On April 9, 2025, filmmaker James Toback was ordered by a New York State jury to pay an astonishing $1.68 billion in punitive damages to 40 women following serious allegations of s*xual assault. This ruling comes after a lawsuit, which was initiated by the victims in 2022, brought to light Toback’s disturbing conduct, detailed in a report by Variety.
Renowned for his work on films such as Harvard Man and Fingers, Toback has also contributed as a writer on several projects. His estimated net worth stands at approximately $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Significantly absent from the trial, Toback had a history of avoiding both the main trial and preliminary hearings, according to reports from Variety. In total, the victims were awarded $280 million in compensatory damages in addition to the punitive sums, amplifying the total financial judgment to $1.68 billion.
Nix Patterson LLP reaffirmed this substantial judgment in a press release distributed through PR Newswire. The week-long trial culminated in a verdict aimed at stripping perpetrators of their power and empowering the survivors, as expressed by Brad Beckworth, the lead counsel for the plaintiffs. His comments highlighted the court’s intention to amplify the voices of those previously silenced by intimidation.
The charges against Toback extended beyond s*xual assault, including serious accusations of false imprisonment, coercion, and psychological abuse. The lawsuit alleges that Toback exploited his influence within the entertainment industry to manipulate women into compromising and dangerous situations, often resorting to threats to maintain their silence regarding the abuse endured.
“The Plaintiffs acted at all times under duress due to Toback’s repeated explicit and implicit threats of blacklisting them in the industry, physically harming them, and/or even killing them if they did not comply with and remain silent about the s*xual abuse they endured.”
James Toback: Career Highlights and Financial Standing
A native of Manhattan, New York City, James Toback has established a significant presence in the film industry over the years. Before his foray into filmmaking, he worked as a journalist for Esquire and later served as a professor at The City College of New York. His career as a director took off with his debut in 1978 with the film Fingers. This initial success was followed by titles such as Love and Money, Exposed, and The Pick-Up Artist. He also gained fame as the writer for the critically acclaimed crime drama, The Gambler, which starred James Caan and Paul Sorvino.
In a conversation with Vanity Fair in February 2014, Toback reflected on the influence of his gambling habits post-Harvard, which inspired his semi-autobiographical novel The Gambler before he adapted it into a film script.
In addition to his directorial work, Toback has appeared as an actor in films such as Alice, Death of a Dynasty, The Outsider, and Mississippi Grind. His work on the biographical crime drama Bugsy in 1991 earned him nominations for both the Academy Award and the Golden Globe in the Best Original Screenplay category.