The movies stars of Hollywood and Bollywood can not only earn a fortune by appearing in films and TV series, but they can also use their fame to boost their income in other ways. Brand deals, endorsements, directing and producing are just some of the means actors use to increase their net worth. Read on to discover the richest actors and actresses in the industry today – some entries on the list may surprise you. All dollar values in US dollars.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is best known for her role in the TV comedy Seinfeld throughout the 80s and 90s. It’s reported the star earned a whopping $500,000 per episode. Following Seinfeld, Dreyfus, 61, appeared in various cult TV comedies such as Arrested Development and Veep. In 2020 it was announced she had signed a big deal with Apple TV to produce and star in various shows. Her estimated net worth is $250 million.

Julia Roberts gained A-List status with her role in the 1990 film Pretty Woman. Since then, the actress has appeared in many smash hits including My Best Friend’s Wedding, Eat, Pray, Love, and Notting Hill.  Her role as the lead character in Erin Brockovich also earned her the Best Actress Academy Award in 2001. Roberts, 54, has a reported net worth of $250 million, acquired from both acting roles and high-profile brand endorsements for the likes of Lancome. 

Leonardo DiCaprio’s career began as a child in TV commercials but he is now a household heartthrob with movies including Titanic, The Wolf of Wolf Street and The Great Gatsby under his belt. DiCaprio, 47, won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Revenant in 2016 and his net worth is estimated to be between $245-$260 million. This is through mammoth movie paychecks but also lucrative endorsement deals with brands such as Tag Heuer, Jim Beam and Beyond Meat.

Denzel Washington is best known for roles in hits such as Malcolm X, Philadelphia and The Siege. Washington has been nominated for several Academy Awards and eventually won Best Actor in 2002 for his performance in Training Day. The 67-year-old is also a successful director and producer and his career in showbiz has earned him an estimated net worth of $190-$280 million.

Harrison Ford rose to fame in the 70s as Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise. His box office success grew with the Indiana Jones series and he went on to star in Blade Runner and The Fugitive. Forbes reported that the 79-year-old earned a $15 million paycheck for his role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015. Ford's mega-blockbusters have earned him an estimated net worth of $230-$300 million.

Brad Pitt is one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars with leading roles in Se7en, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Fight Club and Mr and Mrs. Smith. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and 12 Years a Slave, which Pitt produced and appeared in, also won Best Picture in 2014. His onscreen success had translated nicely into financial gain – the 58-year-old's reported net worth is $240-$300 million.

Robert Downey Jr. got off to a rocky start in Hollywood. Following moderate success in the 80s starring in SNL and movies such a Weird Science, he became addicted to drugs. Following a stint in prison, his acting career was in a slump. Downey Jr.'s luck changed though when he was offered Iron Man in 2007 – he's since raked in a fortune from the iconic role. Forbes reported he earned $75 million for his appearance in Avengers: End Game. Since leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe he has starred in Doctor Doolittle and Sherlock Holmes. Most of his $300 million net worth is from film roles, though he also earns millions as a brand ambassador for the Chinese phone company OnePlus.

Jennifer Aniston made her name playing Rachel Green in the 90s TV comedy Friends. By the end of the series, she reportedly earned $1.25 million per episode. It’s said she still rakes in $20 million per year in syndication sales. Aniston, 53, went on to build a successful movie career starring in films such as Marley and Me and Horrible Bosses. She has also made serious cash by endorsing global brands such as Diet Coke, L’Oréal and Elizabeth Arden. She owns her own film production company, Echo Films, and her total estimated net worth is $300 million.

Jessica Alba has starred in films such as Fantastic Four and Sin City and by 2016 Forbes reported she had a net worth of $340 million. Despite a strong acting career, most of her income comes from her success as an entrepreneur. Alba, 40, founded The Honest Company in 2008, which sells eco-friendly products and household goods for mothers and babies. The company listed on the stock market in 2021 and shares were sold for $16 apiece. The Honest Company is currently valued at $860 million.

Michael Douglas is famed for movies such as Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct and Romancing the Stone. Throughout his career, Douglas has won two Academy Awards, five Golden Globes, a Primetime Emmy Award and the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award. It's reported he gets paid anything between $5 million and $20 million for his cinematic performances. Douglas, 77, also boosts his earnings by directing and producing films like Flatliners. His total estimated net worth is $300 to $350 million.

