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List of highest-paid film actors

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List of highest-paid film actors

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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.

Highest earnings for a single production

Since not all salaries are made public, this is a non-definitive list of actors who have received $30 million or more as compensation for their services in a single production. Occasionally an actor's fee may cover multiple films, and they are included on the list if the films were filmed as a back-to-back production (for example, Keanu Reeves and the Matrix sequels). The figures are given at their nominal value, since earnings from profit-based deals are accumulated over many years, making it unfeasible to adjust for inflation.

Keanu Reeves earned a record $156 million for the first two ''Matrix'' sequels, filmed back-to-back.
Tom Cruise has earned in excess of $100 million per film on three occasions.
Sandra Bullock is the highest-paid actress, earning over $70 million for ''Gravity''.
ActorFilmYearSalaryTotal income
**
The Matrix Revolutions2003$30,000,000$156,000,000
**1999$14,000,000$100,000,000
Mission: Impossible 22000$100,000,000
War of the Worlds2005$100,000,000
Men in Black 32012$100,000,000
Top Gun: Maverick2022$12,500,000$100,000,000
Star Wars1977$150,000$95,000,000
Avengers: Infinity War2018$75,000,000+
Iron Man 32013$75,000,000
Avengers: Endgame2019$20,000,000$75,000,000
Gravity2013$20,000,000$70,000,000+
Forrest Gump1994$70,000,000
Mission: Impossible1996$70,000,000
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull2008$65,000,000
Batman1989$6,000,000$60,000,000
Inception2010$59,000,000
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides2011$35,000,000$55,000,000
Rush Hour 32007$15,000,000$53,700,000
**2012$50,000,000
Barbie2023$12,500,000$50,000,000
Bad Teacher2011$42,000,000
Captain America: Civil War2016$40,000,000$40,000,000+
Titanic1997$40,000,000
Saving Private Ryan1998$40,000,000
Alice in Wonderland2010$40,000,000
Avengers: Age of Ultron2015$40,000,000
King Richard2021$40,000,000$40,000,000
The Little Things2021$40,000,000
Dangal2016$39,000,000
Pushpa 2: The Rule2024$36,000,000
Yes Man2008$35,000,000
Emancipation2022$35,000,000$35,000,000
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines2003$29,250,000$30,000,000+
Lethal Weapon 41998$30,000,000$30,000,000
Ocean's Eleven2001$10,000,000$30,000,000
Don't Look Up2021$30,000,000$30,000,000
Killers of the Flower Moon2023$30,000,000$30,000,000

Highest annual earnings

Sylvester Stallone was the highest-paid actor in 1987, 1988, 1990, and 1995.
Julia Roberts was the highest-paid actress in 1998, 1999, and 2000.

Forbes publishes yearly lists of the highest-paid actors and actresses based on total earnings from 1 June the previous year to 1 June the current year, and the highest-earning actor and actress for each year as determined by Forbes are tabulated here. The earnings only cover a one-year period, and in some instances are derived from other revenue streams besides acting work.

