List of highest-paid film actors
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:10:50 PM Wikipedia source
While the highest-paid film actors can command multi-million-dollar salaries, actors can potentially earn substantially more by deferring all or part of their salary against a percentage of the film's gross, known within the industry as a "profit participation" deal.
Tables
Highest-earning actors for a single production · Highest earnings for a single production
| Actor | Film | Year | Salary | Total income | Ref. |
| Keanu Reeves | The Matrix Reloaded The Matrix Revolutions | 2003 | $30,000,000 | $156,000,000 | |
| Bruce Willis | The Sixth Sense | 1999 | $14,000,000 | $100,000,000 | |
| Tom Cruise | Mission: Impossible 2 | 2000 | $100,000,000 | ||
| Tom Cruise | War of the Worlds | 2005 | $100,000,000 | ||
| Will Smith | Men in Black 3 | 2012 | $100,000,000 | ||
| Tom Cruise | Top Gun: Maverick | 2022 | $12,500,000 | $100,000,000 | |
| Alec Guinness | Star Wars | 1977 | $150,000 | $95,000,000 | |
| Robert Downey Jr. | Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 | $75,000,000+ | ||
| Robert Downey Jr. | Iron Man 3 | 2013 | $75,000,000 | ||
| Robert Downey Jr. | Avengers: Endgame | 2019 | $20,000,000 | $75,000,000 | |
| Sandra Bullock | Gravity | 2013 | $20,000,000 | $70,000,000+ | |
| Tom Hanks | Forrest Gump | 1994 | $70,000,000 | ||
| Tom Cruise | Mission: Impossible | 1996 | $70,000,000 | ||
| Harrison Ford | Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | 2008 | $65,000,000 | ||
| Jack Nicholson | Batman | 1989 | $6,000,000 | $60,000,000 | |
| Leonardo DiCaprio | Inception | 2010 | $59,000,000 | ||
| Johnny Depp | Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides | 2011 | $35,000,000 | $55,000,000 | |
| Jackie Chan | Rush Hour 3 | 2007 | $15,000,000 | $53,700,000 | |
| Robert Downey Jr. | The Avengers | 2012 | $50,000,000 | ||
| Margot Robbie | Barbie | 2023 | $12,500,000 | $50,000,000 | |
| Cameron Diaz | Bad Teacher | 2011 | $42,000,000 | ||
| Robert Downey Jr. | Captain America: Civil War | 2016 | $40,000,000 | $40,000,000+ | |
| Leonardo DiCaprio | Titanic | 1997 | $40,000,000 | ||
| Tom Hanks | Saving Private Ryan | 1998 | $40,000,000 | ||
| Johnny Depp | Alice in Wonderland | 2010 | $40,000,000 | ||
| Robert Downey Jr. | Avengers: Age of Ultron | 2015 | $40,000,000 | ||
| Will Smith | King Richard | 2021 | $40,000,000 | $40,000,000 | |
| Denzel Washington | The Little Things | 2021 | $40,000,000 | ||
| Aamir Khan | Dangal | 2016 | $39,000,000 | ||
| Allu Arjun | Pushpa 2: The Rule | 2024 | $36,000,000 | ||
| Jim Carrey | Yes Man | 2008 | $35,000,000 | ||
| Will Smith | Emancipation | 2022 | $35,000,000 | $35,000,000 | |
| Arnold Schwarzenegger | Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines | 2003 | $29,250,000 | $30,000,000+ | |
| Mel Gibson | Lethal Weapon 4 | 1998 | $30,000,000 | $30,000,000 | |
| Brad Pitt | Ocean's Eleven | 2001 | $10,000,000 | $30,000,000 | |
| Leonardo DiCaprio | Don't Look Up | 2021 | $30,000,000 | $30,000,000 | |
| Leonardo DiCaprio | Killers of the Flower Moon | 2023 | $30,000,000 | $30,000,000 |
