Entertainment is an ever-growing industry with the highest-paid actors.
2021 saw a huge recovery in box office returns after a slump in 2020 with big-budget anticipated movies.
These high-budget movies have the highest-paid actors competing to max out their ticket sales on the big screen and their streaming time on the small screen.
2021 was quite a rough yet exciting year for both actors and movie lovers as it hit the third wave of pandemics very badly.
Highest-Paid Actors (Source: The Filipino Times)
But it gave a massive box office monster Spiderman: No Way Home.
Surely the payment has been greatly affected in every field, especially in the entertainment industry, due to the ongoing pandemic.
However, actors are paid more compared to last year, and there is no sign of slowing down. Thanks to people returning back to theaters and OTT platforms, including Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, and others.
So, without wasting further time, let’s jump right into the list of the 20 highest-paid actors.
Chris Pine’s bank account is currently on high tides, with notable roles in Wonder Woman, Star Trek, and the upcoming film Dungeons and Dragons.
Pine charged $11.5 million for his lead role in Dungeons and Dragons, the film adaptation of table-top games.
Chris Pine With His Killer Smile (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Many people think of the actor as the underdog in terms of money and salary in the movie industry. Whatever the case, Pine is one of the highest-paid celebrities (actors) in Hollywood and sits at the 20th spot on our list.
Moreover, Chris Pine’s net worth is $30 million, as of 2024.
19. Keanu Reeves
Nationality: Canadian
Single Role Salary/Charge: $12-$14 Million
Everyone’s favorite John Wick actor, Keanu Reeves, charged between $12 and $14 million for his role in The Matrix Resurrections, the long-awaited sequel to the hit sci-fi franchise.
Previously, the 56-year-old actor’s salary for the original films (Matrix franchise) was $30 million.
Keanu Reeves For Matrix promotion (Source: Pinterest)
Additionally, Keanu Reeves’s net worth sits at $380 million as of 2024.
18. Tom Cruise
Nationality: American
Single Role Salary/Charge: $13 Million
Tom Cruise is one of the few actors who always manage to land on the highest-paid actors’ list every year.
One of the most beloved action heroes, Cruise’s salary for Top Gun: Maverick is $13 million.
Charming Tom Cruise in a Suit (Source: Wired)
The figure might seem low, but with the backend points bonus, it might hit a hundred million mark.
Moreover, Tom Cruise’s net worth is $600 million, and he is one of the richest actors in the world.
One of the most handsome actors, Jordan’s salary for Without Remorse is $15 million.
He earned a whopping amount for his role as an elite Navy SEAL seeking justice for the assassination of his pregnant wife.
Without Remorse became one of the biggest hits on Amazon Prime Video.
Handsome Michael B. Jordan (Source: His Instagram)
The lead actor also netted a boatload of cash from other global box office hits, including Black Panther, where he portrayed the antagonist role as Killmonger.
Moreover, Michael B. Jordan’s net worth sits at $25 million, as of 2024.
16. Vin Diesel
Nationality: American
Single Role Salary/Charge: $20 Million
Vin Diesel has been featured several times on Forbes’The Highest-Paid Actors’ lists.
Diesel’s salary for F9 Saga is $20 million.
Vin Diesel in F9 Saga (Source: Comic Nerds)
Surprisingly, he ranked relatively low this year due to the pandemic delay in F9’s release, which made fewer profits.
Also, the actor didn’t have extra releases in 2021.
However, the 54-year-old actor still earned a handsome amount of salary upfront for the franchise’s ninth outing.
Similarly, he had earned $2 million for his lead role alongside Paul Walker in the original, The Fast and the Furious, released in 2001.
Additionally, Vin Diesel’s net worth is $225 million, and he is one of the richest actors worldwide.
15. Brad Pitt
Nationality: American
Single Role Salary/Charge: $20 Million
Academy Award-winning actor Brad Pitt’s salary for Bullet Train is $20 million.
He is all ready to swell his bank account in 2022 for his upcoming action thriller alongside his fellow rich-lister Sandra Bullock on Bullet Train.
Brad Pitt (Source: Wiki Commons)
The handsome man Pitt is set to lead an all-star cast whirlwind adventure.
Moreover, Brad Pitt is one of the richest and most famous actors worldwide, with an estimated net worth of $300 million.
14. Ryan Reynolds
Nationality: Canadian
Single Role Salary/Charge: $20 Million
All-time favorite Deadpool actor, otherwise called Ryan Reynolds, has managed to earn a massive salary in 2024.
Ryan Reynold’s paycheque for the multi-starrer movie Red Notice is a whopping $20 million.