YearActorEarningsActressEarningsRef.19871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Sylvester Stallone$74 millionJane Fonda$13 millionurl=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/09/06/Bill-Cosby-tops-list-of-highest-paid-entertainers/1586557899200/title=Bill Cosby tops list of highest paid entertainerspublisher=United Press International (UPI)access-date=July 27, 2022date=September 6, 1987first=Frederick M.last=Winshiparchive-date=January 22, 2022archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122220938/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/09/06/Bill-Cosby-tops-list-of-highest-paid-entertainers/1586557899200/url-status=live}}
Sylvester Stallone$63 millionurl=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/09/18/Michael-Jackson-tops-list-of-best-paid-entertainers/2912590558400/title=Michael Jackson tops list of best-paid entertainerspublisher=United Press International (UPI)access-date=July 27, 2022date=September 18, 1988}}
Eddie Murphy$60 millionurl=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/09/16/Michael-Jackson-tops-Forbess-richest-stars-list-again/9488621921600/title=Michael Jackson tops Forbes's 'richest stars' list againpublisher=United Press International (UPI)access-date=July 27, 2022date=September 16, 1989}}
Sylvester Stallone$63 millionurl=https://apnews.com/article/0af6c78721263c62df2aa7d6314e5c9dtitle=Forbes Magazine's Highest-Paid Entertainers With PM-Richest Entertainerspublisher=Associated Pressaccess-date=July 27, 2022date=September 17, 1990archive-date=July 27, 2022archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727223004/https://apnews.com/article/0af6c78721263c62df2aa7d6314e5c9durl-status=live}}
Kevin Costner$59 millionurl=https://apnews.com/article/109d1067f9ecd0a2881075f0add68d9atitle=Forbes Magazine's Highest-Paid Entertainers With AM-Richest Entertainerspublisher=Associated Pressaccess-date=July 27, 2022date=September 15, 1991archive-date=July 27, 2022archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727223006/https://apnews.com/article/109d1067f9ecd0a2881075f0add68d9aurl-status=live}}
Kevin Costner$71 millionurl=https://apnews.com/article/5a149c28e0a2ab21aa28a1e14e6da7e8title=Forbes Magazine's 40 Richest Entertainers With AM-Richest Entertainerspublisher=Associated Pressdate=September 13, 1992access-date=July 30, 2022archive-date=July 27, 2022archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727223007/https://apnews.com/article/5a149c28e0a2ab21aa28a1e14e6da7e8url-status=live }}
Kevin Costner$48 millionurl=https://www.deseret.com/1993/9/13/19065646/talking-pays-big-puts-oprah-at-top-of-earnings-listtitle=Talking Pays Big, Puts Oprah at Top of Earnings Listdate=September 13, 1993access-date=July 30, 2022archive-date=July 30, 2022archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730024656/https://www.deseret.com/1993/9/13/19065646/talking-pays-big-puts-oprah-at-top-of-earnings-listurl-status=live }}
Harrison Ford$44 millionurl=https://www.deseret.com/1994/9/12/19130354/spielberg-is-top-paid-entertainer-syrupy-barney-rings-in-at-no-3title=Spielberg Is Top-Paid Entertaier; Syrupy Barney Rings in at No. 3date=September 12, 1994website=Deseret Newsaccess-date=July 28, 2022archive-date=July 27, 2022archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727014044/https://www.deseret.com/1994/9/12/19130354/spielberg-is-top-paid-entertainer-syrupy-barney-rings-in-at-no-3url-status=live}}
Sylvester Stallone$58 millionRoseanne Barr$32 millionurl=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/sep/11/beatles-in-the-money-again-forbes-says-band/title=Beatles In The Money Again, Forbes Says Band Earned Third Most Money, Behind Steven Spielberg, Oprah | The Spokesman-Reviewwork=The Spokesman-Reviewdate=11 September 1995access-date=July 27, 2022archive-date=July 27, 2022archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727014042/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/sep/11/beatles-in-the-money-again-forbes-says-band/url-status=live}}
Arnold Schwarzenegger$74 millionRoseanne Barr$40 millionurl=https://journaltimes.com/news/top-40-money-makers-for-95-96/article_85213eb0-e922-548b-8074-71f4f68b11ea.htmltitle=TOP 40 (money makers for 95-96)work=Racine Journal Timesaccess-date=August 2, 2022date=September 9, 1996url-access=subscriptionarchive-url=https://archive.today/20220802213136/https://journaltimes.com/news/top-40-money-makers-for-95-96/article_85213eb0-e922-548b-8074-71f4f68b11ea.htmlarchive-date=August 2, 2022}}
Tom Cruise$82 millionRoseanne Barr$55 millionurl=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/09/09/in-the-money/title=In the moneywork=Tampa Bay Timesaccess-date=July 30, 2022archive-date=July 30, 2022archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730014848/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/09/09/in-the-money/url-status=live }}
Harrison Ford$58 millionJulia Roberts$28 milliontitle=Seinfeld show a hit; yada, yada, yada ...url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/entertainment/local/1998/09/08/seinfeld-show-hit-yada-yada/50558865007/access-date=2023-10-26website=New Bedford Standard-Timeslanguage=en-US}}
Tom Hanks$71.5 millionJulia Roberts$50 milliondate=2000-03-03title='STAR WARS' PUTS LUCAS ATOP FORBES' CELEBRITY EARNINGSurl=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-03-03-0003040156-story.htmlaccess-date=2023-10-26website=Chicago Tribune}}
