Who would you put money on being the highest paid actor in the world? We often see headlines about staggering payouts, like Robert Downey Jr earning $60million for the first Avengers film or Nicole Kidman raking in $41million in 2024 alone for her roles in Babygirl, A Family Affair and miniseries Lioness, Expats and The Perfect Couple. Frankly, its numbers that barely seem real in comparison to the salary expectations for the rest of us.

Alas, figures like those are just child’s play for the world’s highest paid actors. According to Forbes annual breakdown of the entertainment business, many of the top-earning stars are earning hundreds of millions a year… seriously.

So, who’s at the top? We’ve deep dived the list for you – and you may well be surprised at who ranks where. Us though? We’re more disappointed there’s so few women in the top 20 – three, at that. The gender pay gap remains the ultimate leveller for women then, even in Hollywood, right?

1. Dwayne Johnson

Taking the top spot is The Rock himself, earning $103million in 2024 alone for his roles in Amazon’s Red One – which is believed to be the largest fee-plus-buyout in streaming history – for which he received an estimated $50million, while his negotiations on his involvement in Moana 2 – for which he served as a star and executive producer –  meant that Johnson took home a percentage of the box office profits – a staggering $1billion.

2. Ryan Reynolds

Having more than just acting in your arsenal certainly seems to be proving most lucrative for today’s film stars, with Reynolds earning more than ever thanks to his roles as lead producer and co-writer of Deadpool & Wolverine. Grossing more than $1.3billion, Reynolds made $100million in 2024 thanks to that becoming the biggest live action movie of the year, as well as his roles in John Krasinski’s IF and producing the new season of Welcome To Wrexham for Hulu.

3. Kevin Hart

Coming in third on the list, Hart grossed $108 million in 2024 but took home $81million net. He was in a vast array of TV series and movies last year, as well as performing a stand-up comedy tour across 90 shows.

4. Jerry Seinfeld

Grossing $70million last year, Seinfeld’s stand-up and sitcom makes him a regular top earner. But it was his Netflix series, Unfrosted, a spoof on the invention of Pop Tarts, that helped him into the top five.

5. Hugh Jackman

Given how much Ryan Reynolds made last year, it’s hardly surprising Hugh Jackman came in fifth with gross earnings of $66million. We really need to find a way to star in the next Deadpool & Wolverine movie…

6. Brad Pitt

Grossing $42million last year, Pitt is also making a ton from moving away from the front of the camera to back of house. His production company, Plan B, has both critical kudos and box office success thanks to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and Nickel Boys. His new movie, F1, which streams on Apple TV is expected to make big bucks this year.

7. George Clooney

What’s a list of Hollywood’s best without Clooney? Raking in $37million last year, it was reportedly the spy comedy Wolfs – with Brad Pitt – that earned Clooney his place on this list, although he denies being paid $35million for it.

8. Nicole Kidman

Finally, a woman! Nicole Kidman is doing it for all of us, earning $41million gross ($31million net) last year thanks to the aforementioned range of projects she worked across. The highest paid actress of the year, Kidman reportedly earns $1million per TV episode.

9. Adam Sandler

It’s Sandler’s back catalogue being on Netflix that cemented his deal with the streaming giant, largely considered one of the best in the industry. He made Spaceman for the streamer, and is releasing Happy Gilmore 2 this year, which brough him in $35million last year.

10. Will Smith

Taking 10th place is none other than Will Smith, who raked in $30million gross, after returning to the Bad Boys franchise that shot him to stardom. Bad Boys: Ride or Die grossed more than $400million at the box office, a mean feat.

The rest of the list is where things start to get more shocking. TV actor Mariska Hargitay, for example, is the 11th best paid actor in the world thanks to her role on Law & Order: SVU, earning $750,000 per episode as well as a percentage of the shows syndication profits. We love a woman in business! Sadly, there’s only one other woman in the top 20, Scarlett Johannson at 19 earning $25million gross. The men though? They’re raking it in. Channing Tatum is 12th at $28million gross, Jason Statham 13th at $25million gross ($24million net), Mark Wahlberg 14th ($31million gross but $24million net) and Matt Damon ($30million gross but $23million net) 15th. 

Then comes John Cena ($30million gross, $23million net), Denzel Washington ($27million gross, $23million net), Jake Gyllenhaal ($26million gross, $22million net) and Joaquin Phoenix ($22million gross, $19million net) rounding out the top 20.

So, there you have it, a bunch of people earning in one year more than most of us ever will! Now buy yourself a cookie to commiserate…