Will Smith launched his career in the 80s as a rapper and even won the first-ever Grammy for the newly formed rap music category in 1988. Smith then transitioned into TV, starring in the hit series The Fresh Prince of Bel Air between 1990 and 1996. When Fresh Prince ended, he began a lucrative movie career, starring in Bad Boys, I am Legend and The Pursuit of Happiness. Forbes reported that in 2020 Smith, 53, earned $44.5 million from various projects including Instagram and YouTube and a deal with Netflix to star in Bright 2 for a reported $35 million. His total estimated net worth is $350 million.

Keanu Reeves is best known for The Matrix and John Wick franchises and other hit films such as Speed, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Constantine. But his most lucrative role by far was as Neo in The Matrix films. According to Business Insider, the actor, 57, made $250 million from his part in the first three films. His current net worth is estimated at $360 million but this could soar even more thanks to the back-end profit deals.

Clint Eastwood's career took off in 1959 when he starred in the TV series Rawhide. He went on to star in numerous Westerns and notable film roles including Dirty Harry and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. These performances earned him the status of Hollywood icon. Eastwood, 91, has also found success behind the camera and won the Best Director Oscar for his films Million Dollar Baby and Unforgiven. With a successful career that spans nearly seven decades, it is not surprising the star has an estimated net worth of $375 million.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's net worth has been estimated at between $300-$400 million. The Austrian-American former bodybuilder has been a model, actor, businessman and politician. His most famous role was in The Terminator franchise and, according to Business Insider, he was paid $29 million for his role in the third instalment of the series. A savvy businessman, much of his net worth is also derived from real estate investments. It’s reported his property portfolio is valued at £100 million.

The former wrestler has starred in numerous hits such as The Scorpion King, Jumanji, The Fast and the Furious franchise and, most recently, Disney’s Jungle Cruise. According to Forbes, the star, 49, raked in $87.5 million in 2020. Forbes also reported that Johnson can command a $20 million paycheck per movie. His total net worth is estimated to be around $320-$400 million 

Actor, writer, director, and producer Tom Hanks rose to fame in 1988 following his performance in Big. Other notable movie roles include Saving Private Ryan, You’ve Got Mail and Toy Story. In 1994 Hanks, 65, became only the second actor in history to win the Best Actor Oscar two years running. He first snagged the prestigious award for his role in Philadelphia in 1993 and then won again the following year for Forrest Gump, arguably his most famous role. One of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors, his estimated net worth is $350-$400 million.

Hong Kong-born Jackie Chan is famous for movies such as Rush Hour and The Karate Kid and for his ability to perform his own dramatic stunts. His films have grossed an impressive $2.6 billion worldwide at the box office. Forbes reported that, in 2020, Chan, 68, made an impressive $40 million from brand deals, producer credits and his chain of movie theaters. With a career spanning six decades, his estimated net worth is $395-$400 million.

Jack Nicholson is one of the most successful actors of all time, starring in more than 60 films and being nominated for 12 Academy Awards. Nicholson has won the Best Actor Oscar twice for his performances in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and As Good as It Gets. He also won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Terms of Endearment and is tied with Walter Brennan for most performance wins by a male actor. His most lucrative role was the Joker in the 1989 film Batman. Nicholson was paid $6 million upfront but he also earned profits from box office sales and toy merchandising. His total earnings for the role are estimated to be about $50 million. Nicholson, 85, reportedly has a $100 million real estate portfolio and a $150 million art collection too. His estimated net worth is $400 million.  

Sylvester Stallone starred in the 1976 film Rocky after writing the screenplay in just three days. The film was a huge hit and won Best Picture, Best Director and Best Film Editing at the Academy Awards. He went on to write, direct, produce and act in many other successful films, most notably the Rambo franchise. In 2018 Stallone, 75, formed the film production company Balboa Productions with his friend Braden Aftergood, which has produced hits such as Rambo V and Creed II. He also owns the boxing promotion company Tiger Eye Productions. His Hollywood success and other ventures have earned him an estimated net worth of $400 million.

Reese Witherspoon achieved A-List status thanks to her iconic role as law student Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. The actress has also starred in other hits such as Wild, Sweet Home Alabama and Walk the Line. Forbes once named her the richest actress ever with a net worth of $400 million. And thanks to some savvy business deals it's predicted Witherspoon, 45, could soon be a billionaire. Reports suggest the actress sold a stake in her production company Hello Sunshine for a staggering $900 million. The company has produced TV shows such as Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere.

