For many people, becoming an actor isn’t about the money but rather about expressing themselves and doing something they love to do. That said, a decent salary is a welcome bonus.
And for a lucky group of actors, this holds true, whose salaries range in the eight figures.
But who are they?
Without further ado, here is Forbes’s list of the 10 highest-paid actors in Hollywood, which is based on interviews with lawyers, industry experts and agents, among others, as well as data sources such as IMDB.
10. Denzel Washington
Earnings: $24 million
Although his net earnings dropped significantly since 2022 (when he made $280 million), Denzel Washington is a consistent appearance on Forbes’s list of the highest-paid actors in the world.
Most of Washington’s earnings in 2023 came from his involvement in the third installment of the Equalizer franchise — he was reportedly paid $20 million for returning to the titular role of Robert McCall and for serving as a producer, while the movie itself went on to gross a worldwide total of $191.1 million.
In 2023, meanwhile, Washington was cast in Gladiator II, which premiered on November 22, 2024. He is also set to play General Hannibal in an upcoming Netflix movie, star in a remake of 1963’s High and Low, and portray Othello in a revival of Shakespeare’s play which will start in the spring of 2025 on Broadway.
9. Ben Affleck
Earnings: $38 million
Known for his work in movies like Good Will Hunting, Pearl Harbor, Armageddon and Argo, as well as for his iteration of the Batman and for his Dunkin’ Donut commercials (including one where he pokes fun at the “Sad Affleck” meme), two-time Academy Award winner Ben Affleck finally makes his return to Forbes’s list since 2020.
His credits for 2023 include starring in Air (which he also directed, and which grossed $90.1 million in its opening weekend) and Hypnotic (which was largely panned by critics), as well as a cameo role in The Flash.
More recently, Affleck made an appearance in his ex-wife Jennifer Lopez’s 2024 musical film This Is Me… Now: A Love Story, while he is starring in the upcoming The Accountant 2 and is producing his ex-wife’s yet-to-be-scheduled Kiss of the Spider Woman.
8. Jason Statham
Earnings: $41 million
Across the Atlantic, English actor and producer Jason Statham joins Forbes’s list of the highest-paid actors at number eight. Primarily known for his action-packed and martial arts-esque roles between the 2000s and 2010s, Statham’s films grossed over $1.5 billion by 2017.
His earnings in 2023, meanwhile, reflect his work in three major franchises (Fast X, Meg 2: The Trench and Expend4bles, which grossed nearly $1.2 billion combined), as well as starring in and producing Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, which grossed a worldwide total of $49 million.
In 2024, Statham starred in The Beekeeper (which, despite receiving mostly negative reviews, was a commercial success), and is set to star in and produce the upcoming films Levon’s Trade and Mutiny.
7. Leonardo DiCaprio
Earnings: $41 million
Leonardo DiCaprio’s acting résumé is truly impressive, ranging from What’s Eating Gilbert Grape to Romeo + Juliet, and The Aviator to Gangs of New York, and The Revenant (for which he won an Oscar) to Titanic, and The Wolf of Wall Street to Inception — which collectively made over $7.2 billion at the box office.
While DiCaprio’s performance in 2023’s Killers of the Flower Moon was hailed by critics, and his apparent being snubbed at the 96th Academy Awards, his bank balance increased by $30 million.
Beyond his film work, DiCaprio is an active celebrity in the climate change movement, while he intends to develop a highly sustainable eco-resort on Blackadore Caye, a private island in Belize that we bought in 2009.
6. Jennifer Aniston
Earnings: $42 million
The sixth position of Forbes’s highest-paid actors list is taken by Jennifer Aniston, the first of only two women on the list.
Perhaps best-known for her portrayal of Rachel Green on the 1990s TV sitcom Friends, Aniston has successfully made the move to film acting with an impressive list of credits to her name, including Along Came Polly, Bruce Almighty, Marley & Me, Cake, We’re the Millers, as well as the Horrible Bosses and Murder Mystery franchises.
In fact, for her work on Murder Mystery 2, she was reportedly paid $25 million, while she also makes about $2 million for each episode of The Morning Show (which she stars in and executive-produces).
