Forbes have come up with their annual list of the highest earning supermodels in the world at the moment and to nobodies surprise Gisele Bündchen is way ahead of all the other models working at the moment.
01. Gisele Bündchen ($25 million)
Being a new mother has not slowed this Brazilian beauty down. With estimated earnings remaining at $25 million, Bündchen is the world’s top earning model once again. The 29-year old Brazilian beauty, married to NFL quarterback Tom Brady, gave birth to the couple’s first child in December, lost the baby weight seemingly instantaneously and went back to work. A multinational brand name, Gisele remains the industry’s most sought-out face and body. Aside from starring in campaigns that included True Religion jeans and Dolce & Gabbana, she has her own sandals line–Ipanema by Gisele. In Vogue’s April cover story, Bündchen touted environmental causes. She reportedly donated $1.5 million to the Red Cross for Haiti.
02. Heidi Klum ($16 million)
Beyond the television fame, Klum remains a longstanding member of the Victoria’s Secret Angel entourage while also hosting Germany’s Next Top Model and endorsing a slew of products, including Diet Coke, Volkswagen, McDonald’s and LG. Another year has gone by, she’s given birth to her fourth child and celebrated her fourth wedding anniversary to singer Seal. At 36, Klum remains unrivaled among the ranks of supermodels when it comes to name recognition, thanks to her prime-time gig hosting Project Runway, now on its seventh season and being shot back in its original home in New York City (it had taken a hiatus in Los Angeles).
03. Kate Moss ($9 million)
Despite well-publicized personal and professional ups and downs, Moss is one of the world’s most influential fashion icons; at 36, she’s built herself one of the most lucrative modeling careers in the world. She’s kept busy in the last 12 months: aside from designing a fashion line for the British retailer Topshop, Moss released a new perfume, announced she’s designing handbags for Longchamp and made headlines–starting a trend–by dying her hair with gray streaks. Moss remains the face of Versace, Longchamp and David Yurman, among others. In November she got flack from eating disorders’ support groups for telling Women’s Wear Daily, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.”
04. Adriana Lima ($7.5 million)
Yet another Victoria’s Secret angel atop the list, the Brazilian beauty got her start as the winner of the Ford model competition “Supermodel of the Year.” She’s another new mom on the list: Lima and her husband, basketball player Marko Jaric, welcomed a daughter in November.
05. Doutzen Kroes ($6 million)
This 25-year-old Dutch sensation was the last angel to sign with Victoria’s Secret two years ago. Seen recently on the catwalk during fashion week for Prada, this Dutch beauty retains a lucrative contract with coveted cosmetics brand L’Oreal. Former holder of lucrative Calvin Klein Eternity and Calvin Klein White Label contracts coins a monthly column for Marie Claire.
06. Alessandra Ambrosio ($5.5 million)
The Victoria’s Secret star is now breaking into the world of high fashion. In the past year the Brazilian has scored gigs with high fashion labels including Louis Vuitton, Prada and Moschino. Victoria’s Secret contract plus Latin American deals keep the cash rolling in.
06. Natalia Vodianova ($5.5 million)
Rags to riches Russian model continues to live the American dream. A contract with lingerie company Etam and lucrative fragrance campaigns with Guerlain and Calvin Klein helped the 28-year-old pull in $5.5 million over the last year. Vodianova also runs Naked Heart Foundation, a charity that raises money to provide playgrounds in Russia.
08. Daria Werbowy ($4.5 million)
Lancome and H&M contracts lead a string of lucrative endorsements. Werbowy’s career spans the entire fashion world. One minute she can be found hawking cheap duds from bargain retailers, then wearing high-end houses like Missoni, Versace and Chanel the next. Her biggest contract: beauty company Lancôme.
09. Miranda Kerr ($4 million)
The Australian model collects fat checks from Victoria’s Secret and David Jones Limited. Watch out, Kerr’s curves could get you fired. During a business interview on Macquarie Bank’s trading floor, Australia’s 7 News cameras caught an employee in the background viewing sexy pictures of Kerr on his work computer. The video went viral on YouTube. The Internet community and Kerr herself publicly pleaded with the bank not to boot the employee. He kept his job.
10. Carolyn Murphy ($3.5 million)
It pays to be the face of Estée Lauder. Murphy is once again the only American model on our list. The blonde is still going strong at the ripe old age of 36. Aside from her contract with Estée Lauder, she’s been campaigned for Roberto Cavalli, Anne Klein.
Forbes based this list on their estimated earnings from June 2009 to June 2010.
source: The World’s 10 Top-Earning Models [Forbes]
Popularity: unranked [?]
The school year is almost over and most teenagers will be finding themselves working part time or weekend jobs in order to earn some money, this is not the case with all teens though. Here is a list of how much young actors are making per episode of whatever TV show they are on, you might be surprised who is not number 1.
01. Angus T. Jones, 16
“Two and a Half Men” – $250,000
02. Miranda Cosgrove, 16
“iCarly” – $180,000
03. Selena Gomez, 17
“Wizards of Waverly Place” – $25,000
04. Dylan and Cole Sprouse, 17
“The Suite Life” – $20,000 each
04. Keke Palmer, 16
“True Jackson” – $20,000
06. Miley Cyrus, 17
“Hannah Montana” – $15,000
06. Rico Rodriguez, 11
“Modern Family” – $15,000
08. Demi Lovato, 17
“Sonny With a Chance” – $12,000
08. Victoria Justice, 17
“Victorious” – $12,000
08. Atticus Shaffer, 11
“The Middle” – $12,000
I really expected Miley Cyrus to be number 1 and make more than what she does per episode, then again Disney probably got her in a really tight contract to where she couldn’t negotiate her fee but she is still making money from everything else she is doing so I guess it’s not as if she is hurting.
source: TV’s richest kids [NY Post]
Popularity: unranked [?]
Finally! A rich list that doesn’t make me jealous or wish I could be one of the people on the list. Ranker have put together a list of the richest comic book characters. Here is the top 10, to see the rest of the list check out the source below.
01. Black Panther
Being the first black superhero in mainstream American comic books, Black Panther tops this list as the most realistically rich superhero (or supervillain) in either DC or Marvel. Why is this? Well, for one, he runs the entire country of Wakanada (a fictional African country in the Marvel universe), which just happens to be the world’s only deposit of the most precious metal: Vibranium.
