Forbes has released its annual list of the 10 highest paid actors of the year, and if you’re an A-list star who made a movie for Netflix, you’ve probably made the cut.
Seriously, more than half of the actors on this list can thank Netflix for their astonishing success, seeing how the streamer’s high payouts typically account for back-end grosses that stars have been waiting to see for years, and that’s only if a movie is performed at the box office. With Netflix, performance does not matter, because you will be paid in advance anyway.
Surprise is leading the charge this year Dwayne Johnson ($ 87.5 million) and Ryan Reynolds ($ 71.5 million), each paying tens of millions to die in the upcoming Netflix action movie Red notice, which was forced to suspend production due to the pandemic, and will now bow to the streaming service next year. Johnson was reportedly paid $ 23.5 million, while Reynolds settled for $ 20 million – the same fee he was paid to die in. Michael Bay‘s 6 Underground, and $ 10 million less than he expected to receive for starring in Apple’s upcoming arrival A Christmas song. Reynolds is back in business with Netflix over an upcoming Skydance project, so expect to see it on this list next year as well.
Keep in mind that Johnson also made millions with his Under Armor line, Project Rock, proving that his brand goes far beyond the screen. This is the second year in a row at No. 1, although its revenue last year dipped from $ 89.4 million.
Image via Netflix
Meanwhile Mark Wahlberg ($ 58 million) and Adam Sandler ($ 41 million) came in at # 3 and # 9, respectively, as Sandler recently inked another four-image game with Netflix following the success of Murder Mystery. Sandler earned $ 31 million this year under the deal with four images he signed with Netflix back in 2014, and the new deal he signed in January is said to be still lucrative.
Wahlberg’s action comedy Spenser Confidential became the third most watched original film of the streamer, although he made millions from his production fees for documents such as McMillions en Wahlstrjitte. These two actors would probably soon have to work together to explode the Netflix algorithm.
Elsewhere, Ben Affleck ($ 55 million) and Vin Diesel ($ 54 million) topped the top 5, even though the F9 of the last one was delayed for a whole year due to the pandemic. Diesel still made millions as a producer on the animated series from Netflix Fast & Furious Spy Races. Meanwhile, Affleck died in the movie Netflix The last thing he wanted as well as The way back, which caught most people on VOD after the pandemic shortened the run of the movie in theaters.
Lin-Manuel Miranda ($ 45.5 million) and Will Smith ($ 44.5 million) ended this year at # 7 and # 8, with Miranda making her debut on the list after Disney bought the film rights to Hamilton for $ 75 million and released a filmed version of the Broadway hit on Disney +. Miranda also has a feature customization of In the Heights on the horizon. As for Smith, he was well compensated for his Snapchat series as well as his upcoming turn King Richard, who will see him the father of Venus and Serena Williams.
Image via Disney +
The biggest surprise on this year’s list was Bollywood star Akshay Kumar ($ 48.5 million), who made the most of his fortune this year from endorsement offers, although he’s also working on his biggest TV series – Amazon’s The end, which will pay him close to $ 10 million. Keep an eye on Kumar, as you will soon see a lot more of him.
Last but not least is action-taking Jackie Chan ($ 40 million), the ageless fighter who made five films over the past year and earned millions more between various incentives and licenses.
Check out the ten highest paid actors of 2020 below – a surprisingly diverse list, mind you – and click here for our most recent story about Red notice.
1. Dwayne Johnson – $ 87.5 million
2. Ryan Reynolds – $ 71.5 million
3. Mark Wahlberg – $ 58 million
4. Ben Affleck – $ 55 million
5. Vin Diesel – $ 54 million
6. Akshay Kumar – $ 48.5 million
7. Lin-Manuel Miranda – $ 45.5 million
8. Will Smith – $ 44.5 million
9. Adam Sandler – $ 41 million
10. Jackie Chan – $ 40 million
