On July 21, 2023, Margot Robbie stood at the Los Angeles premiere of Barbie wearing a custom Schiaparelli gown that would break the internet. The film would go on to gross $1.45 billion worldwide, become the highest-grossing film of 2023, and cement Robbie as one of Hollywood's biggest stars.
But here's what most people don't know: Robbie didn't just star in Barbie—she spent eight years developing it, fighting for it, and producing it through her company LuckyChap Entertainment.
At just 34, Margot Robbie has quietly built one of Hollywood's most successful production companies, championing female-driven stories while starring in some of the biggest blockbusters of the decade. She's not just a movie star. She's a mogul in the making.
The Aussie Farm Girl Who Wanted More (1990-2008)
Margot Elise Robbie was born July 2, 1990, in Dalby, Queensland, Australia—a small farming town 125 miles west of Brisbane with a population of 12,000.
Her parents separated when she was five. Her mother, Sarie Kessler, worked three jobs simultaneously (physiotherapist, house cleaner, and taxi driver) to raise Margot and her three siblings.
"We didn't have a lot of money," Robbie told Vogue in 2016. "My mum would run three jobs. She was the hardest-working person I've ever met. That work ethic rubbed off on me."
Robbie grew up on her grandparents' farm, milking cows and doing chores before school. "I love saying I'm a country girl," she told Vanity Fair. "I was a farm kid. I lived on a farm until I was 17."
But she dreamed bigger than Dalby. At 17, she moved to Melbourne to pursue acting, taking drama courses while working odd jobs—waitress, sandwich maker, house cleaner (like her mom).
Her first role came fast.
Neighbours: The Soap Opera Launch (2008-2011)
In 2008, at just 18, Robbie landed a role on Neighbours—Australia's longest-running soap opera and the show that launched the careers of Kylie Minogue, Russell Crowe, and Liam Hemsworth.
She played Donna Freedman from 2008 to 2011, appearing in 329 episodes. The role made her a household name in Australia and earned her two Logie Award (Australian Emmy) nominations.
But Robbie had her eyes on Hollywood.
"I knew if I wanted to do film, I had to get out," she said. "Australia doesn't have a massive film industry. If you want to do blockbusters, you go to America."
In 2011, she left Neighbours and moved to Los Angeles with a suitcase and $3,000 in savings.
The Wolf of Wall Street: The Audition That Changed Everything (2013)
Robbie spent two years auditioning in LA with little success. She lived in a shared apartment in Koreatown, went to countless auditions, and heard "no" repeatedly.
Then came The Wolf of Wall Street.
Director Martin Scorsese was casting Naomi Lapaglia, the wife of Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio). The role required confidence, sex appeal, and the ability to hold her own against DiCaprio.
Robbie's audition became Hollywood legend.
In a scene where Naomi was supposed to seduce Jordan, the script called for her to kiss him on the cheek. Instead, Robbie improvised—slapping DiCaprio across the face mid-scene.
"I thought, 'I could kiss Leonardo DiCaprio right now, and that would be awesome. But in character, I should slap him,'" she recalled. "So I slapped him. Hard. I immediately thought, 'I'm going to get arrested for assaulting Leonardo DiCaprio.'"
The room went silent. Then Scorsese burst out laughing.
"That's it," he said. "She's Naomi."
The Wolf of Wall Street premiered December 25, 2013, and grossed $392 million worldwide. Robbie's performance was universally praised—she stole scenes from DiCaprio, held her own against screen veterans, and became an overnight star.
But instead of capitalizing solely on acting, Robbie made a strategic decision that would define her career.
LuckyChap Entertainment: Building an Empire While Starring in Blockbusters (2014)
In 2014, just one year after Wolf of Wall Street, Robbie co-founded LuckyChap Entertainment with her future husband Tom Ackerley (whom she met on the set of Suite Française in 2013), Josey McNamara, and Sophia Kerr.
The company's mission was explicit: produce female-driven content, hire female filmmakers, and change Hollywood's male-dominated landscape.
"We want to make movies about women that aren't about their relationship with a man," Robbie told Porter magazine. "That's been a huge part of the mission from the beginning."
This wasn't a vanity production company where a star slaps their name on projects. LuckyChap was hands-on, independent, and ambitious.
While most actors in their mid-20s focus solely on building their acting careers, Robbie was juggling both—starring in major films while producing ambitious projects.
The Dual Track: Acting Blockbusters + Producing Indie Gems (2015-2020)
Acting Career (The Box Office Dominance):
Suicide Squad (2016): Robbie played Harley Quinn, a role that would define her career.