You know that indestructible metal that Wolverine’s bones are incased in? Vibranium is the stronger metal and T’Challa (the Black Panther’s real identity) owns all of it, and often has to protect it. So, from the perspective of natural resources, supply vs. demand, and how much he has at his disposal if he just sells a tiny bit of what he has an endless amount of — T’Challa, The Black Panther, is arguably the richest superhero in comics. BONUS: He’s considered one of the eight smartest people in the entire Marvel Universe.
02. Namor the Sub-Mariner
Namor once saved the day with a ridiculous wad of cash with the explanation that if he wanted to, he could always have money because what he has to work with is oh, you know, all the riches of the sea. That’s right, anytime anyone loses a wallet or drops change into the ocean (as well as any pirate treasure that exists in the Marvel universe, oh yeah, and the countless riches of the kingdom of Atlantis)… it’s all Namor’s. The reigning Prince of Atlantis, Namor is one of the biggest jerks in the Marvel universe, even though his heart is usually in the right place.
Namor has other-worldly value to his riches, which puts him above anyone who runs a country (except for T’Challa, because c’mon, what if one guy owned all the platinum in the world?), and anyone who runs a huge corporation. BONUS: Breaking a chunk off of a building in his place could go for millions at a huge museum, so that’s another huge source of income. Guess he does have a reason to be so snobby.
03. Adrian Veidt (Ozymandias)
Adrien Veidt, otherwise known as Ozymandias, otherwise known as (WATCHMEN SPOILER ALERT) the bad guy from Watchmen, is one of the richest superheroes in history. He has Bruce Wayne-style power, and fortune, but takes it far enough to do what Bruce Wayne wouldn’t. His questionable morality gives him the financial edge on Bruce Wayne, as Wayne runs an honest business. Veidt kills people and sells toys of himself. On top of all of this, he is also the smartest man on Earth.
Veidt is a superhero/supervillain (depending on your take on Watchmen) that doesn’t pull punches (often) and does what he wants to get what he wants. Money isn’t really a problem for him, as he owns a freaking crazy, genetically engineered wildcat named Bustastis, and a “tower” (a sure sign… as you will see… of a rich superhero).
04. Batman
Owner of Wayne Enterprises, billionaire Bruce Wayne is the richest self-made superhero on this list. Sure, Strange earned his powers, but someone had to give them to him. Bruce Wayne took billions of dollars as an orphan and turned himself into one of the most powerful superheroes in comic books.
Being able to keep up with the titans in the Justice League like Superman and Wonder Woman (and often having to save them all, always being one step ahead of almost everyone in the DC universe), Batman is easily among the smartest characters in comic books. With this intelligence, he runs Wayne Enterprises, a multi-billion dollar international company, and somehow still has enough time to be Batman (see: Lucius Fox) and get all those crazy gadgets he needs not only made, but ordered privately and in quantities that allow him to always have everything he needs under his belt… well, ON his belt.
05. Lex Luthor
Owner of LexCrop, Lex Luthor is one of the most ruthless and morally-despicable characters in the DC universe. Needless to say, he’s rich as hell. LexCorp is one of the most successful multi-national corporations in the DC universe — which says a lot considering the insane stuff that every single one of these characters buys with their money. Giant robots, endless research, mountains of cover-up money, enough money to fund his own campaign for the presidency of the United States and most of all, enough money to really do little else but try and kill Superman all the time — LexCorp brings in BILLIONS for Luthor. So, imagine Bill Gates did nothing but try and kill some unkillable guy all the time. That’s Lex Luthor.
06. Magneto
Everyone always attributes Magneto’s breadth of resources to the Nazi gold that he stole from Hydra, but there’s something that people tend to forget… He is the master of ALL METAL — including precious metals (see item #1).
So THEORETICALLY, he could call all precious metals to his every whim, making him one of the richest characters in all of comicbookdom. Since, this isn’t a “potentially rich” list, he falls at #6 on this list because literal tons of gold have got to put you a little bit above good ol’ Tony Stark.
07. Iron Man
The Bruce Wayne of the Marvel Universe, Tony Stark, owner of Stark Industries, is one of the richest men in the 616 Marvel U. Imagine if Halliburton was owned by one guy, times a hundred… and imagine that everyone LIKED the company and that guy. The developer of some of the most impossible technologies on Earth, Tony Stark was born to the founder of Stark Industries, Howard Stark. Stark went to MIT at the age of 15 and then, after his parents’ death, inherited Stark Industries. Since then, he acquired (and spent) enough money to even fund the superteam The Avengers, as well as build Stark Tower.
He’s at #7 on this list because unlike Doom, he is not the head of a country, but the head of one of the most powerful corporations on Earth. He loses control of his corporation at least once during his extensive history and goes as far as losing 2 years worth of his memories recent comics which can’t be TOO great for business. Although he still has his corporation, being an enemy of the state never helped anyone. The status quo will be restored soon, inevitably, but currently Tony Stark is not the picture of wealth that he once was.
08. Doctor Doom
Victor Von Doom is one of the most intelligent characters in the Marvel universe. Arch nemesis of the Fantastic Four, intellectual rival to Reed Richards, and ruler of the small Eastern-European nation of Latveria, Doom has a great fortune to his name (read: GDP of Latveria) that he uses, as supervillains do, to try and kill some cool, fun-loving, innocent heroes. While, financially, he runs the equivalent of a country like Serbia, he has his own freaking country. This means he has his own army and all of his people’s resources to do what he wishes. He’s dealt with various galactic leaders and continues to be one of the most esteemed and feared supervillains in all of Marvel comics.
The only reason Luthor beats him out is the sheer amount of wealth Luthor has built up. It’s a fine line, but the ruler of a small country, if he’s a supervillain, is the equivalent of Luthor taking over the state of Delaware and having them all do his bidding. Only Luthor’s a little more powerful than that.
09. Green Goblin
Norman Osborn, otherwise known as the Green Goblin, is easily one of the most vile, evil, manipulative and sadistic characters in all of comic books. In a lot of ways he’s the Lex Luthor of the Marvel universe, except Osborn just owns Oscorp, a corporation that is huge, but struggling a little more than LexCorp ever has.
