in a world where voices shape Legends one name stands out James Earl Jones the man with the unmistakable baritone Rumble that brought Darth Vader and Mufasa to life on September 9th 1924 at the age of 93 James Earl Jones passed away peacefully at his residence in paing New York over a 7 decade career his talent earned him Global recognition and a Fortune of around $40 million by 2024 how did his voice shape such success Jones's career started on br way but it was his role in The Great White Hope that catapulted him into Hollywood Fame that performance earned him both a Tony Award and an Oscar nomination making him one of the few black actors to achieve this in the late 1960s his voice however became his true calling card remember Darth Vader Jones was paid just $7,000 for voicing the villain in Star Wars A New Hope while this might sound like a decent payday Jones missed out on Millions from the movie's future earnings something Alec Guinness who played Obi-Wan Kenobi didn't Guinness made over $995 million in royalties while Jones opted for cash up front one of his few Financial missteps of course Darth Vader wasn't his only legendary role he became the voice of Mufasa in Disney's The Lion King creating yet another Unforgettable character but beyond these well-known Parts Jones lent his voice to everything from TV shows like The Simpsons to narrating prestigious events and even the famous CNN tagline this is CNN across over 60 movies that have grossed a collective $9 billion Jones's contribution to Hollywood success is undeniable his deep resonant voice became his signature asset leading him to win prestigious Awards including multiple Tony Awards emys a Grammy and an honorary Academy Award even in his final years Jones continued to expand his legacy in 2022 he officially allowed Lucas film to recreate Darth Vader's Voice using AI technology ensuring his voice would live on James Earl Jones isn't just a legend because of the characters he's played he's a legend because of the impact his voice and career have had on entertainment and culture with a lifetime of achievements and a $40 million Fortune Jones's Legacy is one for the ages