According to Forbesthe 71-year-old is now among a small group of directors to reach the milestone, alongside George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Tyler Perry and Peter Jackson. Unlike many of his peers, Cameron has built his fortune primarily through filmmaking, rather than diversified business empires or extensive revenue streams outside Hollywood.

His wealth stems from a string of high-grossing films, including “The Terminator,” “Aliens,” “Titanic” and the “Avatar” series, which together have earned nearly $9 billion at the global box office. His income is derived from directing and producing fees, profit participation, licensing revenue from theme parks and merchandise, and equity in his production company, Lightstorm Entertainment.

Cameron’s net worth is expected to rise further with the release of his latest film, “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” from which Forbes estimates he could earn at least $200 million before taxes and fees, assuming it meets box-office expectations.

Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Cameron moved to California with his family at the age of 17. He enrolled at Fullerton College, initially studying physics before switching to English, but later dropped out. He subsequently worked a series of odd jobs, including as a truck driver and a high school janitor, according to a past interview with The New York Times.

His first directing credit, “Piranha II: The Spawning” (1981), ended with his dismissal over creative differences. His breakthrough came three years later with “The Terminator,” whose script rights he famously sold for $1 in exchange for the opportunity to direct the film.

Cameron went on to deliver “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” the highest-grossing film of 1991, and “Titanic,” which defied scepticism to earn $1.8 billion during its initial theatrical run and win 11 Academy Awards.

His greatest commercial triumph arrived with “Avatar” in 2009, which earned nearly $3 billion at the global box office and transformed the use of 3D and digital effects in mainstream cinema. Cameron’s personal take from the first film is estimated to exceed $350 million, with additional ongoing income from merchandise, licensing and theme park attractions.

The filmmaker now resides in New Zealand, where he owns extensive landholdings and continues to invest in emerging technologies, including virtual reality and artificial intelligence.