The edge he has over the Green Arrow is that Osborn recently became the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and now has the government’s full support to do whatever he wants. He’s been using these insanely powerful resources to systematically take down every major superhero in the Marvel universe, reducing them to fugitives one by one.
10. Green Arrow
Much like Stark, Green Arrow (otherwise known as Oliver Queen) inherited the company that made him rich from his parents shortly after their untimely death and decided to become a superhero with the money the company was bringing in. Definitely the worst businessman on this list, Queen let his fortune get away from him after a while, as he started running the company out of obligation and took up being a vigilante due to his empathy for the working people of the world.
Bruce Wayne, on the other hand, allocated all of the funds in his inheritance very carefully and Stark is a scientific genius who only improved on his father’s work. Queen treated his fortune more like an escapist teenager in that he spent it on luxuries like gadgets, cars, travel and women. Eventually, Oliver lost his whole fortune and sold the company before his death (later retconned). He continues to be remembered as one of the wealthier superheroes in history, as he is known as that rich kid who decided to do good with his inheritance along with all of his high livin’.
source: 20 Richest Comic Book Characters Of All Time [Ranker]
Popularity: unranked [?]
I really wish I kept up playing football, or soccer as some people like to call, when I was younger because here is a list of the 20 most payed players in the world and it makes me incredibly jealous.
20. Raul Gonzalez (Earnings: $10 million / 7 million euros / 6 million pounds)
Major Sponsor: Adidas
The veteran forward is the all-time high goal scorer for Real Madrid and the Spanish national team. He was awarded a contract for life from Real that will be renewed automatically every year as long as he plays 30 games per season.
19. Karim Benzema (Earnings: $10 million / 7 million euros / 6 million pounds)
Major Sponsor: Adidas
Manchester United is said to be on the prowl for this French striker, who just joined Real from French club Lyon in July 2009.
18. Daniel Alves (Earnings: $10 million / 7 million euros / 6 million pounds)
Major Sponsor: Nike
Endorsements are few and far between for this Brazilian right back, who joined Barca in 2008 as one of the most expensive defenders in history.
17. Carlos Tevez (Earnings: $10 million / 7 million euros / 6 million pounds)
Major Sponsor: Nike
The Argentine is having a career high goal-scoring season with Man City (22 goals in 30 games and counting), after transferring from crosstown rival Man United in July 2009, one of Man City’s many high-priced acquisitions last year.
16. Michael Ballack (Earnings: $11 million / 8 million euros / 7 million pounds)
Major Sponsor: Adidas
The German national captain has a streak going: since June 2005, Germany has never lost a match when he has scored. Rumors have swirled the past year that he will leave Chelsea at the end of this season and return to Germany to finish out his playing career.
15. Francesco Totti (Earnings: $11 million / 8 million euros / 7 million pounds)
Major Sponsors: Diadora, Pepsi
The one-club man is also Roma’s No. 1 goal-scorer and most capped player in its history. But he is taking his loyalty to another level: When he retires after his five-year contract expires in June 2014, Totti will become a director of the club.
14. Rio Ferdinand (Earnings: $11 million / 8 million euros / 7 million pounds)
Major Sponsors: Nike, Ben Sherman
The newly named England national captain has recently stated he wants a renewed contract with Man United–one that will keep him there for life.
13. Fabio Cannavaro (Earnings: $12 million / 9 million euros / 7 million pounds)
Major Sponsors: Nike, Pepsi, Sting, Dolce & Gabbanna
The all-time most capped player of the Italian national team’s future is up in the air as he has been rumored to be heading back to Napoli after his brief return to Juve last summer. However, a management position may keep him with The Old Lady.
12. Samuel Eto’o (Earnings: $13 million / 10 million euros / 8 million pounds)
Major Sponsor: Puma
A late bloomer, Eto’o has become a prolific scorer for his clubs, his country and his continent. As Cameroon’s captain, he scored in the World Cup qualification match against Morocco to win Cameroon a spot in the FIFA 2010 World Cup
11. Wayne Rooney (Earnings: $15 million / 11 million euros / 9 million pounds)
Major Sponsors: Nike, Coca-Cola, EA Sports, Nokia, Harper-Collins
Rooney’s recently suffered an ankle injury–something that frightens both Manchester United, where he’s stepped up in absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, and England’s national team. If he regains his form and England has a good showing at the World Cup, he’s considered one of the top contenders to capitalize on endorsement deals.
10. Steven Gerrard (Earnings: $15 million / 11 million euros / 9 million pounds)
Major Sponsors: Adidas, Persil, Lucozade, Pringles
Last summer the one-club man signed a new contract with the Reds that runs through 2013. But Jose Mourinho, coach of Italian club Inter Milan, who once courted Gerrard while he was at Chelsea, has stated Gerrard is his No. 1 acquisition target this summer.
09. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Earnings: $16 million / 12 million euros / 10 million pounds)
Major Sponsor: Nike
The Swedish striker commanded the third-highest transfer fee when Barcelona paid $94 million to Inter Milan in July 2009, signing Ibrahimovic to a five-year contract.
08. John Terry (Earnings: $16 million / 12 million euros / 10 million pounds)
Major Sponsors: Umbro, Samsung, Konami, Nationwide
After an embarrassing e-mail sent by one of the firms handling Terry’s publicity touting him as ideal candidate for commercial endorsements ahead of this year’s World Cup, word broke that Terry cheated on his wife with the girlfriend of a friend and ex-teammate. Equally embarrassing to the man voted Dad of the Year–he tried to sue a British rag to keep the story of his infidelity out of the press but had a judge rule against him, saying he was not about protecting sponsorships. He was subsequently stripped of his captaincy of the England national squad.
07. Frank Lampard (Earnings: $17 million / 13 million euros / 10 million pounds)
Major Sponsors: Adidas, Orange, Gatorade, EA Sports
Chelsea fans have said “As Lamps goes, so goes Chelsea.” He is one of the top scorers this season at Chelsea with 17 goals in 32 games–which includes a four-goal game against Aston Vila–and the Premier League’s highest ever goal-scoring midfielder with 124 goals.