- Worldwide gross: $746.8 million
- Robbie's performance: Universally praised despite mixed reviews for the film
- Result: Harley Quinn became a pop culture icon overnight
I, Tonya (2017): Biographical film about disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding
- Budget: $11 million
- Worldwide gross: $53.9 million
- Robbie's Oscar nomination for Best Actress
- Golden Globe nomination
- LuckyChap produced the film
Birds of Prey (2020): Harley Quinn spinoff
- Worldwide gross: $205.4 million
- LuckyChap produced (Robbie had creative control)
- Robbie negotiated to hire female director Cathy Yan
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019): Quentin Tarantino film
- Worldwide gross: $374.6 million
- Ensemble cast, but Robbie's performance praised
- Oscar nomination for Best Picture (Robbie as producer—LuckyChap produced)
LuckyChap Productions (The Creative Empire):
While starring in these blockbusters, Robbie's production company was quietly building an impressive slate:
I, Tonya (2017):
- First major LuckyChap success
- Made for $11 million, grossed $53.9 million
- 3 Oscar nominations including Best Picture (LuckyChap as producer)
- Won Oscar for Best Supporting Actress (Allison Janney)
Promising Young Woman (2020):
- LuckyChap produced, Margot Robbie NOT in it (executive producer only)
- Budget: $10 million
- Worldwide gross: $20+ million
- 5 Oscar nominations including Best Picture
- Won Oscar for Best Original Screenplay (Emerald Fennell)
- One of the most critically acclaimed films of 2020
Dollface (2019-2022 Hulu series):
- LuckyChap produced
- Female-led comedy series
- 20 episodes across 2 seasons
Birds of Prey (2020):
- Robbie starred AND produced via LuckyChap
- Hired female director Cathy Yan
- Female-driven action film (rarity in superhero genre)
The pattern was clear: Robbie was using her star power to greenlight projects that Hollywood typically ignores—female-driven, female-directed, and often feminist in theme.
The Barbie Gamble: Eight Years in the Making (2015-2023)
In 2015, Robbie read that Warner Bros. had acquired rights to make a Barbie movie. The project was stalled—no director, no script, no star.
Robbie cold-called Warner Bros. and said: "I want to produce this. And I want to star in it."
The studio was skeptical. Barbie had been attempted before and failed. The brand was seen as outdated, anti-feminist, and box office poison.
But Robbie had a vision: What if Barbie wasn't a shallow toy commercial, but a smart, feminist, existential comedy?
She spent three years developing the project through LuckyChap:
- Cycled through multiple scripts and writers
- Pitched and was rejected by multiple directors
- Fought to maintain creative control
- Insisted on a female perspective
In 2019, she convinced Warner Bros. to hire Greta Gerwig (director of Lady Bird and Little Women) to co-write and direct.
"I think I pitched [Greta] around 50 times before she said yes," Robbie told Variety. "I wasn't taking no for an answer."
Gerwig and her partner Noah Baumbach wrote the script. Robbie assembled an ensemble cast including Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, and Will Ferrell.
Warner Bros. gave them a $145 million budget—but maintained skepticism. Privately, executives predicted modest returns at best.
Barbie: The Billion-Dollar Vindication (2023)
Barbie premiered July 21, 2023.
Opening weekend: $162 million (domestic), $337 million (worldwide) Worldwide total: $1.45 billion Result: Highest-grossing film of 2023, biggest Warner Bros. opening ever, 14th highest-grossing film of all time
Critics called it brilliant. Audiences loved it. The "Barbenheimer" phenomenon (dual release with Oppenheimer) became a cultural moment.
Robbie didn't just star—she produced, developed, and fought for the film for eight years.
Her payday: Estimated $50 million (salary + backend profit participation) LuckyChap's profit: Estimated $50-100 million
The film received 8 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture (LuckyChap as producer).
Robbie was snubbed for Best Actress, sparking controversy and debates about Oscar voting. But she'd achieved something more significant: she'd proven female-driven blockbusters could dominate the box office.
More importantly, she'd done it as a producer—not just a star hired to read lines, but a creator who controlled the vision.
