When people think of Hollywood’s richest actresses, names like Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, and Nicole Kidman often come to mind. But one woman whose fortune has attracted enormous attention is someone many viewers might recognize without immediately remembering her name.

She appeared in beloved films during the 1980s, including The Lost Boys and Less Than Zero, and built a successful television career. Yet her journey to extraordinary wealth took a very different path from that of most Hollywood stars.

Growing up in an ordinary family in Illinois, she never imagined the financial future awaiting her. In fact, early in her career, she earned enough to help support her family.

Years later, she married a young man who was still building his financial career. At the beginning of their marriage, she was the more established earner and even helped pay for their first home.

Today, she is frequently named among the world’s wealthiest actresses, with a family fortune estimated in the billions. But her identity — and how that fortune was built — may surprise you.

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