06. Lionel Messi (Earnings: $20 million / 15 million euros / 12 million pounds)
Major Sponsors: Adidas, Pepsi, Konami
Messi swept the awards for the 2008-’09 season, winning FIFA World Player of the Year, European Footballer of the Year and UEFA Champions League Player of the Year among others. His scoring prowess this season–42 goals in 50 games–has both La Liga and national teams fearing him and puts him in contention to repeat a sweep of awards this year. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers counts himself a fan–he has an autographed picture of Leo in his locker.
05. Thierry Henry (Earnings: $24 million / 18 million euros / 14 million pounds)
Major Sponsors: Reebok, Gillette, Pepsi
Henry has been rumored for years to be on the verge of moving to the New York Red Bull of MLS. In reaction to a controversy following the France-Ireland 2010 World Cup qualifier in which Henry admitted to using his hands to assist in France’s winning goal to knock Ireland out of Cup consideration, Gillette faced a boycott but subsequently released a statement backing Henry.
04. Ronaldinho (Earnings: $25 million / 18 million euros / 15 million pounds)
Major Sponsors: Nike, Nutrilite, Konica, Pepsi
The aging Brazillian star, voted player of the decade by World Soccer magazine, was rumored to be moving to the English Premier League after it leaked AC Milan was going to offer him a contract extension with a pay cut. A more sure sign of whether the sun has set on his career is if he is included on his national team for the World Cup.
03. Ricardo Kaka (Earnings: $25 million / 18 million euros / 15 million pounds)
Major Sponsors: Adidas, Giorgio Armani, Bravia, Guarana
The wholesome Brazillian joined Ronaldo at Real Madrid in the second highest transfer fee on record (Real shelled out $91 million to acquire his rights from AC Milan.) While he has been suffering from a leg injury and missed some playing time, he’s expected to be a key factor in Brazil’s bid to win the World Cup.
02. Cristiano Ronaldo (Earnings: $30 million / 22 million euros / 18 million pounds)
Major Sponsors: Nike, Giorgio Armani, Coca-Cola, Castrol, EA Sports, Banco Espirito Santo
Ronaldo is becoming Beckham’s heir apparent both on and off the pitch. Having followed his footsteps first at Manchester United and then on to Real Madrid, he is now trying on Beck’s advertising pants, so to speak. Ronaldo recently signed on to become the new underwear and jeans model for Giorgio Armani. His handlers report turning down 90% of Ronaldo’s endorsement offers.
01. David Beckham (Earnings: $40 million / 29 million euros / 24 million pounds)
Major Sponsors: Adidas, Giorgio Armani, Motorola, Coty, Cabo Sao Roque Resort, Go3, Sharpie
Beckham’s playing future is uncertain, but his sponsorship potential continues. He was recently transformed into a Terminator-like character to promote the Motorola Aura, a $2,000 luxury smartphone. Additionally, after losing top billing with Giorgio Armani, he decided to launch his own underwear line.
source: Soccer’s Highest Earners [Forbes]
Popularity: unranked [?]
Billboard have come up with their list of the biggest money makers from 2009 by just including the music scene such as tours (where most artists make their money), CD and digital sales, publishing royalties… they did not include any endorsements or movie deals.
15. Miley Cyrus : $21,285,996
Miley Cyrus is No. 4 on the 2010 Money Makers list in terms of CD royalties with more than $4.3 million; her one new release during the year was the Walmart-exclusive EP “The Time of Our Lives.” Cyrus’ Wonder World tour earned her slightly more than $15 million, according to Boxscore. Not included in this tally, but still of note: Her feature-film debut, “Hannah Montana: The Movie,” grossed $79.5 million at the box office, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.
14. Elton John : $22,141,315
As half of the most successful co-headlining tour in history with Billy Joel, as well as being very active on his own, Elton John again struck box-office gold in 2009. Even without an album of new material, John still moved a quarter of a million physical units in the United States.
13. Beyonce : $23,658,131
The millions of YouTube views for the “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” video could mean only one thing: Beyoncé continued to reap rewards for her triple-threat artistry in 2009. The singer earned $2.3 million in CD royalties for her latest album, “I Am… Sasha Fierce,” a total rivaled only by Nickelback in the top 15 of the Money Makers list. The set was just as well-received from a critical perspective–it won six 2010 Grammy Awards, the most ever for a female artist.
12. Nickelback : $23,674,124
Nonstop touring and continued radio play were two of the factors that contributed to Nickelback’s 2009 success. The band sold 1.9 million albums, the majority of which came from its most recent release, 2008′s “Dark Horse,” which sold 1.4 million copies. And fans didn’t stop seeing Nickelback in concert, either. During the year, the group played 73 amphitheater and arena shows that earned it $18.3 million and drew more than 1 million people.
11. Fleetwood Mac : $24,751,540
The baby boomer idols land on the list for the first time thanks to the group’s $24 million take from its Unleashed tour, its first in five years. The trek grossed $71.2 million from 65 shows reported to Boxscore and landed at No. 14 on Billboard’s top tours list last year. Fleetwood Mac earned less than $700,000 in the United States from its album sales, with its 1988 “Greatest Hits” moving 135,000 copies — about half its U.S. album total for the period.
10. Metallica :$25,564,234
Metallica had at least two things to celebrate in 2009: its induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the release of “Guitar Hero: Metallica.” Along with touring revenue — the band pulled in $22.8 million from 55 arena shows reported to Boxscore that drew more than 968,000 fans — Metallica sold 694,000 albums in 2009. The majority of those sales came from its Rick Rubin-produced 2008 release, “Death Magnetic” (297,000). Album sales revenue totaled $1.6 million. And most of Metallica’s track download earnings came from its 1991 hit “Enter Sandman,” which sold 450,000.
09. Kenny Chesney : $26,581,141
As one of the elite touring artists in the world, Kenny Chesney has sold more than 1 million tickets for seven consecutive years. In country music, the big ticket sellers also sit atop radio and retail charts, and Chesney is no exception, with physical album sales in the United States running roughly the same as tickets sold. His digital track numbers are also among the highest on this list, and the country star rang up more than half a million ringtones in 2009.