Annual highest-paid actor and actress · Highest annual earnings
1987
1987
Year
1987
Actor
Sylvester Stallone
Earnings (gross)
$74 million
Actress
Jane Fonda
Earnings (gross)
$13 million
1988
1988
Year
1988
Actor
Sylvester Stallone
Earnings (gross)
$63 million
Actress
—N/a
Earnings (gross)
—N/a
1989
1989
Year
1989
Actor
Eddie Murphy
Earnings (gross)
$60 million
Actress
—N/a
Earnings (gross)
—N/a
1990
1990
Year
1990
Actor
Sylvester Stallone
Earnings (gross)
$63 million
Actress
—N/a
Earnings (gross)
—N/a
1991
1991
Year
1991
Actor
Kevin Costner
Earnings (gross)
$59 million
Actress
—N/a
Earnings (gross)
—N/a
1992
1992
Year
1992
Actor
Kevin Costner
Earnings (gross)
$71 million
Actress
—N/a
Earnings (gross)
—N/a
1993
1993
Year
1993
Actor
Kevin Costner
Earnings (gross)
$48 million
Actress
—N/a
Earnings (gross)
—N/a
1994
1994
Year
1994
Actor
Harrison Ford
Earnings (gross)
$44 million
Actress
—N/a
Earnings (gross)
—N/a
1995
1995
Year
1995
Actor
Sylvester Stallone
Earnings (gross)
$58 million
Actress
Roseanne Barr
Earnings (gross)
$32 million
1996
1996
Year
1996
Actor
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Earnings (gross)
$74 million
Actress
Roseanne Barr
Earnings (gross)
$40 million
1997
1997
Year
1997
Actor
Tom Cruise
Earnings (gross)
$82 million
Actress
Roseanne Barr
Earnings (gross)
$55 million
1998
1998
Year
1998
Actor
Harrison Ford
Earnings (gross)
$58 million
Actress
Julia Roberts
Earnings (gross)
$28 million
1999
1999
Year
1999
Actor
Tom Hanks
Earnings (gross)
$71 million
Actress
Julia Roberts
Earnings (gross)
$50 million
2000
2000
Year
2000
Actor
Bruce Willis
Earnings (gross)
$70 million
Actress
Julia Roberts
Earnings (gross)
$18 million
2001
2001
Year
2001
Actor
Unpublished
2002
2002
Year
2002
Actor
Adam Sandler
Earnings (gross)
$47 million
Actress
Cameron Diaz
Earnings (gross)
$40 million
2003
2003
Year
2003
Actor
Will Smith
Earnings (gross)
$60 million
Actress
Jennifer Aniston
Earnings (gross)
$35 million
2004
2004
Year
2004
Actor
Jim Carrey
Earnings (gross)
$66 million
Actress
Cameron Diaz
Earnings (gross)
$32 million
2005
2005
Year
2005
Actor
Will Ferrell
Earnings (gross)
$40 million
Actress
Drew Barrymore
Earnings (gross)
$22 million
2006
2006
Year
2006
Actor
Tom Cruise
Earnings (gross)
$67 million
Actress
Jodie Foster
Earnings (gross)
$27 million
2007
2007
Year
2007
Actor
Johnny Depp
Earnings (gross)
$92 million
Actress
Nicole Kidman
Earnings (gross)
$28 million
2008
2008
Year
2008
Actor
Johnny Depp
Earnings (gross)
$72 million
Actress
Cameron Diaz
Earnings (gross)
$50 million
2009
2009
Year
2009
Actor
Harrison Ford
Earnings (gross)
$65 million
Actress
Angelina Jolie
Earnings (gross)
$27 million
2010
2010
Year
2010
Actor
Johnny Depp
Earnings (gross)
$75 million
Actress
Sandra Bullock
Earnings (gross)
$56 million
2011
2011
Year
2011
Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio
Earnings (gross)
$77 million
Actress
Angelina Jolie
Earnings (gross)
$30 million
2012
2012
Year
2012
Actor
Tom Cruise
Earnings (gross)
$75 million
Actress
Kristen Stewart
Earnings (gross)
$34 million
2013
2013
Year
2013
Actor
Robert Downey Jr.
