Sir Ridley Scott is an English filmmaker known for science-fiction, crime, and historical epic films, including Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Thelma & Louise (1991), Gladiator (2000), and The Martian (2015). Born November 30, 1937, in South Shields, County Durham, England, he is 88 years old as of November 2026 — he turns 89 on November 30, 2026. At 5 feet 9 inches tall, Scott is the eighth-highest-grossing director of all time, with his films grossing a cumulative $5 billion worldwide. He is married to actress and producer Giannina Facio, and his net worth is approximately $400 million (Celebrity Net Worth, 2025).
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Ridley Scott |
| Born | November 30, 1937 (age 88) |
| Birthplace | South Shields, County Durham, England |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Occupation | Film Director, Producer |
| Wife | Giannina Facio (married 2015) |
| Children | 3 (Jake, Luke, Jordan) |
| Net Worth | Approx. $400 million (Celebrity Net Worth, 2025) |
| Nationality | English |
Who Is Ridley Scott?
Ridley Scott is one of the most visually distinctive directors in cinema history, known for an atmospheric and highly concentrated visual style. His films span science fiction, crime, and historical epics, and he is the eighth-highest-grossing director of all time. He has won two Golden Globe Awards and two Primetime Emmy Awards and has been nominated for four Academy Awards — three for Best Director and one for Best Picture as a producer of The Martian — as well as eight BAFTA Awards and a Grammy Award. He was honored with the BAFTA Fellowship for Lifetime Achievement in 2018 and the Academy Honorary Award in 2026.
Scott was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 and appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) by King Charles III in 2024, one of the highest honors in the United Kingdom. Beyond feature films, he directed the iconic Apple 1984 Super Bowl commercial, one of the most famous advertisements ever made, and he and his late brother Tony Scott founded the production company Scott Free Productions in 1995. Remarkably, Scott remains one of the most prolific directors working today, still directing major films well into his late eighties.
Early Life & Background
Ridley Scott was born on November 30, 1937, in South Shields, County Durham, in the north-east of England, the second son of Francis Percy Scott, an army officer, and Elizabeth Scott. His father served in the Royal Engineers, and the family moved frequently during Scott’s childhood, including a period in Germany. He grew up in Stockton-on-Tees and in Germany, and he was educated at Grangefield Grammar School and West Hartlepool College of Art before studying at the Royal College of Art in London, where he graduated in 1962.
Scott began his career at the BBC as a set designer and director of television dramas, and he later became one of Britain’s most sought-after commercial directors, making hundreds of television advertisements in the 1960s and 1970s. His younger brother Tony Scott also became a successful film director. Scott’s eye for visual detail, learned in advertising, became the signature of his films: meticulously designed worlds, dramatic lighting, and a painterly use of color.
Career
Scott’s feature debut, The Duellists (1977), a Napoleonic-era drama starring Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel, won the award for Best Debut Film at the Cannes Film Festival. His second film, Alien (1979), starring Sigourney Weaver, became a landmark of science-fiction horror and grossed more than $100 million worldwide. He then directed Blade Runner (1982), starring Harrison Ford, a dystopian vision of Los Angeles in 2019 that was initially a commercial disappointment but is now regarded as one of the greatest science-fiction films ever made. He followed it with the fantasy Legend (1985) and the historical epic 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992).
Scott’s commercial breakthrough in the United States came with Thelma & Louise (1991), starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, which received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director for Scott, and won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. After a string of uneven films in the 1990s, including G.I. Jane (1997), he returned to form with Gladiator (2000), the Roman epic starring Russell Crowe that won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and grossed more than $460 million worldwide. Scott was nominated for Best Director. He followed it with Hannibal (2001) and Black Hawk Down (2001), a harrowing account of the Battle of Mogadishu, which earned him a third Best Director nomination and won two Oscars.
In the decades since, Scott has continued to direct at a remarkable pace. He reunited with Russell Crowe for Kingdom of Heaven (2005) and American Gangster (2007), starring Denzel Washington, which earned two Academy Award nominations. He returned to the Alien universe with Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017), and his space adventure The Martian (2015), starring Matt Damon, grossed more than $630 million worldwide and received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Later films include House of Gucci (2021), Napoleon (2023), and Gladiator II (2024), a sequel to his Oscar-winning epic that grossed more than $450 million worldwide.
Facts About Ridley Scott
- Scott directed the iconic Apple 1984 Super Bowl commercial, which introduced the first Macintosh computer and is considered one of the greatest television advertisements ever made.
- He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 and appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) by King Charles III in 2024.
- All three of his children — Jake, Luke, and Jordan Scott — are film directors.
- Scott founded Scott Free Productions in 1995 with his late brother Tony Scott, the director of Top Gun (1986).
- His films have grossed a cumulative $5 billion worldwide, making him the eighth-highest-grossing director of all time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Ridley Scott?
Ridley Scott was born on November 30, 1937, in South Shields, County Durham, England. He is 88 years old as of November 2026 and turns 89 on November 30, 2026.
How tall is Ridley Scott?
Ridley Scott is 5 feet 9 inches tall (175 cm).
Who is Ridley Scott’s wife?
Ridley Scott is married to actress and producer Giannina Facio, his wife since 2015. He was previously married to Felicity Heywood (1964–1975) and Sandy Watson (1979–1989).
What is Ridley Scott’s net worth?
Ridley Scott’s net worth is approximately $400 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth (2025). His films have grossed a cumulative $5 billion worldwide.
What are Ridley Scott’s most famous movies?
Ridley Scott’s most famous movies include Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Thelma & Louise (1991), Gladiator (2000), Black Hawk Down (2001), American Gangster (2007), and The Martian (2015).