08. Coldplay : $27,326,562
Coldplay didn’t let a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by guitarist Joe Satriani dampen its spirits last year. Despite the legal turmoil (the two parties settled in September and the allegations were dismissed), the band earned $24.7 million touring behind its 2008 album, “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends,” which sold 495,000 copies in 2009. Overall, the group sold 852,000 albums in 2009, bringing in $1 million in revenue.
07. Jonas Brothers : $33,596,576
The Jonas Brothers released their fourth studio album, “Lines, Vines and Trying Times” (Hollywood) June 15, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and setting up the boy band for another fruitful year of album sales and touring. The act racked up almost $1.3 million in CD royalties. The band’s world tour netted them $31.4 million and won the group the Eventful Fans’ Choice Award at the 2009 Billboard Touring Awards.
06. Pink : $36,347,658
Even before she lofted herself onto a trapeze at the MTV Video Music Awards, Pink was already having the best year of her career. She officially shook her underdog status in 2008 with the release of “Funhouse,” but 2009 vaulted her to new heights thanks in part to an international arena tour, which netted her $35 million. Moreover, Pink’s show-stopping 2010 Grammy Awards performance of “Glitter in the Air” — and the track’s subsequent 1,143% digital sales increase — means that her funhouse is still open for business.
05. Britney Spears : $38,885,267
It seemed unlikely that Britney Spears could ever recover professionally from a series of bizarre events that led up to her 2008 “Circus” CD. But the album bowed atop the Billboard 200 in December of that year, and the pop star’s success continued into 2009 with an arena tour that earned her $36.4 million and album sales that totaled 763,000 copies. Digitally, Spears sold 7.5 million downloads; the largest seller was the racy Max Martin-produced single, “3,” which moved 1.6 million downloads.
04. AC/DC : $43,650,466
Although the overwhelming majority of AC/DC’s 2009 earnings came from touring international arenas and stadiums (it pulled in $41.4 million from concerts and ranked No. 4 on Billboard’s 2009 tally of the top 25 highest-grossing tours), the Australian rockers also experienced consistent album sales from their catalog. Indeed, the group’s highest-selling album was its 2008 Walmart exclusive, “Black Ice,” which shifted 227,000 copies. But coming in at a close second was the classic “Back in Black,” with 215,000 copies. In total, the group sold 1.1 million albums in 2009.
03. Madonna : $47,237,774
Like U2, Madonna toured for the first time under a long-term multirights Live Nation deal (hers valued at $120 million), and also like U2 it’s a performance-based pact. Madonna delivered: Her Sticky & Sweet tour tacked on a “victory lap” run of international stadium dates that solidified the trek as the highest-grossing tour ever by a solo artist. Madonna’s CD sales were well off the pace of her peak hitmaking years, but still more than respectable at physical and digital. Because her songs come from a wide range of writers, the publishing pie is pretty well-sliced. But her branding, licensing and merch efforts are among the most diversified and lucrative in the music business.
02. Bruce Springsteen : $57,619,037
With a new studio album, a Walmart-exclusive hits compilation and a relentless touring schedule, Bruce Springsteen was at the top of his revenue-generating game in 2009. Springsteen’s profile has never been higher, with added-value exposure from the Super Bowl halftime show, Kennedy Center Honors and even a run-in with Ticketmaster all keeping the Boss in the public eye. Springsteen was also a force at retail and on the digital sales front, with more than 2 million tracks downloaded. And since he writes all his own songs, publishing revenue stays at Camp Bruce. Remarkably, Springsteen Inc. is peaking more than 35 years after his debut album.
01. U2 : $108,601,283
Midway through what is destined to be the highest-grossing tour in history, U2 remains the biggest band in the world. Its 360° tour is the group’s first under a 12-year multirights deal with Live Nation that includes worldwide touring, merchandising and the band’s lucrative U2.com Web site, a digital distribution gold mine for all things U2. The act’s current global stadium tour is the most expensive ever mounted — the daily nut is said to be $750,000 — but those costs are well offset by the highest capacities ever from the band’s 360-degree configuration. By even the most conservative estimates, U2 was far and away the top revenue generator in music last year.
I am very surprised that Beyonce isn’t in the top 5, you can see the full top 40 earners at the source.
source: Money Makers [Billboard]
Popularity: unranked [?]
After looking at my bank account, which is dying a slow death right now, this is not exactly what I wanted to read so I figured why not make everybody else suffer and let you all know that Julia Roberts received a whopping $3 million for 6 minutes of work in the movie Valentine’s Day.
You or somebody that you know has probably gone to see the movie Valentine’s Day, but was Julia Roberts the reason you went to see the movie? Because the executives in Hollywood and director, Gary Marshall , sure think she is worth the hefty price tag.
It is reported that New Line Cinema paid Julia her $3 million figure as well as 3 percent of the grossing that the movie makes, which has so far made over $97 million worldwide. If you break it down, her salary is $500,000 a minute or $8,333 per second she was on screen. If you want to know what she made per word she spoke it works out at about $11,952.
Other than the fact that nearly every single woman in the world loves her, another reason they felt she was worth her salary is because once she signed on the rest of the all star cast signed up which includes the likes of Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Ashton Kutcher, Taylor Lautner, Taylor Swift, Jamie Foxx, Patrick Dempsey and Eric Dane.
Apparently the rest of the cast got their usual quote pro-rated to how many days they worked, which most only worked 3 days. Jamie Foxx is said to be the only other one, aside from Roberts and Marshall, getting a cut of the box office grossing as well.
I know a bunch of women love Julia Roberts to death but she really isn’t worth that much money anymore in my opinion. If I was one of the other cast I would be pissed she got so much. It depresses me how much Hollywood stars can earn for a few minutes work.
source: For Valentine’s Day, Julia Roberts Was Paid $500,000 a Minute … All Six of Them [NY Mag]
Popularity: unranked [?]
Are you all ready for a bit of depression? Forbes have released their annual list of the Top-Earning Celebrity Couples and just like last year the top spot is owned by Beyonce and Jay-Z. But unlike last year the couple made $162 million, this year they earned $122 million. A sign of the recession?
01. Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles : $122 million
Between Jay-Z’s musical empire, Beyonce’s chart-topping hit “Single Ladies” and several clothing lines and ad deals, this couple knows how to use their fame to make money. Jay-Z has a hit with “Empire State of Mind,” which he performed with Alicia Keys at the World Series. His next tour launches in February. Last year Beyonce sang at Obama’s inaugural ball and her film, Obsessed, earned $74 million at the worldwide box office.
02. Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart : $69 million
For the past few years Ford has stayed out of the spotlight, but he returned in a big way in 2008 with Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. Ford earned $65 million for his work in the role. His girlfriend, Calista Flockhart, is no lazy daisy. She stars on the ABC show Brothers & Sisters.
03. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie : $55 million
Pitt and Jolie have always gotten plenty of attention, but now they’re making plenty of money too. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was one of Pitt’s highest grossing films, earning $334 million at the worldwide box office. Jolie is profiting by embracing her inner action hero. Wanted earned $341 million at the worldwide box office. Later this year she’ll appear in Salt as a disgraced CIA agent.
04. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith : $48 million
Smith is without a doubt the biggest movie star in the world. His films have earned a total $5.7 billion at the worldwide box office and studio heads say he earns every penny of his $20 million paycheck. Most of the couple’s earnings come from Smith, but Pinkett Smith has a growing career of her own. She’s been writing and producing films as well as voicing Gloria the hippo in the Madagascar films.
05. David and Victoria Beckham : $46 million
Beckham is still a worldwide soccer sensation at the ripe old age of 34. Part of the year he’s a star in Los Angeles with the Galaxy. The rest of the year he plays for A.C. Milan, which should help him land a spot on the England team to appear in a record-tying fourth World Cup this summer. Beckham’s wife, Victoria (better known as Posh Spice), is scheduled to appear as a guest judge on this year’s American Idol.
06. Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi : $36 million
DeGeneres has become an entertainment mogul. She has a successful talk show, shills for American Express and owns part of a dog food company. Next she’ll take over for Paula Abdul as a judge on American Idol. Her significant other, de Rossi, stars in the ABC show Better Off Ted, which has garnered a cult following but seems poised for cancellation.
07. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson : $35.5 million
As one of the few actors in Hollywood who can still command a $20 million paycheck, Hanks is the main breadwinner in his house. He had another hit this year with Angels & Demons. The film earned $486 million at the worldwide box office. This summer he’ll once again voice Woody in Toy Story 3. Wilson has a much more low-key career, but she still pops up in best friend roles. She recently appeared with Meryl Streep in It’s Complicated.
08. Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy : $34 million
Carrey and McCarthy have been a couple for the last four years and in that time McCarthy’s profile has risen considerably. She’s gone from a Playboy model to an outspoken (and controversial) vaccine opponent. Carrey contributes the majority of money to the pair, but McCarthy will soon have her own television show under Oprah’s Harpo banner.
09. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes : $33.5 million
Cruise and Holmes are a source of endless fascination for tabloids and they’re also very rich. Cruise is the family breadwinner, earning $33 million between June 2008 and June 2009. Holmes still acts a little. In 2008 she starred in Mad Money alongside Diane Keaton. Up next for Cruise: Knight & Day with Cameron Diaz.
10. Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow : $33 million
As the front man for the group Coldplay, Martin outearns Paltrow. The group’s latest album, Viva la Vida, sold 2.6 million copies in the U.S. and 3 million in Europe. Paltrow will be the high-profile spouse in 2010 though when she reprises her role as Tony Stark’s assistant, Pepper Potts, in Iron Man 2.
Lists like this make me really depressed, especially after I look at my bank account.
source: Hollywood’s Top-Earning Couples [Forbes]
Popularity: unranked [?]
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The annual list of the highest earning models has been released and not a whole lot has changed since the past one, Gisele Bundchen remains on top and Heidi Klum is second. As you can guess though there isn’t a single fat or black or fat black model to be seen. Take a look for who earns what.
01. Gisele Bundchen
Top of the list is Gisele Bundchen, pulling in an incredible $35 million last year, bringing her estimated fortune to about $150 million. Standing, sitting and walking about are the skills which bring her the most cash, largely through being the ‘face’ of a host of brands over the years from Ralph Lauren to Victoria’s Secret. However, she also has a line in sandals, which is the most-sold Brazilian flip flop in the world. Gisele has also tried her hand at acting, with a small role as a catty co-worker in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’.
02. Heidi Klum
Next in line is Heidi Klum, an impressive businesswoman and mother of four who certainly worked hard enough for her $14 million last year. ‘The Body’ is well-paid for her clothes-horse work, but has also made her mark presenting (and executive producing) Project Runway and Germany’s Next Top Model. She has also designed a series of clothing lines, ranging from men’s clothes to shoes, jewelry and swimsuits. She has two brands of perfume, and still has time to paint and write. Oh and did I mention her acting..
03. Kate Moss
Kate Moss, Croydon’s favorite Supermodel is next on the list, making $7.5 million. She is more famous for her rocky not-so-private life, but she also finds time to be the face of loads of brands including Rimmel London. She has been a huge hit designing and modeling a range for Topshop. Her forays into the music world have been more of a mixed bag, with DJing, singing and appearances in music videos greeted with varying amounts of praise.
04. Adriana Lima
Adriana Lima, is next, earning $7 million. She is best known for her work as a Victoria’s Secret Angel which has kept the cash coming in for nine years now. She also received great reviews for playing herself in ‘Ugly Betty’, which is apparently harder than it looks, and is a regular fixture in lists of the world’s sexiest women.
05. Doutzen Kroes
Doutzen Kroes takes fifth place, earning $6 million, again most famously as a Victoria’s Secret Angel… anyone spot a theme? She has been the face of a number of brands including Gucci, and the Calvin Klein Eternity fragrance.
06. Karolina Kurkova
Karolina Kurkova is next on the list, earning $5 million. The former… you guessed it… Victoria’s Secret model is still in great demand and has graced more than 20 Vogue covers. Recent moves however have seen her stray into acting, including a role in GI Joe: The Rise of the Cobra this year.
07. Natalia Vodianova
Natalia Vodianova is in seventh place, making $4.8 million. In addition to her busy modeling assignments, she designs and models lingerie and has appeared in numerous films. Her finest hour however must have been co-hosting the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.