Bruce Willis$70 millionJulia Roberts$18.9 milliondate=2001-03-02title=Cruise tops star power listlanguage=en-GBurl=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1198188.stmaccess-date=2023-10-26}}
Adam Sandler$47 millionCameron Diaz$40 millionurl=http://www.forbes.com/lists/results.jhtml?passListId=53&passYear=2002&passListType=Person&searchParameter1=&searchParameter2=&resultsStart=1&resultsHowMany=25&resultsSortProperties=+numberfield2,+stringfield1&resultsSortCategoryName=money_rank&passKeyword=&category1=&category2=archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216221837/http://www.forbes.com/lists/results.jhtml?passListId=53&passYear=2002&passListType=Person&searchParameter1=&searchParameter2=&resultsStart=1&resultsHowMany=25&resultsSortProperties=+numberfield2,+stringfield1&resultsSortCategoryName=money_rank&passKeyword=&category1=&category2=archive-date=February 16, 2006title=Forbes: Forbes Celebrity 100website=Forbesdate=February 16, 2006}}
Will Smith$60 millionJennifer Aniston$35 million
Jim Carrey$66 millionCameron Diaz$32 milliondate=2005-04-08title=Forbes.com: Forbes Celebrity 100website=Forbesurl=http://www.forbes.com/lists/results.jhtml?passListId=53&passYear=2004&passListType=Person&searchParameter1=unset&searchParameter2=unset&resultsStart=1&resultsHowMany=25&resultsSortProperties=+numberfield1,+stringfield2&resultsSortCategoryName=power_rank&passKeyword=&category1=category&category2=categoryaccess-date=2023-10-26archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050408071221/http://www.forbes.com/lists/results.jhtml?passListId=53&passYear=2004&passListType=Person&searchParameter1=unset&searchParameter2=unset&resultsStart=1&resultsHowMany=25&resultsSortProperties=+numberfield1,+stringfield2&resultsSortCategoryName=power_rank&passKeyword=&category1=category&category2=categoryarchive-date=2005-04-08 }}
Will Ferrell$40 millionDrew Barrymore$22 million
Tom Cruise$67 millionJodie Foster$27 milliontitle=The Celebrity 100 - Forbes.comurl=https://images.forbes.com/lists/2006/53/Actors_Compen_Salary.htmlaccess-date=2023-10-26website=images.forbes.com}}
Johnny Depp$92 millionNicole Kidman$28 millionurl=http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/53/07celebrities_The-Celebrity-100-Actors_7EarningsPrevYear.htmlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109232901/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/53/07celebrities_The-Celebrity-100-Actors_7EarningsPrevYear.htmlarchive-date=2007-11-09title=Forbes List Directorywebsite=Forbes }}
Johnny Depp$72 millionCameron Diaz$50 millionurl=http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/53/celebrities08_The-Celebrity-100_EarningsPrevYear.htmlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913113709/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/53/celebrities08_The-Celebrity-100_EarningsPrevYear.htmlarchive-date=2008-09-13title=Forbes List Directorywebsite=Forbes }}
Harrison Ford$65 millionAngelina Jolie$27 million
Johnny Depp$75 millionSandra Bullock$56 million
Leonardo DiCaprio$77 millionAngelina Jolie$30 million
Tom Cruise$75 millionKristen Stewart$34.5 million
Robert Downey Jr.$75 millionAngelina Jolie$33 million
Robert Downey Jr.$75 millionSandra Bullock$51 million
Robert Downey Jr.$80 millionJennifer Lawrence$52 million
Dwayne Johnson$64.5 millionJennifer Lawrence$46 million
Mark Wahlberg$68 millionEmma Stone$26 million
George Clooney$239 millionScarlett Johansson$40.5 million
Dwayne Johnson$89.4 millionScarlett Johansson$56 million
Dwayne Johnson$87.5 millionSofía Vergara$43 million
Dwayne Johnson$270 millionReese Witherspoon$115 millionurl=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2022/02/09/the-highest-paid-entertainers-2022/title=The Highest-Paid Entertainers 2022website=Forbesaccess-date=July 31, 2022archive-date=February 10, 2022archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210003834/https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2022/02/09/the-highest-paid-entertainers-2022/url-status=live }}
Tyler Perry$175 millionurl=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2023/02/13/the-worlds-top-10-highest-paid-entertainers-of-2022/?sh=71d0f4d129a3title=The World's 10 Highest-Paid Entertainerswebsite=Forbesaccess-date=March 14, 2023archive-date=February 17, 2023archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217063844/https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2023/02/13/the-worlds-top-10-highest-paid-entertainers-of-2022/?sh=71d0f4d129a3url-status=live}}
Adam Sandler$73 millionMargot Robbie$59 millionurl=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattcraig/2024/03/06/highest-paid-actors-2023-adam-sandler-margot-robbie/?sh=29f56d9863a0title=The Highest-Paid Actors Of 2023website=Forbesaccess-date=March 26, 2024archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306113936/https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattcraig/2024/03/06/highest-paid-actors-2023-adam-sandler-margot-robbie/archive-date=March 6, 2024url-status=live}}
Dwayne Johnson$88 millionNicole Kidman$31 millionurl=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattcraig/2025/02/28/the-highest-paid-actors-of-2024/title=The Highest-Paid Actors Of 2024first=Mattlast= Craigdate=February 28, 2025website=Forbesaccess-date=March 2, 2025archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250302113936/https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattcraig/2025/02/28/the-highest-paid-actors-of-2024/archive-date=March 2, 2025url-status=live}}

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