Actress Jamie Gratz: from seinfeld to richest in the world

Jamie Gratz may not ring a bell for Seinfeld fans, but her 1994 appearance as Jerry's partner on the hit sitcom marked a turning point in her career. Playing a character who refused to share toilet paper with Elaine and was outed as an erotic hotline operator by Kramer, Gratz garnered attention in the industry. 

While she had been acting in small and big roles throughout the 80s and 90s, even being considered for Rachel in "Friends," her breakthrough came with the cult film "Little Bites," alongside Kiefer Sutherland and Diane Wiest.

However, despite not being one of the most famous actresses, Gratz holds the title of the richest actress globally. Estimates place her worth between $3 to $8 billion, surpassed only by George Lucas with a fortune of $10 billion.

Interestingly, Gratz's wealth stems not from her acting career but from her marriage to billionaire Tony Ressler, the founder of Ares Investment Management. The couple has leveraged their fortune to make various investments, including acquiring a stake in the NBA team Atlanta Hawks and becoming part owners of the baseball team Milwaukee Brewers.

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In a 2018 interview, Gratz shed light on her foray into owning an NBA team: "My husband and I were drawn to the Clippers. Grant Hill, a member of the Atlanta ownership group, reached out to us and informed us that the team was up for sale. Initially, Atlanta wasn't on our radar, but we found the opportunity intriguing. Within four days, we became the proud owners of the Hawks."

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Gratz began her acting journey in 1981 but didn't amass great wealth from her on-screen accomplishments, given her relatively unknown status. Unlike fellow actors like Devin Johnson (estimated fortune of $800 million) or Robert De Niro ($500 million), she didn't strike it rich in the industry. However, it could be said that she simply knew how to choose her life partner wisely.

But does it truly matter?

When they tied the knot in 1988, Gratz was the primary breadwinner, even buying their first house with her own earnings. It wasn't until 1990 that her husband started accumulating wealth, and he only founded Ares Investment Management in 1997, by which time they were already parents to three children.

Despite her immense wealth, Gratz continues to make sporadic acting appearances, recently appearing in "The Entourage," "Modern Family," and "The Life Itself," among others.