Rob Minkoff Net Worth

Rob Minkoff, an American filmmaker and director, is best known for co-directing Disney’s 1994 animated hit The Lion King. With a career spanning several decades, Minkoff has amassed an impressive net worth of $30 million. Throughout his journey, he has transitioned from animation to live-action films, cementing his status in Hollywood.

Rob Minkoff Net Worth	$30 Million
Date of Birth	Aug 11, 1962
Place of Birth	Palo Alto, California
Nationality	American
Profession	Filmmaker and Director

Table of Contents

Early Life

Born in Palo Alto, California in 1962 to Jewish parents Tola and Jack, Rob Minkoff grew up with a passion for animation. He attended Palo Alto High School and later enrolled in the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he graduated from the Character Animation department in the early 1980s. His entry into the world of animation began with Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he was hired as an in-between artist for The Black Cauldron (1985). Minkoff later worked as a supervising animator on The Great Mouse Detective (1986) and contributed character design to The Brave Little Toaster (1987).

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In addition to his animation skills, Minkoff displayed his musical talents by co-writing the song “Good Company” for the Disney classic Oliver & Company (1988). As he rose through the ranks, he worked on character animation for The Little Mermaid (1989) and directed Roger Rabbit shorts like Tummy Trouble (1989) and Roller Coaster Rabbit (1990). He was also involved in pre-production development for Beauty and the Beast (1991), setting the stage for his big breakthrough.

The Lion King

Minkoff’s career reached new heights in 1994 when he co-directed Disney’s iconic animated film The Lion King alongside Roger Allers. The film became an international sensation, grossing $763 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing animated movie of its time. The Lion King received multiple awards, including two Academy Awards for Best Original Score (Hans Zimmer) and Best Original Song (Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”). This success marked Minkoff as a major force in the animation industry.

Transition to Live-Action Films

Following the triumph of The Lion King, Minkoff ventured into live-action filmmaking. His first project was Stuart Little (1999), a family favorite that earned an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects. He followed this with the equally successful Stuart Little 2 (2002). In 2003, Minkoff directed The Haunted Mansion, a comedy-horror film inspired by the Disney theme park attraction, starring Eddie Murphy.

In 2008, Minkoff directed The Forbidden Kingdom, a martial arts film starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li. The film grossed $128 million worldwide, reinforcing his versatility as a director. Minkoff then experimented with adult comedy in Flypaper (2011), though it failed to achieve commercial or critical success.

Return to Animation

Minkoff returned to his roots in animation with DreamWorks’ Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014), based on characters from the classic TV series The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle. He also produced the Netflix series The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show and worked on animated series like Llama Llama and Rainbow Rangers. Minkoff continues to contribute to animation with his direction of Blazing Samurai (2021) and upcoming projects like Chinese Odyssey and Wolf Totem.

Personal Life

In 2003, Minkoff met Crystal Kung, a descendant of Confucius, at an office party. The two hit it off and later attended the premiere of Finding Nemo on their first date. They married in 2007 and have two children, Max and Zoe.

Real Estate

Minkoff and his wife Crystal have invested in prime real estate, purchasing a property in Bel Air for $2.3 million in 2010. They transformed the site into a luxurious 7,200-square-foot mansion, which is now valued at an estimated $14 million.