Top Hollywood Pay: Men Versus Women

What will it take for A-list actresses to earn as much as actors?

The ninth-highest grossing movie of the year so far — with $153 million in U.S. box office sales — is “Sex and the City,” a film that features four leading women and a cursory supporting role for Mr. Big. The 11th highest grossing film is “Mamma Mia,” another estrogen fest, which has earned $144 million.

So with female-centric movies performing so well at the box office (between them, the two films have earned $980 million worldwide), why are women still earning so much less than their male counterparts?

Only two women make the list of the top 10 earning actors in Hollywood between June 2007 and June 2008. Cameron Diaz comes in fifth with $50 million for her work in solid romantic comedies like “What Happens in Vegas” and “The Holiday.” She also earned big for her voice work in the “Shrek” films as the far-from-helpless Princess Fiona.

But she earned a full $30 million less than Hollywood’s highest earner, Will Smith, who cashes mega paychecks for films like the post-apocalyptic “I Am Legend.” In the same time period, Smith earned $80 million.

Hollywood’s top earners

Will Smith — $80 million:
Smith earns big bucks for his action hero roles in films like Hancock and I Am Legend. But he’s also looking out for an Oscar. He was nominated for his work in Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness.

Johnny Depp — $72 million:
Depp rakes it in with his bizarre turn as drunken Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Rumors are now swirling that he’ll earn $56 million upfront for a fourth installment.

Eddie Murphy — $55 million:
The reclusive comedian may have bombed with his most recent film, Meet Dave, but his overall track record for family-friendly fare is good enough for studios to keep producing his movies.

Mike Myers — $55 million:
His Shrek movies appeal to both kids and grown-ups, but his live-action films are a tougher sell. His summer movie The Love Guru earned a paltry $41 million worldwide.

Cameron Diaz — $50 million:
The top-earning woman on our list, Diaz turns out solid performances in romantic comedies like this year’s What Happens in Vegas. But she still earned $30 million less than top-earning actor Will Smith last year.

Leonardo DiCaprio — $45 million:
DiCaprio is the rare actor who can bring in large audiences for adult fare like Blood Diamond and The Aviator. He’s been nominated for three Oscars but has yet to win.

Bruce Willis — $41 million:
His action star days are mostly behind him, but Willis still managed to fill seats with his fourth turn as John McClane in last year’s Live Free or Die Hard.

Ben Stiller — $40 million:
Stiller’s Night at the Museum was a monster hit earning $575 million at the worldwide box office. No surprise that a sequel is in the works for next year.

Nicolas Cage — $38 million:
Cage’s films can be hit or miss but he still earns big paychecks. They pay off when a movie like National Treasure: Book of Secrets earns $457 million worldwide.

Keira Knightley — $32 million:
The second woman on our list, Knightley earns out from her role in the Pirate movies as Elizabeth Swan. When not appearing in the blockbusters, she sticks to more serious films like last year’s Atonement.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Top Hollywood Pay: Men Versus Women

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