08. Carolyn Murphy
Carolyn Murphy, is eighth, earning $4.5 million. She was named model of the millennium by Vogue and has spent eight years promoting Estee Lauder, among other things. She is still probably better known for a tape of her and her ex-husband leaked onto the internet in 2006.
09. Daria Werbowy
Daria Werbowy, made $3.8 million in her 12th year of modeling (at the ripe old age of 26) primarily as a top ranking runway model.
10. Miranda Kerr
Finally there’s Miranda Kerr, at $3.5 million. Another, shock horror, Victoria’s Secret model, and girlfriend of Orlando Bloom. She is also launching her own line of organic skincare.
Given all the press she gets, I expected Miranda Kerr to earn a bit more money. I also expected to see Bar Rafaeli and Natasha Poly on this list. I’m not complaining about this list though, all these women deserve the money they earn because of how much joy their photoshoots have brought me.
source: Highest-earning models of 2009 [Wallet pop]
Popularity: unranked [?]
We all know that Hollywood actresses don’t make as much money as their male co-stars do, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t make a lot of money themselves. The Hollywood Reporter has come up with a list of how much each of the top actresses are earning right now.
Angelina Jolie, 34
The reigning boxoffice queen, Jolie earned a mid-$40 million payday, all in, from “Wanted, and her name on the marquee meant that “Changeling” more than doubled its domestic gross overseas. As a result, she’s the one actress still commanding top dollar — as much as $20 million plus a percentage — for her next two high-octane projects: the dramatic thrillers “Salt” and “The Tourist.”
Julia Roberts, 42
For the twisty romantic spy tale “Duplicity,” Roberts commanded more than $15 million — but the movie came up short, grossing $40 million domestically. To enable her passion project, “Eat, Pray, Love,” she’s taking a far lower salary, well below $10 million.
Katherine Heigl, 31
On the small screen, Heigl narrowly survived brain surgery on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” but on the big screen her career is healthier than ever. Even before “The Ugly Truth” was released in July, the actress was able to command $12 million each for the action romance “Five Killers” and the more domesticated romance “Life as We Know It.”
Cameron Diaz, 37
While her ongoing participation as the voice of Princess Fiona in the “Shrek” movies guarantees her a nice annuity, Diaz’s regular fee settled around the $10 million mark for 2008′s comedy “What Happens in Vegas” and 2010′s “Knight & Day.”
Reese Witherspoon, 33
Witherspoon re-established her comedy cred with last year’s “Four Christmases,” for which she unwrapped around $15 million. For her next picture, James L. Brooks’ untitled sports tale, she’s playing in a similar ballpark.
Jennifer Aniston, 40
For sharing screen time with an unruly yellow lab in the holiday hit “Marley & Me,” Aniston picked up a $7 million-$8 million fee.
Kate Hudson, 30
Squaring off against Anne Hathaway in “Bride Wars,” Hudson earned around $7 million. Joining the ensemble “Nine” and the upcoming indie drama “The Killer Inside Me” meant taking cuts.
Meryl Streep, 60
Dollar for dollar, Streep may just be the most reliable investment around. With an asking price in the $7 million-$8 million range, she agreed to about $5 million for “Julie & Julia,” sweetened by a first-dollar gross position. Next up, she’s the center of a romantic tug-of-war in Nancy Meyers’ “It’s Complicated.”
Sandra Bullock, 45
Bullock’s current status is all over the map: She enjoyed the biggest hit of her career when the summer’s “The Proposal” did almost $300 million worldwide. But then, less than three months later, “All About Steve” stiffed at just $33.6 million. However, she returned to the hot list again with “The Blind Side.”
Amy Adams, 35
Adams’ career has been steadily building from supporting indie player in “Junebug” to Disney’s “Enchanted” to “Doubt” and co-starring status in “Julie & Julia.” Playing the rom-com heroine in the Ireland-set “Leap Year,” she scored $5 million.
Rachel McAdams, 31
Toplining “The Time Traveler’s Wife,” McAdams stepped up to $4 million. If “Sherlock Holmes” is a hit, the glory will go to Robert Downey Jr., but she should find herself secure in the $5 million range.
As usual I feel depressed reading stuff like that, but I’m more so annoyed that Meryl Streep makes less money than Katherine Heigl. Who do you think is worth the money they ask for?
source: Actress Salary Report [The Hollywood Reporter]
Popularity: unranked [?]
Forbes have release their prime time top earning women list from June 1, 2008 to June 1, 2009. When coming up with the list they take into account earnings from television work, producing, movie work and any endorsements.
10. Ellen Pompeo (tie) – $6 million
Now in its sixth season, viewers still tune in to see the latest as Pompeo’s Meredith Grey simultaneously pushes away and pines after her husband, Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd, on ABC’s medical hit. Off camera, the Massachusetts native gave birth to her first child with her producer husband Chris Ivery.
10. Jennifer Love Hewitt – $6 million
Hewitt’s CBS star vehicle rolled out its fifth season last month. As she’s done in seasons past, she serves as a producer and lead actor on the female-friendly series. The former Party of Five star also shills pimple cream and other products for skincare company Proactiv.
9. Marcia Cross – $6.2 million
Cross’ comedic turn as the all-too-perfect Bree Van De Kamp on ABC’s hit series has earned her critical accolades, countless fans and a $225,000 per episode paycheck. Off set, she took on a role as a Motts spokeswoman.
8. Tina Fey – $7 million
Despite just 7 million weekly viewers–up 10% from last season–Fey’s comedy consistently garners critical and award-show praise. Still more impressive, she serves as creator, writer and star. She grabbed gobs of attention last fall for her impersonations of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live. In addition to striking a lucrative book deal during the 12-month period, she also filmed Date Night, a romantic comedy opposite fellow NBC star Steve Carell.
6. Maura Tierney – $8 million (tie)
As nurse turned doctor Abby Lockhart, Tierney spent a decade stitching up bodies at County General Hospital on NBC’s long-running medical drama ER. After a lengthy and lucrative run, the series and its fictional hospital finally closed its doors this past spring. The Emmy-nominated actress had grand plans to take on a new NBC drama, the upcoming Parenthood, before bowing out for health reasons.
