The bottom line for Hollywood is still functioning on a superstars scale. If there was any doubt that streaming was a way to bring down record-breaking salaries, it’s evident from the list below that’s simply not true. Stars today are leveraging their fame through a variety of means, from hit movie deals to streaming deals to becoming producers on a hit series. We will now explore the top 10 best-paid actors currently under contract by Hollywood.
10. Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck has been quietly executing one of the most intelligent careers in the film business. In addition to starring in and directing Air, he is the CEO of Artists Equity, a company meant to distribute profits not only to the top stars. With the acting work and the unexpectedly profitable run of Dunkin’ ads, Ben earned an estimated $38 million. Clearly, the power of reinvention is a strong theme.
9. Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston continues to win the long game. Decades after Friends ended, she still earns roughly $20 million a year from syndication alone. Add her reported $2 million per episode paycheck for The Morning Show and her Netflix success with Murder Mystery 2, and Aniston’s yearly total climbs to $42 million. Longevity has never looked so profitable.
8. Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio is still the surest bet in Hollywood finances. The fact that his project with Martin Scorsese on the ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ earned around $41 million is a testament to the notion that a prestige production can come with the budget for a blockbuster. When Leonardo DiCaprio says hello, the wallets come out.
7. Jason Statham
Jason Statham had one of the busiest and most profitable years in action cinema. With multiple releases like Fast X, Meg 2: The Trench, Expend4bles, and The Beekeeper, Statham earned approximately $41 million. Even more impressive? He operates without an agent or manager, keeping more of his earnings in-house.
6. Matt Damon
Matt Damon continues to balance acting with smart business moves. His work on Oppenheimer, combined with profit participation from The Instigator, has helped him take home $43 million. Like Affleck, Damon’s involvement with Artists Equity shows how ownership and backend deals are becoming just as valuable as starring roles.
5. Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling’s performance as Ken in Barbie turned into both a cultural moment and a financial win. Between his acting salary and the massive success of “I’m Just Ken” streaming worldwide, Gosling earned about $43 million. It turns out musical comedy can be a very serious business.
4. Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise is a rare commodity in Tinseltown: a leading man with a first-dollar grossing deal. This means that Tom takes in money from ticket sales right off the bat, rather than after expenses are deducted. Between his residual income from Top Gun: Maverick and Mission: Impossible, Tom has raked in around $45 million in old-school star power.
3. Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson continues to spread his wings on both sides of his entertainment and branding empire. Johnson has broken a record with his $50 million payment in a single film with Red One. Including his streaming agreements and promotions on his other business endeavors, Johnson is definitely one of the most unstoppable forces in Hollywood financially.
2. Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie’s rise isn’t all about leading roles; it is about ownership. Robbie produced the film Barbie through her company LuckyChap, earning massive backend profits, considering the film grossed more than $1.45 billion at the global box office. She raked in a total of $59 million, making her one of the youngest and most influential earners in the business today.
1. Adam Sandler
Yet again, Adam Sandler leads the pack in terms of earnings. With the huge success of his Netflix deal, several movie outings (Murder Mystery 2, Leo), and an outrageously successful standup tour, Sandler banked an estimated $73 million. Sandler’s knack for maintaining creative control over his endeavors while pleasing Netflix crowds makes him the bankable star of the entertainment industry.
Hollywood’s highest-paid actors aren’t just performers anymore; they’re producers, entrepreneurs, and brand architects. As the industry continues to evolve, one thing is clear: the biggest stars know how to play the money game just as well as they play their roles. The only mystery left is who’s next to shatter the record books.