David O. Russell Net Worth

What Is David O. Russell’s Net Worth?

David O. Russell, an American director, producer, and screenwriter, boasts a net worth of $40 million. He is best known for films such as “Spanking the Monkey” (1994), “Three Kings” (1999), “The Fighter” (2010), “Silver Linings Playbook” (2012), “American Hustle” (2013), and “Joy” (2015). While recognized as a talented director and writer, he has a reputation for being challenging to work with, leading to the loss of actors and funding opportunities due to his volatile temperament. Russell has received five Academy Award nominations—three for directing and two for writing. Aside from films, he also executive produced the Syfy series “Outer Space Astronauts” in 2009 and made an appearance as himself on The CW’s “Gossip Girl” in 2011.

Early Life

Born David Owen Russell on August 20, 1958, in Manhattan, New York City, he grew up in an atheist family in Larchmont, New York. His father, Bernard, was a vice president at Simon & Schuster, while his mother, Maria, worked as a secretary. David has Italian-American roots through his mother and Russian-Jewish heritage from his father. Many of his paternal grandfather’s family were victims of concentration camps during the Holocaust. At age 13, David made his first film using a Super 8 camera for a school project. He attended Mamaroneck High School, where he was voted “Class Rebel,” and developed a passion for writing, contributing to a newspaper and penning short stories. After graduating high school, he pursued a double major in political science and English at Amherst College, earning his A.B. in 1981, with a senior thesis focused on U.S. intervention in Chile from 1963 to 1973.

Career

Post-college, Russell traveled to Nicaragua to teach in a Sandinista literacy program. He directed several documentaries, which led him to a production assistant role on the PBS series “Smithsonian World.” In 1987, he wrote, directed, and produced the short film “Bingo Inferno: A Parody on American Obsessions,” which showcased at the Sundance Film Festival, along with another short, “Hairway to the Stars.” His first feature film, “Spanking the Monkey” (1994), earned him acclaim and won two Independent Spirit Awards, although he had to return his grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Following this success, Russell directed “Flirting with Disaster” (1996) with stars like Ben Stiller and Patricia Arquette, and then “Three Kings” (1999) featuring George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg. He produced “The Slaughter Rule” (2002) and “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” (2004), and directed “I Heart Huckabees” (2004), which received a Gotham Award nomination for Best Feature. His 2010 film “The Fighter” received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and grossed $129.2 million at the box office.

In 2012, “Silver Linings Playbook” starred Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Robert De Niro, earning $236.4 million from a $21 million budget and winning over 80 awards along with eight Academy Award nominations. Russell then directed “American Hustle” (2013), featuring a star-studded cast that included Jennifer Lawrence and Christian Bale, which grossed $251.2 million and received ten Academy Award nominations. After co-writing and directing “Accidental Love,” which was released in 2015 without his name attributed, he directed “Joy,” based on the life of inventor Joy Mangano, which earned $101.1 million and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Most recently, he directed “Amsterdam” in 2022, featuring Christian Bale and Margot Robbie. As of April 2024, reports suggest Russell is in discussions to direct a reboot of “Get Smart,” with John Mulaney expressing interest in portraying Maxwell Smart.

(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for 20th Century Studios)

Personal Life

In 1992, David married Janet Grillo, a producer at Fine Line Features, with whom he had a son named Matthew before divorcing in 2007. He then began dating costume designer Holly Davis, and they adopted a son, Leo. In 2011, his transgender niece, Nicole Peloquin, accused him of sexual assault, but the case was closed due to lack of evidence. Peloquin claimed Russell’s behavior was inappropriate during a personal training session, while he stated she acted provocatively. David has endorsed autism research and mental health treatment, being honored at the 2015 Light Up the Night Gala for Autism. He is involved with the anti-corruption organization Represent.Us as part of their creative council.

Russell’s reputation for being abusive and confrontational with actors is well-documented. During the filming of “Three Kings,” he nearly fought with George Clooney amid reports of his demeaning behavior toward the crew, with Clooney later calling it “the worst experience” of his life. In 2003, he reportedly insulted Lily Tomlin during “I Heart Huckabees,” and footage of their conflict surfaced on YouTube in 2007. Furthermore, the 2013 Sony Pictures Hack revealed that Amy Adams described working with Russell on “American Hustle” as a “living hell,” with Christian Bale challenging him directly to stop his abrasive behavior.

Real Estate

In August 2001, David acquired a home in Los Angeles for $1.625 million, which is now valued between $5 and $7 million.

Awards and Nominations

Russell has received numerous accolades for his work, including five Academy Award nominations: Best Achievement in Directing for “The Fighter” (2011), “Silver Linings Playbook” (2013), and “American Hustle” (2014), along with nominations for Best Writing for “Silver Linings Playbook” and Best Original Screenplay for “American Hustle.” He has won BAFTA Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay for “Silver Linings Playbook” and Best Original Screenplay for “American Hustle.” His screenplays have also received Writers Guild of America Award nominations, including those for “Three Kings.” Russell was nominated for Directors Guild of America Awards for Outstanding Directorial Achievement for both “The Fighter” and “American Hustle,” and he earned Golden Globe nominations for Best Director for both films, as well as Best Screenplay for “Silver Linings Playbook” and “American Hustle.” Additionally, he has received six Independent Spirit Award nominations, winning awards for Best First Screenplay and Best First Feature for “Spanking the Monkey” in 1995 and for Best Director and Best Screenplay for “Silver Linings Playbook” in 2013, with other nominations for “Flirting with Disaster.”