6. Julia Louis-Dreyfus – $8 million (tie)
While its hardly Seinfeld money, Dreyfus makes a more than a healthy living as the star of CBS’ Wednesday night comedy. She’s also seen money from Seinfeld residuals and a Seinfeld-themed guest arc on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. Lest it stop there, the famously goofy star also serves as spokeswoman for Conagra’s Healthy Choice.
5. Mariska Hargitay – $8.5 million
After 10 seasons on the NBC program, the Emmy-winning actress and co-star Chris Meloni found themselves in the middle of a protracted contract dispute this past spring. Off-camera, Hargitay also struggled with a collapsed lung.
4. Eva Longoria Parker – $9 million
The Desperate Housewives vixen may have shed her model body and sexpot image in the show’s leap forward, but she still commands a pretty paycheck. In addition to her $225,000 per episode payday last season, she rakes in additional dough with endorsements like L’Oreal Paris.
3. Marg Helgenberger – $9.5 million
The Emmy-winning actress recently launched her 10th season as showgirl turned blood-spatter analyst Catherine Willows on the lucrative CBS procedural. In an era where few shows deliver massive ratings much less massive profit, her series stands out.
Kathernie Heigl – $18 million
As cancer patient Izzie Stevens on the ABC drama Grey’s Anatomy, Heigl garnered tears and fans alike last season. Whether her character will ultimately survive the illness–and thus remain on the show–remains one of prime-time’s biggest guessing games. Over on the big-screen, the 30-year-old star appeared opposite Gerard Butler in another romantic comedy, The Ugly Truth. Proving her range, she’ll follow that with a starring role opposite Ashton Kutcher in the Lionsgate action comedy Five Killers.
Tyra Banks – $30 million
When it comes to supermodels turned super-personalities, Banks has her competition beat. Among the former cat-walker’s projects: her own production company, along with a slew of TV shows, including model competition series America’s Next Top Model, beauty competition show True Beauty and daytime chat-fest The Tyra Banks Show.
source: Prime-Time’s Top-Earning Women [Forbes]
Popularity: unranked [?]
We all know that the likes of Angelina Jolie and Cameron Diaz earn the most money in Hollywood, but they aren’t always the names that bring in the big money for studios.
Forbes have put together a list of 10 women in Hollywood who make the studios a big return for every dollar that they are paid. When coming up with this list they counted actresses who have been in at least three movies in the past five years, they didn’t include animated movies because who goes to see a cartoon based on who is voicing it?
10. Hilary Swank
In addition to earning two Oscars, Swank has proven herself to be a good investment with movies like P.S. I Love You. The romance (which cost an estimated $30 million) earned $157 million at the worldwide box office. Swank is expected to earn yet another Oscar nomination for her upcoming film Amelia, in which she plays the iconic aviator Amelia Earhart. For every $1 Swank was paid, her films earned an average of $23.
9. Anne Hathaway
The 26-year-old actress is one of the youngest on our list. Hathaway earned a Best Actress nomination for her work in Rachel Getting Married last year but because the movie only ever opened on 390 screens, we didn’t include it in our survey. Instead she makes the list for movies like Get Smart, which earned $230 million at the worldwide box office. For every $1 Hathaway was paid, her movies earned an average of $23.
8. Cate Blanchett
Like many of the women on our list, Blanchett likes to mix big budget fare with smaller art house movies. She appeared in all three Lord of the Rings movies but earned an Oscar nomination for her performance as one of the Bob Dylan characters in I’m Not There. She lands on our list mostly due to her work in last year’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. For every $1 Blanchett was paid, her movies earned an average of $23.
7. Hallie Barry
Berry has been mostly out of the spotlight lately, but her work as Storm in three X-Men movies helps land her on our list of actresses with the best return on investment. Her most recent movie, Things We Lost in the Fire, was a flop, earning only $8.5 million at the box office, but that didn’t stop her from making our Top 10 list. For every $1 Berry was paid, her movies earned an average of $23.
6. Jennifer Aniston
The most successful of the former Friends stars, Aniston is a regular on the red carpet and in the tabloids, where her romances are endlessly speculated about. Recently she’s had some pretty successful movies too. He’s Just Not That Into You and Marley & Me helped improve her ROI, which had been slipping due to duds like Rumor Has It. For every $1 Aniston was paid, her movies earned an average of $26.
5. Meryl Streep
Streep earns a bigger paycheck than most women on our list, but thanks to the massive box office of last summer’s Mamma Mia ($610 million), she also offers a good return on investment. Her latest film, Julie & Julia, came out too late to make our list but the movie’s $96 million in earnings (so far) should help her remain one of Hollywood’s most desirable actresses. For every $1 Streep was paid, her movies earned an average of $27.
4. Natalie Portman
Thanks to her work in the new Star Wars movies, Portman has appeared in some of the highest-earning films of all time. But she ranks on our list because of movies like The Other Boleyn Girl, which earned $78 million at the worldwide box office. Like many of the actresses on our list, Portman appears in her fair share of art films, like 2007′s little-seen Paris J’Taime. For every $1 Portman was paid, her films earned an average of $28.
3. Rachel McAdams
Thanks to films like The Notebook and this year’s The Time Traveler’s Wife, McAdams is quickly becoming the go-to actress for romantic movies. Despite her rising profile, McAdams still commands a relatively modest paycheck. This winter she’ll star opposite Robert Downey Jr. in an update of Sherlock Holmes. For every $1 McAdams was paid, her movies earned an average of $30.
2. Jennifer Connelly
February’s He’s Just Not That Into You helped several actresses, including Connelly, with their ROI numbers because each star took a pay cut to appear in the ensemble comedy, which earned $177 million at the worldwide box office. Connelly’s work in The Day The Earth Stood Still and Blood Diamond helped her take second place. For every $1 Connelly was paid, her films earned an average of $41.
1. Naomi Watts
The 41-year-old Australian actress first made her mark with 2002′s The Ring. The low-budget horror film earned $250 million at the worldwide box office and put Watts in demand. For the most part the actress has kept a low profile, appearing mostly in artsy fare like last year’s Funny Games. But thanks to 2005′s King Kong, her average return on investment is the best in Hollywood. For every $1 Watts was paid, her films earned an average of $44.
source: Best Actresses For The Buck [Forbes]
Popularity: unranked [?]
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 [?]
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