Highest Paid Actors & Actresses 2010: Forbes Compiles List

Turns out that being a movie star is a pretty profitable enterprise.

Forbes has released its list of top paid actors and actresses in between May 2010 and May 2011, with the biggest names in Hollywood populating the top of the money list.

Top amongst all thespians in the last year was Leonardo DiCaprio; the man who played a dirt poor kid in "Titanic" saw his films "Inception" and "Shutter Island" take in a cool $1.2 billion; with contracts that guaranteed him part of the backends, DiCaprio made a whopping $72 million in the last year.

In second was Johnny Depp, with $50 million; the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star was tops the year before, with $75 million. Next came Adam Sandler, with $40 million; his company, "Happy Madison," produced his wildly popular film, "Grown Ups."

In the actress category, Angelina Jolie and Sarah Jessica Parker topped the cash list with $30 million each; Jennifer Aniston was a close third with $28 million.

To see the rest of the actors list, click here; for actresses, click here.

Comments

[rwilli1972]

07:25 PM on 08/05/2011

Very profitable business to be in WOW. http://www.perspectivestv.com

[blurredmolly]

09:14 AM on 08/04/2011

Is that the Paramount in Denver?

[Kid Notorious]

11:58 PM on 08/04/2011

Seattle... Curious as to why HuffPo chose a stock image of an actual theater instead of, I dunno, a cineplex?

[jwb2013]

04:59 PM on 08/03/2011

i agree they make too much $$$$$$$$$, but for all those who bemoan these riches to entertainers...remember, it is the public that pays to see them...hence, all the $$$$$$$ they make.

[demilieu]

02:45 PM on 08/03/2011

Adam Sandler. 40 million.

[Mikeeee]

11:22 PM on 09/13/2011

That's just weird isn't it? No justification for it.

[craftycrow]

12:28 PM on 08/03/2011

These Hollywood liberals sure do appreciate capitalism, don't they?

[jwb2013]

04:53 PM on 08/03/2011

normally, one is liberal when one is an artist. kinda comes with the territory. but, go ahead...be a good conservative, show your disdain and make a political statement out of art.

[craftycrow]

09:40 AM on 08/04/2011

One is not automatically liberal because they're an artist. Also, I didn't say I was a conservative. I'm independent. I just can't stand people who bemoan capitalism and greed when they put half of their millions up their noses and the other half goes to huge houses and fancy cars.

[DMohr]

09:00 PM on 08/03/2011

Those Washington D.C. Congressional neocons & Tea Partiers sure do enjoy their amazing government-run healthcare benefits, don't they?

[craftycrow]

09:40 AM on 08/04/2011

I think that's ridiculous, too. I'm an independent for a reason; both parties are screwed up beyond repair.

[redsongia]

11:25 AM on 08/05/2011

Indeed.

[TomM12]

07:49 AM on 08/03/2011

Wow that is a bit too much for some of the stars on this list. But Hollywood no longer rates the stars by virtue of acting as opposed to their box office appeal.
If they keep paying them this much they will end up on this list of the top ten richest in the world.

http://tips21.com/top-ten-richest-men-in-the-world.html

[huff puff naldo]

08:42 AM on 08/03/2011

wow so bill gates not number one no more??

[Cristian Biberon]

08:50 AM on 08/03/2011

only by like 0.5 billion i think.

[american-dolt]

09:45 AM on 08/03/2011

Um, he is not an Actor.

[Ramon huff rider]

09:09 AM on 08/03/2011

i agree some of these stars (if you can call them that) have no real talent

[Said One]

03:55 AM on 08/03/2011

Firstly I don't mind people earning a lot its just that we should have payment versus what these people bring in. Bring in millions get paid a nice amount, but some on this list get paid a lot but don't necessarily deliver the goods in terms of bringing in large amounts. We should rather look at bankability along with payment for an accurate reflection

[cox2112]

04:10 AM on 08/03/2011

Again, a liberal myth, business tends to root out those that don't produce rather quickly. Otherwise, the business would not last very long. This of course is completely contrary to Hollywood, Washington and education, three places where there is no accountability or oversight. And no, the corporate world is not perfect, but it works a hell of a lot better than socialism. And I don't want to hear about how "well" socialism works in countries like Norway and Sweden, they would not exist if it was not for America protecting them. And of course there are the handouts the U.S. gives to other countries, hundreds of billions a year. Our capitalism works, so they are allowed to conduct their little social experiments, of course if we pulled our protection or our subsidies, made possible by our capitalism, these socialist countries would fall overnight.

