vegetables grown regionally or in the UAE, as well as other grocery items, to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi doorsteps.
Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.
From brushes made of plant fibres to eco-friendly storage solutions, this company has planet-friendly alternatives to almost everything we need, including tin foil and toothbrushes.
One Dubai boutique, Re:told, is taking second-hand garments and selling them on at a fraction of the price, helping to cut back on the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothes thrown into landfills each year.
Offering filtered, still and sparkling water on tap, Bubble Bro is attempting to ensure we don’t produce plastic or glass waste. Founded in 2017 by Adel Abu-Aysha, the company is on track to exceeding its target of saving one million bottles by the end of the year.
This company offers refillable, eco-friendly home cleaning and hygiene products that are all biodegradable, free of chemicals and certifiably not tested on animals.
This bricks-and-mortar shop and e-store, founded by a Dubai mum-of-four, is the place to go for all manner of family products – from reusable cloth diapers to organic skincare and sustainable toys.
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples. Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts. Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE) Where: Anfield, Liverpool Live: BeIN Sports HD Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Day 1 results:
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
Pakistan v Sri Lanka:
28 Sep-2 Oct, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi
6-10 Oct, 2nd Test (day-night), Dubai
13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai
16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
18 Oct, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi
20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah
23 Oct, 5th ODI, Sharjah
26 Oct, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
27 Oct, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
29 Oct, 3rd T20I, Lahore
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11 What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time. TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Notable salonnières of the Middle East through history
Al Khasan (Okaz, Saudi Arabia)
Tamadir bint Amr Al Harith, known simply as Al Khasan, was a poet from Najd famed for elegies, earning great renown for the eulogy of her brothers Mu’awiyah and Sakhr, both killed in tribal wars. Although not a salonnière, this prestigious 7th century poet fostered a culture of literary criticism and could be found standing in the souq of Okaz and reciting her poetry, publicly pronouncing her views and inviting others to join in the debate on scholarship. She later converted to Islam.
Maryana Marrash (Aleppo)
A poet and writer, Marrash helped revive the tradition of the salon and was an active part of the Nadha movement, or Arab Renaissance. Born to an established family in Aleppo in Ottoman Syria in 1848, Marrash was educated at missionary schools in Aleppo and Beirut at a time when many women did not receive an education. After touring Europe, she began to host salons where writers played chess and cards, competed in the art of poetry, and discussed literature and politics. An accomplished singer and canon player, music and dancing were a part of these evenings.
Princess Nazil Fadil (Cairo)
Princess Nazil Fadil gathered religious, literary and political elite together at her Cairo palace, although she stopped short of inviting women. The princess, a niece of Khedive Ismail, believed that Egypt’s situation could only be solved through education and she donated her own property to help fund the first modern Egyptian University in Cairo.
Mayy Ziyadah (Cairo)
Ziyadah was the first to entertain both men and women at her Cairo salon, founded in 1913. The writer, poet, public speaker and critic, her writing explored language, religious identity, language, nationalism and hierarchy. Born in Nazareth, Palestine, to a Lebanese father and Palestinian mother, her salon was open to different social classes and earned comparisons with souq of where Al Khansa herself once recited.