The LuckyChap Empire Today (2024-2025)
By 2024, LuckyChap Entertainment has become one of Hollywood's most successful production companies:
Track Record:
- I, Tonya: 3 Oscar nominations, 1 win
- Promising Young Woman: 5 Oscar nominations, 1 win
- Barbie: $1.45 billion, 8 Oscar nominations
- Saltburn (2023): $21+ million on $20M budget, critical success
- Dollface, Maid (Netflix series), My Old Ass (2024 indie hit)
Total box office (films produced or exec produced): $2+ billion Oscar nominations: 16+ Oscar wins: 2
Current slate in development:
- Ocean's 11 prequel (Robbie starring)
- Monopoly (Robbie producing and possibly starring)
- Tank Girl remake (Robbie producing)
- Sims movie (Robbie producing, LuckyChap developing)
- Multiple untitled female-driven projects
Company value: Estimated $200-300 million
The LuckyChap model:
- Develop projects with female filmmakers
- Champion stories about women beyond romance
- Hire female directors and writers
- Maintain creative control
- Use Robbie's star power to greenlight projects
- Take chances on unconventional stories
The Acting Career Continues (2020-2025)
While building LuckyChap, Robbie's acting career hasn't slowed:
The Suicide Squad (2021): $168.7 million worldwide Amsterdam (2022): Ensemble cast, modest box office but prestigious project Babylon (2022): Damien Chazelle epic, Oscar buzz (mixed reviews but strong performance) Barbie (2023): $1.45 billion Asteroid City (2023): Wes Anderson ensemble
Upcoming:
- Monopoly (TBA, producing and potentially starring)
- Ocean's 11 prequel (TBA)
- Rumored Pirates of the Caribbean reboot
Total career box office: $5.5+ billion worldwide Current asking price: $15-20 million per film Net worth: $60-80 million (acting + production company equity)
The Personal Life: Keeping It Private
Unlike many stars, Robbie has maintained remarkable privacy:
Marriage to Tom Ackerley:
- Met on set of Suite Française (2013)
- Married December 2016 in Byron Bay, Australia (secret ceremony)
- No children (as of 2025)
- Partners in LuckyChap (he's co-founder and producer)
- Rarely photographed together, rarely discuss relationship publicly
"The most helpful thing I've learned is that I don't owe anybody anything," she told Vogue. "Especially when it comes to my private life."
Los Angeles life:
- Purchased $2.73 million home in Hancock Park (2017)
- Upgraded to $5 million+ home in Venice Beach
- Owns property in Australia (Gold Coast)
- Known for avoiding Hollywood party scene
- Close friend group includes other Aussie ex-pats (Cara Delevingne, Suki Waterhouse)
The Feminist Blueprint: Changing Hollywood From Within
What makes Robbie's success remarkable isn't just her box office dominance—it's how she's using her power.
LuckyChap's Female Hiring Stats:
- 90%+ of LuckyChap projects have female directors or writers
- 100% of LuckyChap films pass the Bechdel test (women talking to each other about something other than men)
- 65%+ of crew positions on LuckyChap productions are filled by women
The Ripple Effect:
- Promising Young Woman launched Emerald Fennell's directing career (she went on to direct Saltburn)
- Barbie hired Greta Gerwig, who became the first solo female director to gross $1+ billion
- Birds of Prey hired Cathy Yan, one of few Asian-American female directors in Hollywood
- Maid (Netflix) hired Molly Smith Metzler as showrunner and focused on domestic violence
Robbie has become a kingmaker—using her influence to platform female talent.
"I'm not interested in just being in front of the camera anymore," she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2023. "I want to create opportunities for other women, especially women who look nothing like me."
The Legacy in Progress (Age 34)
At 34, Margot Robbie has achieved:
- $5.5+ billion box office as an actress
- $2+ billion box office as a producer
- 2 Oscar nominations for acting
- Multiple Oscar nominations for producing
- Built a production company valued at $200-300 million
- Championed dozens of female filmmakers
- Proven female-driven blockbusters can dominate (Barbie)
But she's nowhere near done.
Her production slate for the next 5 years includes:
- At least 10 confirmed projects in development
- Multiple TV series for streaming
- Continued Harley Quinn appearances (DC Universe)
- Producing and starring in Monopoly, Ocean's 11 prequel, and more
Industry analysts predict LuckyChap could be worth $500 million+ by 2030 if Monopoly and Sims perform like Barbie.
The Lesson: From Farm Kid to Hollywood Powerhouse
Margot Robbie's journey is remarkable for what she didn't do:
- She didn't wait for Hollywood to give her good roles—she created them
- She didn't accept being "just the pretty face"—she became the boss
- She didn't follow the typical actress path—she built a business empire
- She didn't use her privilege only for herself—she platformed others
From farm girl in Dalby to soap opera star to Hollywood's most powerful actress-producer, Robbie has redefined what a leading lady can be.
She slapped Leonardo DiCaprio to get her first major role.
She spent eight years fighting for Barbie when everyone thought it would fail.
She built a production company that has generated 16 Oscar nominations in just 10 years.
And she's only 34.
Margot Robbie isn't just a movie star. She's proof that the most powerful position in Hollywood isn't in front of the camera—it's behind it, controlling the stories that get told and who gets to tell them.
The girl from the Queensland farm became a queen. And she's rewriting the rules for everyone who comes after her.