[Jason N]

02:39 PM on 08/03/2011

Name one subsidy we give to Norway. Just one...

And then also list the bases in Norway we have where we "protect them" "so they can condut their little social experiements".

Thanks in advance, I'm sure you have this info readily available. Lol.

[sameh81]

07:42 AM on 08/04/2011

Medicare, public education, welfare, food stamps, financial aid for college students, social security and public transportation are some of the socialist programs that the US have had for years.........
These programs are what's keeping the public from revolting against the pure capitalist system, that we're paying for dearly now!!!

[cox2112]

03:47 AM on 08/03/2011

And on the subject of taxes, since you brought it up. Once again, and I will say this slow for those of you who went to public schools taught by tenured NEA supporters, if someone makes a million a year, and all of that income is passive (that is investments for you liberals), they only pay 15% in income taxes, but again this is passive income which means they invested money that was already taxed at the full tax rate when they earned it. Yes, that would be double taxation, around 30% when they earned it, and then 15% when they invested it and made a few dollars on it. So, a total of 45%, for those of you who went to Berkely. And the last time I checked, 45% of a million dollars is $450,000. That will keep a lot of you slackers in food stamps and section 8 rent. So get off the "the wealthy need to pay more taxes" rant, just another liberal talking point and completely devoid of any intellectual reasoning whatsoever. Goodnight and keep those cards and letters coming.

[MarkinNM]

02:29 PM on 08/03/2011

You're correct. It's all lefties that are on food stamps. Try to be a bit more condescending.

[cox2112]

02:54 PM on 08/03/2011

Read it again, it says slackers are on food stamps. The liberals aren't all on food stamps, just like to use it as talking point. It's only condescending if you let it be, hit a little too close to home perhaps?

[Jason N]

02:30 PM on 08/03/2011

Maybe you should've said it slower so you could get it right. Income, whether passive or not, is not taxed at the full upper rate for the full amount of the income. So that 45% is not 45% of the entire $1 million, but rather 45% of any income above the level of income where the 30% (it's actually 35%) rate kicks in (I believe what, $375K is the limit for the top bracket now?). So if I make a million and the top rate is 35%, I'd owe approx $327K in taxes because only the income between $375K and $1mil is taxed at the 35% rate (everything from 175-375K is taxed at 33%, 82-171K taxed at 28%, etc.). Nice GOP math skills though.

Also, income from invested money has NOT already been taxed either. The money that interest is accruing on has, but anything EARNED from interest is EARNED income that one did not have before. If I get a 3% ROI from a million dollar investment, I earned $30,000 that I didn't have before, I have not paid tax on that money. So if I EARN a million dollars off an ivestment, I'm only paying 15% on that income, not 15% plus the upper rate of 35% (and ceraintly not for the full income amount as explained above).

Maybe you should've gone to Berkely.

[cox2112]

06:43 PM on 08/03/2011

Once again, a valiant try Jason but you are obviously not paying attention. The 45% was a combination of an adjusted gross income (all those lovely tax loopholes you pointed out) and the 15% on passive. And when you add in state and local income taxes, it is closer to 45% overall. So, one dollar taxed at 45% leaves .55, which, if you make 3% on comes to .016, added to the .55 equals .56 on the original dollar you earned or 44% in total taxes. And by the way, the tax loop holes, home interese deductions, business expenses, etc are not only for the rich, anyone can take advantage of them. I remember a similar conversation with one of your fellow bleeding hearts that suggeted we tax the rich at 93%, just like they did in England in the 70's, brilliant, of course that is why all of the wealthy English moved here.

[cox2112]

03:39 AM on 08/03/2011

Stop worrying about the execs or the actors who make more than you (and yes, they pay much more in taxes than you) and go get a job, get off the public dole and become a contributing member of society rather than a sniveling ungrateful complaining low life. Oh, and if you want to pay more taxes, feel free, you can pay some of mine.

[BustMyChops]

07:57 AM on 08/03/2011

Don't spend so much time staring at the sun.

