Hollywood's Highest Paid Actors


Johnny Depp's legendary turn as Captain Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Carribbean" franchise has helped make him one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood.

"Between June 2006 and June 2007, he made $92 million," said Forbes magazine's senior editor Lea Goldman. She attributes Depp's success to talent, luck and old-fashioned business savvy.

"We looked at his advance for movies he started filming and also looked at money making off back end," she explained.

The second highest-paid actor is none other than Brad Pitt, followed by Tom Cruise. But Forbes is hesitant to name either one of them as the most bankable star: That distinction goes to Matt Damon.

"Though his paycheck isn't as high as Will Smith's, his movies also aren't that expensive, and relative to what they've done at the box office he ends up delivering the most dollars to the studio," explained Goldman.

As for the $20 million boys' club, let's just say it's a very funny list.

"It's Vince Vaughn, it's Will Ferrell, it's Ben Stiller," said Goldman. "Their movies aren't performing as well as they once did."

And in the girls' club, the top earner is still Nicole Kidman, followed by Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts and Scarlett Johansson.

"She's a critical darling," explained Goldman of Scarlett. "They love her. She's got the chops and also a sex bomb. She's a goddess!"

Even the top female earner, Kidman, is in danger of losing her spot on the list.

"We've seen movie after movie from her over the last few years. Problem is those movies aren't faring so well," said Goldman. "While she may have commanded the $15 million paycheck, really you've gotta wonder how much longer that is going to continue."

comments

Johnny Depp is THE most over-rated actor ever. Seriously, he’s attractive and he’s a good character actor but he hides behind a character every time.

Wow you mean he actually acts instead of just putting himself in the character over and over?

amanda
December 31, 2009

Keanu Reeves should be on that list. I’m not saying the kid from Bill and Ted is the greatest actor. But He back-ended his way to $200,000,000 from 3 movies

Mat
August 21, 2009

What does it matter really could care less if Johnny Depp made 192 mill.You think if the actors didn’t get paid that much the studios would give it to the poor and middle class.Most people are in debt and in over there heads because they gotta have more then they can afford.Take all the money actors made last year give it to the middle class and tax them 0% and they will still be in debt.Because most would go out and buy something they didn’t need,not one dime would go to pay down debt are go in savings

Samuel
April 29, 2009

Hey anonymous posted 04/16/09 12:02 PM

does your comment include Oprah? Thanks for you answer.

Jessie
April 16, 2009

I can’t believe how many people are upset with the pay of actors, athletes, singers etc.

It is all revenue based. If they generate a lot of money for their boss (ie…movie studio, tv studio, recording company, sports franchise), they get paid for it. Regardless of how much skill or altruistic value they provide, it is deserved according to business economics.

Yes, people are out there who can hardly afford to get by. But do you really think it is fair to take the revenue that these companies generate and instead of paying it to their employees, giving it away as charity?

Do you really feel that these people should be severely taxed at much higher percentages just because they make a lot of money?

Welcome to capitalism.

Anonymous
April 16, 2009

Johnny Depp is THE most over-rated actor ever. Seriously, he’s attractive and he’s a good character actor but he hides behind a character every time. Let’s see him play someone normal like, say Tom Cruises character in Rain Man or Matt Damons in Syriana. He needs the costumes and the makeup and the props to make his character work. Give me a dread lock wig, some rum and some gold jewelry and see if i can’t do a pretty close impression. He doesn’t have to act he has stuff to hide behind. Lets talk about Edward Norton or Denzel Washington. Let’s see Johnny Depp do Denzel’s part in The Hurricane or Edward Nortons in American History X. I weep for the future.

emily
March 31, 2009

its terrible that actors get paid so much money. give some of that money to the lower and middle class so our country can get back on its feet!!!

devo
March 21, 2009

all celebs are boning us. the only way to stop it is to stop buying thier products!

steve bryant
February 3, 2009

Johnny Depp is the best actor of all time. He performs very well on all types of movie genre. He deserves Lifetime Achievement Award.

rhino raider
December 26, 2008

Tom you bring up a very vaild I attened the university of wisconsin Madison and was doing research on actors and the comparison of how much money they make for how little they do. Yes Johnny Depp is a good actor but having people strving on the streets and being in billions of dollars of debt is a little more important then paying an actor 92 million a year. could go on forever such a joke

Justin
December 22, 2008

hi johnny depp you deserve to be the highest paid actor because you”re realy good actor. all your movies are nice. you are my idol ..i love you captain Jack Sparrow.. wish to see you in person

espie
December 12, 2008

i love love love love love love LOVE Johnny Depp!!!!

Sami
December 10, 2008

Very good point Tom. But as it says, lay up your riches in heaven because everything down here will pass away. Btw they might be great actors, but no one deserves 92 million dollars just for us to see them for couple or three hours! And ther not even in the whole picture!

blank
November 6, 2008

Antonio Banderas is the best actor

Anonymous
October 19, 2008

my fav is arnold schwarzenneger,antonio banderas and sylvster stallone

mohsin
October 7, 2008

Lets start taxing movie actors they don’t contribute any thing to society. At least big oil business has employees , pays half of the social security for those employees, provides income for the employees, pays health insurance, buys products and services off of other companies who do the same as they do. All of whom pay sales taxes , income taxes, real estate taxes etc. What does Johnnie Depp do with his 92 million? If the democrats want to be selective in their tax selection let’s star with Hollywood actors , directors, producers , studios on down the line follow the money trail. Then they should move to pro sports all of the players make to much money. Stop funding stadium construction when owners of teams that are worth a billion dollars let them go out and take a loan or build there own like the Hunt Brothers or Joe Robbie did. Next go to the music industry you mean to tell me that rap music is contributing to our culture? Tax all of them. As far as I am concerned beef up the IRS and let them become the pit bull of tax collection that they used to be. How many houses doe a movie star have to have? Since the democrats always want to create divisions in this country by creating class war fare lets start at the top and look at every one who goes to the democratic fund raiser,Tim Robbins(Wacko) Michel Moore, Barbara Streisand, Bill Mahar,David Letterman. After they are finished in Hollywood go to the news media in NYC. These people don’t have any special talent that could not be replaced by any one of a 1000’s people walking down the street in NYC and could do it for 1/10 of then money that Katie Curic makes. If extra had any balls they would look at the entertainment industry from top to bottom to start cutting the fat. Lets tax them at75% that should take the load off of the middle class.

Tom
September 28, 2008

my favorite of all time was humphry bogart and james cagney and john garfield,thet were great actors!

dogworld
September 4, 2008

and probably another great legendary actor from india..that is kamal hassan.he is such a versatile and profilic actor..he has been trying donning different roles in all his movies..and if u look at his performance..he is truly amazing..he should have get oscars for many instance..anywany i juz wish him a great success in his next venture titled Marma yogi and followed by Marutha nayagam..

pazino
August 24, 2008

i like it

adekeye adegoke
July 30, 2008

thats 252,054 dollars a day and 10,502 dollars per hour OMG!

rachael
July 25, 2008
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