Oppenheimer: Christopher Nolan net worth and astonishing amount he's made on Oscars biopic

Having made almost $1 billion at the box office and received critical acclaim, Oppenheimer has a leading 13 nominations at this year’s Academy Awards.

Christopher Nolan is widely considered to be one of the greatest living Hollywood directors but incredibly has never won a major award until this year.

Following his Golden Globe and BAFTA wins, the 53-year-old is predicted to pick up the Best Director and Best Picture Oscars on Sunday evening, in what is expected to finally be his year.

The British filmmaker, who has an estimated net worth of $250 million, is set to be paid one of the biggest sums ever to a director for Oppenheimer, which his wife Emma Thomas produced with him.

And it’s hardly surprising given that Nolan, who also wrote the screenplay, bet on himself.

According to Forbes, Nolan is earning an estimated 15 per cent of Oppenheimer’s first dollar gross. What this means is the director is paid a share of every cent the blockbuster earns before Universal recoups its expenses. 

From the box office takings, home video sales and streamer licencing alone, he’s expected to make an estimated $72 million pre-tax. That’s after his agent and lawyer fees. And not only that, but the total will continue to rise for years to come with fresh streamer licensing.