Streaming agreements and digital marketing are redefining Hollywood earnings, with established actors dominating due to past box office success and long-term profit participation. Younger actors face challenges in breaking into the top tier despite rising fees for future projects.
Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Kevin Hart leads the highest-paid actors of 2024. Their earnings highlight the importance of marketing, production deals, and streaming partnerships in determining financial success.
Read also: Top 14 billionaire celebrities of 2024 and how they made their fortunes
According to Forbes, here are the top 20 highest-paid actors of 2024
1. Dwayne Johnson – $88 million
Johnson secured the top position with an estimated $88 million in earnings. His deal for Red One included up-front fees and a buyout, making it one of the most lucrative contracts in streaming history. His role in Moana 2 also contributed significantly, with a profit-sharing agreement that boosted his earnings.
2. Ryan Reynolds – $85 million
Reynolds starred in and produced Deadpool & Wolverine, the highest-grossing live-action film of the year. He also worked on IF, produced a new season of Welcome to Wrexham, and was linked to legal disputes involving It Ends With Us.
Read also: Meet America’s richest black billionaires
3. Kevin Hart – $81 million
Hart’s diversified projects included theatrical and streaming films, television shows, podcasts, and stand-up performances. His commercial partnerships further solidified his presence in multiple entertainment sectors.
4. Jerry Seinfeld – $60 million
Seinfeld’s earnings came from stand-up tours and residuals from his sitcom Seinfeld. He also wrote, directed, and starred in Unfrosted, a Netflix comedy about the invention of Pop-Tarts.
5. Hugh Jackman – $50 million
Jackman reprised his role as Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine, marking his most financially rewarding film to date.
Read also: $100 billion club: Meet 15 members who hold 12-figure fortunes worth $2.3tn
6. Brad Pitt – $32 million
Pitt opted for a streaming release for Wolfs, co-starring George Clooney. His production company, Plan B, also contributed to his earnings through projects like Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and Nickel Boys.
7. George Clooney – $31 million
Clooney’s earnings stemmed from Wolfs, which saw intense bidding among streaming platforms.
8. Nicole Kidman – $31 million
Kidman led multiple TV miniseries and starred in films such as Babygirl and A Family Affair, making her the highest-paid actress of 2024.
Read also: Meet 6 College dropouts who defied the odds to become billionaires
9. Adam Sandler – $26 million
Sandler maintained his lucrative Netflix deal, balancing commercial projects like Happy Gilmore 2 with smaller productions like Spaceman.
10. Will Smith – $26 million
Smith’s return to Bad Boys: Ride or Die marked his first major hit following previous controversies, grossing over $400 million globally.
11. Mariska Hargitay – $25 million
Hargitay remains television’s highest-paid actor, earning an estimated $750,000 per episode of Law & Order: SVU and securing syndication profits.
Read also: Meet 24 Nigerian billionaires in the oil and gas industry
12. Channing Tatum – $24 million
Tatum benefited from a streaming buyout for Fly Me to the Moon, despite the film’s box office underperformance.
13. Jason Statham – $24 million
Statham continues to be a reliable action star, leading The Beekeeper and commanding high salaries without traditional representation.
14. Mark Wahlberg – $23 million
Wahlberg balanced high-budget action films, such as The Union, with independent projects like Arthur The King.
Read also: Meet 4 Nigerian billionaires worth more than two African countries’ GDP – Forbes
15. Matt Damon – $23 million
Damon earned through his production company, Artists Equity, which sold The Instigators to AppleTV+.
16. John Cena – $23 million
Cena featured in multiple streaming comedies across platforms, including Argylle and Ricky Stanicky, while concluding his WWE career.
17. Denzel Washington – $23 million
Washington played a villain in Gladiator II and continues to receive significant earnings from his back catalog of films.
Read also: Nigerian billionaires’ wealth declines in q2 2024 amid economic challenges
18. Jake Gyllenhaal – $22 million
Gyllenhaal led remakes such as Road House and Presumed Innocent, both major successes on streaming platforms.
19. Scarlett Johansson – $21 million
Johansson appeared in Fly Me to the Moon and voiced the lead character in Transformers One, further expanding her earnings.
20. Joaquin Phoenix – $19 million
Phoenix reprised his role in Joker: Folie à Deux, which secured a large up-front payday despite its box office struggles.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