Comedian Adam Sandler got his start on SNL as a writer and cast member. Following his stint on the popular TV sketch show, he forged a successful Hollywood career in the 90s with hits such as Happy Gilmour, Billy Madison and The Wedding Singer. In 1999 he formed his own production company Happy Madison Productions and, to date, Sandler, 55, has appeared in more than 50 movies. It's reported that he earns an average paycheck of $20 million per film. His net worth is estimated at $420 million.

Mel Gibson had been a successful actor, director and producer since the 80s. He earned his first million starring in the Mad Max film franchise and went on to form Icon Productions, responsible for his huge smash hit Braveheart. The film earned him two Academy Awards: Best Director and Best Picture. His next big win was The Passion of the Christ, which he both produced and directed. The film made $612 million at the box office. Gibson invested a lot of his own money into the project and therefore received 50% of the film's profit. It's estimated that Gibson, 66, has a net worth of $425 million.

George Clooney started out in the TV medical drama ER in the 90s. From there, he went on to star in some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters such as the Oceans 11 franchise and Gravity. Despite his success on screen, much of his net worth is derived from other business ventures. Clooney, 60, founded Tequila brand Casamigos with two friends in 2013. The company was sold for $1 billion in 2017 and it's estimated he pocketed around $237 million from the sale. Clooney’s A-List status means he also rakes in cash from numerous brand deals and endorsements. He has earned millions from his partnership with coffee brand Nespresso and his total net worth is estimated to be $500 million.

Tom Cruise has been one of Hollywood's top stars since the 80s with hits including Top Gun, Cocktail and Rain Man. In 1996, Cruise produced and starred in the action blockbuster Mission Impossible. The film grossed $457 million at the box office and has gone on to become a major money-spinning franchise for him. The seventh instalment is set to be released in 2022 and the stunt-loving actor, 59, is now said to be worth $550-$600 million.

 

Known as The King of Bollywood, Shahrukh Khan has an estimated net worth of $600-$700 million. The star has appeared in over 80 films and earns upfront fees as well as box office cuts for his leading roles. Khan, 56, has also grown his massive net worth by endorsing many brands in his home country of India and owning the film production company Red Chillies Entertainment. Khan is also the co-owner of the Indian Premier League cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders and Caribbean Premier League team Trinbago Knight Riders.  

Reports estimate Jerry Seinfeld's enormous net worth to be around $920-$950 million. He's best known for starring and creating the hit sitcom Seinfeld and owns 15% of the show's backend equity, which means he continues to make millions every year from syndication profits. In 2019 Netflix paid $500 million to obtain the streaming rights to Seinfeld for five years. He also was paid $20 million by Netflix for his stand-up comedy special 23 Hours to Kill. According to Forbes, Seinfeld raked in $51 million alone in 2020 from touring, Seinfeld royalties, acting and comedy.

Actor, writer and producer Tyler Perry is now a billionaire, according to Forbes. Following a career in theater, Perry released his first feature film Diary of a Mad Black Woman in 2005. The film was a roaring success and kickstarted the Madea franchise in which Perry stars as the lead character. In total, the 11 films have grossed over $660 million. Perry also owns a stake in the streaming service Bet+, which has earned him an estimated $60 million. Perry, 52, owns film studio Tyler Perry Studios, said to be worth $280 million, and where the Marvel blockbuster Black Panther was made. The billionaire also owns an impressive real estate portfolio and his name may ring a bell as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stayed in his lavish $18 million Beverly Hills mansion when they first relocated to the US.  

Jami Gertz rose to fame in the 80s after starring in cult classics The Lost Boys and Crossroads. Throughout the 90s, she also appeared in numerous shows including ER, Seinfeld and Ally McBeal. Despite her success as an actress, a large portion of her gargantuan net worth is from her marriage to Tony Ressler, co-founder of investment company Ares Management. The couple shares many investments and business ventures, including part-ownership of the NBA team Atlanta Hawkes and a minority stake in the Major League Baseball team the Milwaukee Brewers. The couples’ shared net worth is estimated to be around $3 billion. Despite her business success, Gertz, 56, continues to act and has appeared in this year's film I Want You Back.

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