Earnings (gross)
$75 million
Actress
Angelina Jolie
Earnings (gross)
$33 million
2014
2014
Year
2014
Actor
Robert Downey Jr.
Earnings (gross)
$75 million
Actress
Sandra Bullock
Earnings (gross)
$51 million
2015
2015
Year
2015
Actor
Robert Downey Jr.
Earnings (gross)
$80 million
Actress
Jennifer Lawrence
Earnings (gross)
$52 million
2016
2016
Year
2016
Actor
Dwayne Johnson
Earnings (gross)
$64 million
Actress
Jennifer Lawrence
Earnings (gross)
$46 million
2017
2017
Year
2017
Actor
Mark Wahlberg
Earnings (gross)
$68 million
Actress
Emma Stone
Earnings (gross)
$26 million
2018
2018
Year
2018
Actor
George Clooney
Earnings (gross)
$239 million
Actress
Scarlett Johansson
Earnings (gross)
$40 million
2019
2019
Year
2019
Actor
Dwayne Johnson
Earnings (gross)
$89 million
Actress
Scarlett Johansson
Earnings (gross)
$56 million
2020
2020
Year
2020
Actor
Dwayne Johnson
Earnings (gross)
$87 million
Actress
Sofía Vergara
Earnings (gross)
$43 million
2021
2021
Year
2021
Actor
Dwayne Johnson
Earnings (gross)
$270 million
Actress
Reese Witherspoon
Earnings (gross)
$115 million
2022
2022
Year
2022
Actor
Tyler Perry
Earnings (gross)
$175 million
Actress
—N/a
Earnings (gross)
—N/a
2023
2023
Year
2023
Actor
Adam Sandler
Earnings (gross)
$97 million
Actress
Margot Robbie
Earnings (gross)
$78 million
2024
2024
Year
2024
Actor
Dwayne Johnson
Earnings (gross)
$103 million
Actress
Nicole Kidman
Earnings (gross)
$41 million
2025
2025
Year
2025
Actor
Adam Sandler
Earnings (gross)
$60 million
Actress
Scarlett Johansson
Earnings (gross)
$50 million
| Year | Actor | Earnings (gross) | Actress | Earnings (gross) | Ref. |
| 1987 | Sylvester Stallone | $74 million | Jane Fonda | $13 million | |
| 1988 | Sylvester Stallone | $63 million | —N/a | —N/a | |
| 1989 | Eddie Murphy | $60 million | —N/a | —N/a | |
| 1990 | Sylvester Stallone | $63 million | —N/a | —N/a | |
| 1991 | Kevin Costner | $59 million | —N/a | —N/a | |
| 1992 | Kevin Costner | $71 million | —N/a | —N/a | |
| 1993 | Kevin Costner | $48 million | —N/a | —N/a | |
| 1994 | Harrison Ford | $44 million | —N/a | —N/a | |
| 1995 | Sylvester Stallone | $58 million | Roseanne Barr | $32 million | |
| 1996 | Arnold Schwarzenegger | $74 million | Roseanne Barr | $40 million | |
| 1997 | Tom Cruise | $82 million | Roseanne Barr | $55 million | |
| 1998 | Harrison Ford | $58 million | Julia Roberts | $28 million | |
| 1999 | Tom Hanks | $71 million | Julia Roberts | $50 million | |
| 2000 | Bruce Willis | $70 million | Julia Roberts | $18 million | |
| 2001 | Unpublished | ||||
| 2002 | Adam Sandler | $47 million | Cameron Diaz | $40 million | |
| 2003 | Will Smith | $60 million | Jennifer Aniston | $35 million | |
| 2004 | Jim Carrey | $66 million | Cameron Diaz | $32 million | |
| 2005 | Will Ferrell | $40 million | Drew Barrymore | $22 million | |
| 2006 | Tom Cruise | $67 million | Jodie Foster | $27 million | |
| 2007 | Johnny Depp | $92 million | Nicole Kidman | $28 million | |
| 2008 | Johnny Depp | $72 million | Cameron Diaz | $50 million | |
| 2009 | Harrison Ford | $65 million | Angelina Jolie | $27 million | |
| 2010 | Johnny Depp | $75 million | Sandra Bullock | $56 million | |
| 2011 | Leonardo DiCaprio | $77 million | Angelina Jolie | $30 million | |
| 2012 | Tom Cruise | $75 million | Kristen Stewart | $34 million | |
| 2013 | Robert Downey Jr. | $75 million | Angelina Jolie | $33 million | |
