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Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) isn't just producing binge-worthy series — it's quietly become a heavyweight in the U.S. economy. Speaking at Semafor's World Economy Summit late last month, co-CEO Ted Sarandos said, "Netflix alone, I think, from 2020 through 2024 contributed $125 billion to the U.S. economy."

"People forget this is a real business," Sarandos emphasized, highlighting the entertainment sector’s overlooked economic clout in trade talks and federal policy.

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140,000 Jobs, 50 States, One Giant Footprint

According to Netflix's official blog, the $125 billion impact included over 900 productions and 140,000 jobs across all 50 states during those four years. The platform's physical presence is just as robust — with 9,000 U.S.-based employees and five million square feet of office and studio space, most of it anchored in California.

Despite these numbers, Sarandos told Semafor the industry is often left out of national economic strategy. "You hardly ever see a sitting president photographed on a studio lot," he said, alluding to the manufacturing-first spotlight in policy talks.

Netflix Invests $1 Billion South of the Border

During a Feb. 20 event with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Sarandos announced a $1 billion investment plan aimed at expanding the company's production capabilities in Mexico over the next four years, according to multiple media reports.

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Reuters reported that Netflix will produce around 20 films and TV series annually in Mexico over the next four years, a move expected to boost local employment and strengthen its collaboration with Mexico City’s historic Churubusco Studios.

Sarandos also compared the investment in Mexico to major manufacturing expansions. "If we were building a plant to build a billion dollars worth of cars there, the president would certainly announce that," he said.

The investment also taps into adjacent industries — fashion, tourism, and hospitality — further reinforcing Netflix’s goal to embed itself into Mexico's broader creative economy. As Wired highlighted, it's a model designed to grow local ecosystems alongside content pipelines.