Deadpool Star Ryan Reynolds (Source: times)
The actor enjoyed immense success and had multiple releases this year, including Disney’s Free Guy and The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. Together, the movies have managed to gross over $400 million.
Moreover, Ryan Reynolds’ net worth sits at $150 million, as of 2024.
13. Chris Hemsworth
Nationality: Australian
Single Role Salary/Charge: $20 Million
One of the charming and sexiest actors, Chris Hemsworth’s salary for the most-awaited 2022 release Thor: Love and Thunder is $20 million.
Understandably, he is demanding a massive paycheque as he is the lead star playing Thor. Taika Waititi’s hyper-color hit Thor: Ragnarok is set to return as one of the biggest film premiers of 2022.
Chris Hemsworth Looks Dashing in a Suit (Source: Instagram)
Chris is also set to return for the sequel of the massively praised Netflix movie Extraction.
His excellent salary is still good enough to make the highest-paid actors 2021 list.
Moreover, Chris Hemsworth’s net worth is $130 million.
12. Ryan Gosling
Nationality: Canadian
Single Role Salary/Charge: $20 Million
Ryan returned back to his sci-fi thriller, The Grey Man, for the best. The movie was initially reported as one of the most big-budget Netflix films to be ever produced.
Talented and popular actor Ryan Gosling’s salary for The Grey Man is $20 million.
Ryan Gosling (Source: Pinkvilla)
The Canadian actor made a smart choice by signing on to the Anthony and Joe Russo film earlier this year.
He had previously worked in Blade Runner 2049.
Moreover, Ryan Gosling’s net worth sits at $70 million, as of 2024.
11. Sandra Bullock
Nationality: American
Single Role Salary/Charge: $20 Million
Beautiful and talented actress Sandra Bullock’s salary for The Lost City of Dis $20 million.
Sandy B’s new flick netted her an astonishing increase in her payment.
Sandra Bullock (Source: Pinterest)
The 57-years-old actress managed to land on the eleventh spot on our highest-paid actor’s list for 2024.
Moreover, Sandra Bullock’s net worth sits at $250 million, and she is one of the richest actresses in Hollywood.
10. Emily Blunt
Nationality: British
Salary/Charge: $23 million
British icon Emily Blunt’s salary stacks up a total of $23 million, with two massive movies this year.
The richest actress reportedly earned between $12 and $13 million for her thriller-horror sequel A Quiet Place Part II, directed by her husband, John Krasinski.
It was followed by another movie, Disney’s Jungle Cruise, opposite Dwayne Johnson. Emily earned a whopping $8-$10 million paycheque for her role.
Emily Blunt Looks Stunning in a Red Dress (Source: Pinterest)
However, Blunt earned significantly less than Dwayne’s $22 million cuts from the same movie, reports claim.
The actress has been widely popular with solid box-office records for titles like Mary Poppins Returns,The Girl on the Train, and A Quiet Place.
Blunt is one of the highest-paid actresses worldwide, and she has even gone far ahead than her male co-leads.
Additionally, Emily Blunt’s net worth is $80 million.
9. Julia Roberts
Nationality: American
Single Role Salary/Charge: $25 Million
Today’s modern era hardly differentiates between male and female actors in terms of payment.
The 53-years-old talented actress Julia Roberts’ salary for Leave the World Behind is $25 million.
Julia Roberts (Source: Wiki Commons)
She is all set to score a load full of cash after signing on to star in the family drama in the coming months.
The movie based on the upcoming Rumaan Alam novel will premiere on Netflix.
Certainly, highest-paid actress Julia Roberts’ net worth sits at a whopping $250 million.
8. Jennifer Lawrence
Nationality: American
Single Role Salary/Charge: $25 Million
America’s exquisite star Jennifer Lawrence returned in Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up after a three-year break.
Reportedly, Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence’s salary managed to net $25 million.
Nonetheless, her co-star Leonardo bagged a cool $30 million for the film.
Beautiful Jennifer Lawrence (Source: Pinkvilla)
She managed to pocket such a huge amount for her role as astronomer Kate Dibiasky.
No peculiar to massive box office success, her previous movies have grossed more than $1 billion with multiple hit franchises, including X-Men and Hunger Games leading the way.
Lawrence continues a run of successful years as the highest-paid female actor in 2024. Moreover, Jennifer Lawrence’s net worth is $160 million.
7. Mark Wahlberg
Nationality: Irish-American
Single Role Salary/Charge: $30 Million
Global star Mark Wahlberg’s salary for yet another Netflix special, Spenser Confidential, is $30 million.
The film was a surprising hit for Mark and became one of the most-watched movies on Netflix in 2021.