[cox2112]

03:39 AM on 08/03/2011

Well, how is this for a thought, perhaps next time you will actually read my post. I am not condeming anyone for making money, I am a big believer in capitalism. And to answer your question, very few execs make "billions", just as few actors make tens of millions. The point is no liberals every question the high paid people in show business, just those in business. The U.S. was built on capitalism, it is why we have the highest standard of living in a relatively short history. And contrary to the liberal talking points, there is not a finite amount of wealth in the world, if an exec or an actor makes a lot of money, it doesn't mean that some poor schmuck is now sleeping in the park eating out of garbage cans. If you don't want to buy movie tickets, or cars, or stocks or some useless kitchen tool on an infomercial, don't! Bill Gates did not have to steal $60 billion dollars from other people, he built a better mouse trap and was well compensated for it. Bill Gates now employs tens of thousands of people, he pays taxes, they pay taxes, people pay taxes when they buy his software, he creates jobs and revenue for the federal government.

[BustMyChops]

07:56 AM on 08/03/2011

who are you talking too? Learn to communicate.

[Jason N]

02:46 PM on 08/03/2011

"t is why we have the highest standard of living in a relatively short history"

No it's not. The UN ranks us 4th. The Human Poverty Index ranks the US 17th, and the Economist 13th. Get out of your American bubble, there's a whole world out there waiting for you to see.

"And contrary to the liberal talking points, there is not a finite amount of wealth in the world"

Wow... you are seriously deluded. Like off the deep end. You think we can just create money infinitely? Wowsers man, just wow....

[ywcachieve]

12:38 AM on 08/03/2011

It's according to how many movies they make.. Some like Aniston, and Parker, have to make two or more movies a year, to get that much money. Jolie, and Depp make that amount with one movie.

[trnichols17]

12:29 AM on 08/03/2011

Unbelieveable,they get paid all that money for pretending.How come Obama only gets $250,000.00!

[wonderYrednow]

01:04 AM on 08/03/2011

$400,000.00

http://obamaachievements.org/list

[trnichols17]

01:06 PM on 08/03/2011

Obama got a raise!Did he give anyone else a raise?How come congress is'nt giving up anything

[Highball]

01:47 PM on 08/03/2011

They don't get that money for acting. They get it for making money for the studio.

[trnichols17]

05:00 PM on 08/03/2011

Point taken!

[bgofca]

02:50 AM on 08/04/2011

some of those mentioned are very good actors and most of them do lots for the world with their foundations and charity work.

[Chlowina]

10:53 PM on 08/02/2011

Wonder if any of these stars could work a real job? And have to live on 40k a year?

[wonderYrednow]

01:05 AM on 08/03/2011

Actors that actually have gigs are less than 1% of the membership of the SAG and AFTRA unions.

[sameh81]

07:45 AM on 08/04/2011

Most of these actors did work real jobs, and made way less than 40k, but it's much easier to hate on them than to aspire to be like them.

[Chlowina]

09:20 AM on 08/04/2011

I don't "hate on them". Nor do I aspire to be like them. I made a statement wondering if they could leave their current salaries, work to support themselves on a low wage. Ask me what I mean before you feel the need to be condemn my opinion.

[Rozanna]

08:56 PM on 08/02/2011

They are all grossly overpaid and undereducated. I love Leonardo, but honestly, 72 million dollars? Outrageous!

[blessed child]

01:55 AM on 08/03/2011

What has education got to with getting paid? If I am the dumbest guy on earth and millions of folks are willing to pay to watch me entertain them, then I will be making millions of dollars, regardless of my education or intelligence. It is that simple.

[Highball]

02:34 PM on 08/03/2011

People confuse what people do with what they think they do. It's like when people talk about baseball players and say, "They get paid all that money for hitting a ball!"

Well, yes. But also, no. What they are really paid for is getting people to the ballpark and getting them to watch on TV. If you have a crappy team, the revenues will be small. If you have a team in the pennant race, people will be interested. Interest leads to revenues, and revenues make management happy, since they are ones getting the money.

It's the same here. If I'm a studio executive, I want my films to be successes. So, I budget a film, get a team together to make the film, and sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn't.

[Highball]

01:50 PM on 08/03/2011

DiCaprio is smarter than the majority of people who post here, that's for sure.

And what do you mean by "undereducated?" Do you mean in terms of degrees? If so, you might want to check out these three names:

Steve Jobs
Bill Gates
Larry Ellison

Between the three of them, not one college degree.

[Rozanna]

02:21 PM on 08/03/2011

Bill Gates attended Harvard. Although he didn't graduate, he is hardly undereducated. I don't think DiCaprio is stupid, but he does not deserve 72 million dollars for what he provides. And I'm actually a fan. Movie stars are grossly overpaid for their meager talents. It's acting, for God's sake, not brain surgery.

[HannaSchmitz]

08:54 PM on 08/02/2011

50 million?.....I saw Johnny Depps gf shopping the sales rack at The Grove.