| 2014 | Robert Downey Jr. | $75 million | Sandra Bullock | $51 million | |
| 2015 | Robert Downey Jr. | $80 million | Jennifer Lawrence | $52 million | |
| 2016 | Dwayne Johnson | $64 million | Jennifer Lawrence | $46 million | |
| 2017 | Mark Wahlberg | $68 million | Emma Stone | $26 million | |
| 2018 | George Clooney | $239 million | Scarlett Johansson | $40 million | |
| 2019 | Dwayne Johnson | $89 million | Scarlett Johansson | $56 million | |
| 2020 | Dwayne Johnson | $87 million | Sofía Vergara | $43 million | |
| 2021 | Dwayne Johnson | $270 million | Reese Witherspoon | $115 million | |
| 2022 | Tyler Perry | $175 million | —N/a | —N/a | |
| 2023 | Adam Sandler | $97 million | Margot Robbie | $78 million | |
| 2024 | Dwayne Johnson | $103 million | Nicole Kidman | $41 million | |
| 2025 | Adam Sandler | $60 million | Scarlett Johansson | $50 million | |
References
- ₹257 crore ($39 million at 2017 exchange rates).
- ₹300 crore ($35 million at 2024 exchange rates).
- Arnold Schwarzenegger received a $29,250,000 salary for Terminator 3 plus a 20% royalty on the worldwide box office gros
- George Clooney's 2018 earnings are mainly from the June 2017 sale of Casamigos tequila.
- George Lucas's Blockbusting: A Decade-By-Decade Survey of Timeless Movies Including Untold Secrets of Their Financial and Cultural Successhttps://archive.org/details/georgelucassbloc00alex/page/616
- The Hollywood Reporterhttp://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/will-smiths-earth-apocalypse-who-562668
- Forbeshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2022/06/01/top-gun-maverick-puts-tom-cruise-on-track-to-best-will-smiths-record-hollywood-payday/?sh=6294a4fd54bb
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2022/film/features/movie-star-salaries-joaquin-phoenix-joker-2-tom-cruise-1235320046/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/alec-guinness-star-wars-obi-wan-1235152814/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/robert-downey-jrs-massive-payday-tops-avengers-endgame-star-deals-1205835
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2014/film/news/robert-downey-jr-to-join-captain-america-3-exclusive-1201312229/
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/2019/07/robert-downey-jr-avengers-endgame-salary-1202156978/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttp://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gravity-sandra-bullock-make-70-683561
- Forbeshttps://web.archive.org/web/20130906195106/http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/09/movies-sandler-depp-business-media-hollywood.html
- Jack Nicholson: the life and times of an actor on the edgehttps://archive.org/details/jacknicholsonlif00thom
- Vanity Fairhttps://web.archive.org/web/20110529022123/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/features/2011/03/hollywood-top-earners-201103?currentPage=1
- Forbeshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/csylt/2014/07/22/fourth-pirates-of-the-caribbean-is-most-expensive-movie-ever-with-costs-of-410-million/
- WhatCulturehttps://whatculture.com/film/10-actors-who-made-ridiculous-movie-demands-so-they-wouldnt-be-hired-but-were?page=5
- GQhttps://www.gq.com/entertainment/movies-and-tv/201305/robert-downey-jr-profile-may-2013
- Screen Ranthttps://screenrant.com/barbie-movie-margot-robbie-salary-paycheck/