The $45 Million Empire: Where Are Lee Daniels And Danny Strong, The Creators Of FOX's Empire, Now?

The creators of Empire, Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, continue to dominate Hollywood with massive new projects and surprising confessions about their time on the hit Fox series. As of December 2025, the dynamic duo, who collectively hold an estimated net worth of $45 million, have moved far beyond the Lyon family drama, with Daniels securing a major deal with 20th Television and Strong rewriting a classic Broadway musical for a highly anticipated revival. This deep dive reveals their complete biographies, their current ventures, and the truth behind Daniels calling Empire his "worst experience."

The cultural phenomenon that was *Empire* may have ended its six-season run, but the creative and financial "empires" of its masterminds are only growing. Daniels and Strong have transitioned from the world of Lucious and Cookie Lyon to prestige film, television, and even the theater, solidifying their status as two of the industry's most powerful storytellers.

The Architects of Empire: Complete Biographical Profiles

The success of *Empire* was the result of a powerful collaboration between a visionary director known for raw, emotional cinema and a talented actor-turned-screenwriter with a knack for political drama. Here is a look at the two men who brought the Lyon family to life.

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Lee Daniels: Biography, Filmography, and Net Worth

• Full Name: Lee Louis Daniels
• Born: December 24, 1959
• Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
• Occupation: Film Producer, Director, Screenwriter, Television Creator
• Estimated Net Worth (2025): $30 Million
• Notable Works (Selected): Monster's Ball (Producer, 2001), Shadowboxer (Director/Producer, 2005), Precious (Director/Producer, 2009), The Butler (Director/Producer, 2013), Empire (Co-Creator/Director, 2015–2020), Star (Co-Creator, 2016–2019).
• Key Entities: Academy Award nominations, Lionsgate, 20th Television, Oprah Winfrey, Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson.

Lee Daniels first made his mark as a producer on the critically acclaimed film *Monster's Ball* in 2001. His directorial debut, *Shadowboxer*, followed in 2005. However, it was the 2009 film *Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire* that earned him widespread recognition, including multiple Academy Award nominations. Daniels is known for tackling intense, thorny issues such as race, family violence, and sexuality in his work, a signature style that was heavily infused into the world of *Empire*.

Danny Strong: Biography, Filmography, and Net Worth

• Full Name: Daniel William Strong
• Born: June 6, 1974
• Birthplace: Manhattan Beach, California, U.S.
• Occupation: Actor, Screenwriter, Director, Producer
• Estimated Net Worth (2025): $15 Million
• Notable Works (Selected): Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Actor, 1996–2003), Gilmore Girls (Actor, 2003–2007), Recount (Writer, 2008), Game Change (Writer, 2012), The Butler (Writer, 2013), Empire (Co-Creator/Writer, 2015–2020), Dopesick (Creator/Showrunner, 2021).
• Key Entities: USC School of Dramatic Arts, Jonathan Levinson, Paris Geller, HBO Films, Hulu, OxyContin, Purdue Pharma.

Danny Strong began his career as an actor, famously known for his roles as Jonathan Levinson on *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* and Doyle McMaster on *Gilmore Girls*. He made a significant pivot to screenwriting, winning Emmy Awards for his work on the HBO Films political dramas *Recount* and *Game Change*. Strong’s ability to craft compelling, high-stakes narratives made him the perfect partner for Daniels in developing the family saga of *Empire*. He is a graduate of the USC School of Dramatic Arts.

Latest Projects and Shocking Confessions: The Post-Empire Era

While the duo’s collaboration on *Empire* was wildly successful, their recent comments and independent projects paint a picture of two creators eager to move on to new, ambitious ventures. Their current work spans from prestige miniseries about the opioid crisis to major theatrical revivals.

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Lee Daniels' Confession and New 2025 Deals

In a surprising and widely reported interview, Lee Daniels recently admitted that working on *Empire* was "absolutely the worst experience" of his career. Despite the stress and challenges, he clarified that he has "no regrets" about the series itself, acknowledging its cultural impact and the platform it provided.

Daniels has rapidly expanded his production slate, signing a new multi-year first-look deal with 20th Television, ensuring he will continue to develop and executive produce new television projects under his Lee Daniels Entertainment banner.

His recent and upcoming projects include:

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• The Deliverance (2024): This horror film, starring Andra Day, debuted on Netflix and quickly became one of the platform's top-performing movies in the U.S.
• 'Delivered': A new movie project that was scheduled to be in theaters in August 2025.
• The Art of Elysium's HEAVEN Gala (2025): Daniels is set to receive the Visionary Award and will curate the "HEAVEN on Earth" installation, transforming Montecito into a portal of creative magic.

Perhaps the most talked-about development is Daniels' ongoing support for former *Empire* star Jussie Smollett. Despite the controversy surrounding the actor, Daniels has stated he would "cast" Smollett in a future project, indicating a continued loyalty to the talent he helped discover.

Danny Strong's Shift to Prestige Drama and Broadway

While Lee Daniels is deep in the world of film and television deals, Danny Strong has cemented his reputation as a master of prestige limited series and is making a significant foray into the theater world.

Strong's most critically acclaimed post-*Empire* project is the Hulu miniseries Dopesick (2021), which he created and served as showrunner. The series, which exposed the origins of the opioid crisis and the role of Purdue Pharma, earned numerous awards and solidified Strong's reputation for high-impact, socially conscious drama, similar to his earlier work on *Recount* and *Game Change*.

For 2025, Strong is focusing on a major theatrical undertaking:

• Chess Broadway Revival (2025): Strong has spent a decade rewriting the book for the new Broadway revival of the classic musical Chess. The show is set to star high-profile names like Lea Michele and Aaron Tveit, with Strong’s new book being a key element of the highly anticipated production. This project demonstrates his versatility, transitioning from hip-hop family drama to political musicals.

The Lasting Legacy of the Lyon Family and Topical Authority

The success of *Empire* was a watershed moment for network television, proving that a show centered on a predominantly Black cast and the hip-hop industry could be a massive mainstream hit. The show's influence on pop culture, fashion, and music is undeniable, and its creators have leveraged that success to build their own independent empires.

The topical authority of Lee Daniels and Danny Strong now spans multiple genres and platforms:

• Cultural Impact: *Empire* (Fox series, Cookie Lyon, Lucious Lyon, Hip Hop).
• Political Drama: *Game Change*, *Recount*, *Dopesick* (Hulu miniseries, OxyContin).
• Prestige Film: *Precious*, *The Butler*, *Monster's Ball*.
• Theater: *Chess* (Broadway revival).
• Horror/Thriller: *The Deliverance* (Netflix).

From the raw, emotional storytelling of Daniels to the sharp, political narratives of Strong, the "empire creators" have become two of the most influential figures in modern media. Their combined body of work, now estimated at a staggering $45 million in net worth, continues to shape the landscape of film and television, proving that their creative partnership, though now separated by different professional paths, laid the foundation for long-term, individual success.