Every year, Forbes magazine publishes a list of the highest paid actors in the world. The magazine has compiled its 2019 list, ranking the most bankable actors around the world. Forbes compiled the list based on the actors’ income from on-screen ventures, brand endorsements, and other sources. Here we take a look at the top 10 highest paid actors of 2019 and how much they took home.
Forbes estimated the earnings of actors between June 1, 2018 and June 1, 2019 based on data from ComScore, Nielsen, IMDb, and Box Office Mojo. The figures are pre-tax. Taxes, lawyer fees, agent fees, and other deductions could further bring down their net income.
10- Will Smith, $35 million
Will Smith has been one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood for years. He played the role of the Genie in Disney’s blockbuster Aladdin. He also plays the lead role in Gemini Man, which is set to release in October.
9- Paul Rudd, $41 million
50-year-old Paul Rudd shows no signs of aging. He made it among the top 10 highest paid actors thanks to his appearances as Ant-Man in Avengers: Endgame and Ant-Man and the Wasp. The veteran actor earns an upfront fee as well as a percentage of profits generated by his Marvel movies.
8- Chris Evans, $43.5 million
Chris Evans is one of the many actors who made it to this list because of Marvel movies. Evans also receives an upfront fee and a share of the film’s “pool,” which is the money left over after some of the bills are paid. Evans starred in Avengers: Endgame and Captain Marvel. He also played the lead role in Netflix’s The Red Sea Diving Resort.
6 (tie)- Adam Sandler, $57 million
Sandler continues to make loads of money for himself. Between June 2018 and June 2019, he starred in Netflix movie Murder Mystery and released a Netflix special titled Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh. Sandler also voiced Dracula in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.
6 (tie)- Bradley Cooper, $57 million
Bradley Cooper voiced Rocket Raccoon in Avengers: Endgame and is co-producing the movie Joker, which is set to release in October this year. But he made most of his money from the movie A Star Is Born, which he co-wrote, directed, and produced. The movie was a passion project for Cooper, and was made on a budget of just $36 million. It went on to gross $435 million at the global box office, bringing $40 million into Cooper’s pocket.
5- Jackie Chan, $58 million
Jackie Chan is by far the most popular Chinese actor. He stars in the movie Viy 2: Journey to China along with Charles Dance and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Chan also played the lead role in The Knight of Shadows: Between Yin and Yang. Chan has many other sources of income including brand endorsements, his own line of theaters, and producer credits.
4- Akshay Kumar, $65 million
Flying high on the success of his latest movie Mission Mangal, Akshay Kumar is the busiest and highest paid Bollywood actor. His Hindi-language film Kesari was also a box office success. Kumar has a number of films in the pipeline including Housefull 4, Good News, Laxmmi Bomb, Sooryavanshi, and Bachchan Pandey. He is also the brand ambassador of almost two dozen brands in different categories.
3- Robert Downey Jr, $66 million
Robert Downey Jr played the iconic role of Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home. The Avengers: Endgame grossed $2.8 billion at the worldwide box office. The actor was paid $20 million upfront and 8% of the pool, which amounted to around $35 million. The “pool” is the money left over after most of the bills are paid. Robert Downey Jr. has also become the brand ambassador of Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus.
2- Chris Hemsworth, $76.4 million
Hemsworth reprised the role of Thor in Avengers: Endgame and was one of the two lead actors in the sci-fi action comedy Men in Black: International. The biggest portion of his earnings came from Avengers: Endgame. Just like other actors in the MCU, Hemsworth gets an upfront fee and a percentage from the “pool.”
1- Dwayne Johnson, $89.4 million
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson holds the crown of the highest paid actor in the world this year. Johnson’s Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs and Shaw grossed $442 million at the box office. The former wrestler has been paid $23.5 million for Jumanji: The Next Level, which is set to release in December this year. He also commands 15% of the pool. Johnson is paid $700,000 per episode of HBO’s Ballers. The actor also has his own line of clothing, headphones, and shoes with Under Armour.