5. Matt Damon
Earnings: $43 million
Known for his varied roll of credits, which include movies like The Rainmaker, Saving Private Ryan and Good Will Hunting, as well as starring roles in the Bourne and Ocean’s franchises, Matt Damon has received many accolades for his acting, producing and screenwriting work, including an Academy Award, two Golden Globes and three BAFTAs.
Together with his buddy Ben Affleck, Damon started the independent production company Artists Equity in 2022. Its first release, Air, earned him a whopping $30 million. Meanwhile, for his appearance in Oppenheimer, he took home a mere $4 million salary in exchange for a portion of the movie’s significant profits.
He is also producing The Accountant 2 and Kiss of the Spider Woman alongside Affleck, while he is set to work with director Christopher Nolan on a yet-untitled upcoming movie.
4. Ryan Gosling
Earnings: $43 million
Ryan Gosling is the only Canadian actor to appear on Forbes’s list of the highest-paid actors in the world. Boasting an impressive portfolio, including The Notebook, Crazy Stupid Love, Driver and The Gray Man, Gosling was also nominated twice for the Oscar for Best Actor for his work in Half Nelson and La La Land.
He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor in Barbie, in which he portrayed Beach Ken and received a $12.5 million paycheck. It was also his highest-grossing release, while his power ballad “I’m Just Ken” became an instant fan favorite, despite only peaking at #87 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
Gosling is set to star in and produce the upcoming Project Hail Mary, which is based on Andy Weir’s novel of the same name. More recently, he starred opposite Emily Blunt in action–comedy film The Fall Guy, which grossed a total of $181.1 million.
3. Tom Cruise
Earnings: $45 million
Starting the top three of the highest-paid actors is Tom Cruise, who — like Jason Statham — is best known for his roles in action-packed movies like Days of Thunder, The Last Samurai and War of the Worlds, as well as the Top Gun and Mission: Impossible franchises. That said, his acting credits also include other genres, including drama and horror, such as Rain Man and Interview with the Vampire.
His 2023 earnings are based on his appearance in the seventh installment of the Mission: Impossible series (Dead Reckoning Part One), for which he reportedly received $14 million upfront. He also continues to receive streaming and on-demand profits for Top Gun: Maverick.
An eight installment of Mission: Impossible is in the works, as is a sequel to Maverick, while Cruise is reportedly eyeing a Days of Thunder sequel. More recently, Cruise appeared in the Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony by jumping from the roof of the Stade de France.
2. Margot Robbie
Earnings: $59 million
The highest-paid actress to appear on Forbes’s list is none other than Margot Robbie, who began her career on the Australian soap opera Neighbours before her Hollywood breakthrough in the 2010s with appearances in The Wolf of Wall Street, The Legend of Tarzan, Suicide Squad, Mary Queen of Scots and I, Tonya.
Meanwhile, like her co-star Ryan Gosling, she received $12.5 million for her acting credit in Barbie, which — again like Gosling — was her highest-grossing movie. Robbie also cashed in on 12.5% of the movie’s back-end profits, estimated at $60 million.
Her production company LuckyChap Entertainment is currently developing a movie based on The Sims video game, while she is set to appear in the upcoming movies A Big Bold Beautiful Journey and Wuthering Heights, an adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel.
1. Adam Sandler
Earnings: $73 million
…And the highest-paid actor in Hollywood is Adam Sandler, whose acting credits include The Wedding Singer, The Waterboy, Big Daddy, Anger Management, 50 First Dates and I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, among many other titles.
It was a busy year in 2023 for Sandler, what with starring in and producing Murder Mystery 2, doing 40 stand-up comedy dates, and working on three Netflix projects. In 2024, he starred in his second Netflix comedy special, Adam Sandler: Love You, and in the movie Spaceman.
Meanwhile, the possibility of a third installment in the Murder Mystery franchise is the talk of Hollywood, but Sandler says it will only happen if former basketball player Shaquille O’Neil is cast in the film.
Final thoughts
Some of the highest-paid actors in this year’s edition of Forbes’s rankings are newcomers, and some are staples. Other names, meanwhile, dropped entirely from the list, including Reese Witherspoon and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — who previously received salaries of $115 million and $270 million, respectively.
Are you surprised to see any of the names on this year’s list, or perhaps names that have been omitted by Forbes? Let us know in the comments section below.
This article is a complete update of an earlier version originally published in 2015.