Mark Wahlberg (Source: Pinterest)
Mark landed in the right role at the right time as the action/comedy special was released at the height of the pandemic.
Additionally, Mark Wahlberg’s net worth is $350 million, and he is one of the richest actors worldwide.
6. Leonardo DiCaprio
Nationality: American
Single Role Salary/Charge: $30 million
Global icon Leonardo DiCaprio always manages to land on the highest-paid actor’s list every year. He is not short on cash even in 2024.
The Titanic star Leonardo DiCaprio earned a staggering $30 million for his role in the movie Don’t Look Up. All thanks to the pre-contract combination of back-end projections.
Leonardo DiCaprio (Source: YouTube/Netflix)
He took a massive pay cut to appear in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in 2019.
One of the richest actors, Leonardo DiCaprio’s net worth is $260 million.
The mesmerizing diva of Hollywood, Angelina Jolie’s salary for Marvel’s Eternals is $35.5 million, according to Forbes.
Angelina Jolie Looks Stunning as Thena in Marvel’s Eternal ( Source: Comic Nerd)
She is undeniably the highest-paid actress worldwide, sitting next to Sofia Vergara.
Likewise, Angelina starred in another movie, Those Who Wish Me Dead. Sadly, the film underperformed, earning only $23 million at the global box office.
Moreover, Angelina Jolie’s net worth sits at $120 million, as of 2024.
4. Denzel Washington
Nationality: American
Single Role Salary/Charge: $40 million
American actor Denzel Washington is perhaps the most consistent paid actor in Hollywood as he’s got a massive bank account to match.
He is the two-time Academy Award-winning actor, director, and producer.
Denzel Washington’s salary for the thriller The Little Things is reportedly $40 million.
Denzel Washington Has a Beautiful Smile (Source: Wiki Common)
One of the highest-paid actors in the world could demand any amount in millions with his far-fetched box-office track records.
Washington demanded quite a huge sum for playing the role of corrupt detective opposite Jared Leto presented by Warner Bros.
The actor is soon to return in Joel Coen’s new adaptation, The Tragedy of Macbeth. However, his salary for this movie has not been revealed yet.
Furthermore, Denzel Washington’s net worth is $280 million as of 2024.
3. Will Smith
Nationality: American
Single Role Salary/Charge: $40 Million
Charming actor Will Smith reportedly charged $40 million for film King Richard,The Hollywood Reporter claims.
Will Smith (Source: Pinterest)
The richest actor played the role of Richard Williams, father of tennis superstars Serena and Venus Williams.
Will Smith being generous as he always is, reportedly shelled out a notable sum to compensate those who were financially impacted by the loss of theatrical returns.
Likewise, he is good enough to land third place on the list of highest-paid actors this year.
Moreover, Will Smith’s net worth sits at $350 million, as of 2024.
2. Dwayne Johnson
Nationality: American-Canadian
Salary/Charge: $50 million
The Rock, aka Dwayne Johnson, is the highest-paid actor in the world. It seems as if not even a global pandemic can slow down Johnson.
The 49-year-old hard-working actor has done two blockbuster movies this year.
Dwayne Johnson’s single role salary for Disney’s ambitious Jungle Cruise is $22 million. He reportedly snagged another $20 million for Netflix’s heist comedy Red Notice, according to Variety.
Dwayne Johnson Working Out (Source: His Instagram)
Johnson has also served as the film’s producer in this Netflix movie which brought him additional profits from the movie’s success.
The Netflix film became a global hit with racked up 328.8 million viewing hours. Red Notice became the most-watched giant streamer’s film, where the actor starred alongside Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot.
Besides the muscular man, The Rock is a perennial A-listed actor in Hollywood and is the highest-paid actor worldwide.
He earned $124 million in 2018, as per Forbes.
On top of that, Dwayne Johnson’s net worth is $800 million.
1. Daniel Craig
Nationality: British
Salary/Charge: $100 Million
Box-office ruler Daniel Craig became the highest-paid actor worldwide in 2021.
He will be seen next in two Knives Out sequels, thanks to a lucrative deal with Netflix. The deal snagged Daniel Craig a historic $100 million.
This paycheque is credited due to the projected back-end box office participation deal, making Craig the only actor ever to secure such an astonishing figure.
Daniel Craig as James Bond (Source: Bullfrog)
His runaway hit Knives Out is set to premiere two sequels in the coming years as the streaming service picked it up.
Craig’s $100 million paycheques is also a hefty contribution from the No Time To Die, an upcoming Bond film.
Daniel Craig also took home a whopping $25 million payroll after making his fifth and last appearance as James Bond in No Time To Die.
What’s more, the highest-paid actor Daniel Craig’s net worth is $160 million.
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