According to US business magazine Forbes,
Hollywood’s ladies faded before the men in the top of best-paid actors.
Hollywood’s 10 best-paid actors earned almost twice as much
as Hollywood’s 10 best-paid actresses.
Collectively, the leading men in the
movie world took home an estimated $487 million between June 1, 2007, and June
1, 2008, while the leading ladies only earned $244.5 million together, Forbes
reports.
Leading the top of best-paid actors
is “Hancock” star Will Smith, who banked an estimated $80 million in the past
year. And this is no surprise, as the charming actor proved he can attract
audiences of any kind, no matter the genre of the movie he stars in. He showed
much flexibility, starring in sci-fi thrillers, love stories or dramas.
Smith is also the first actor in
Hollywood history to have eight straight movies surpass $100 million at the box
office, with “Hancock” the latest one of the kind.
The second on the list is Johnny
Depp, the star from “Pirates of the
Caribbean.” Even though he is known as the anti-commercial type and prefers
strange, indie or dark movies, the actor who so well impersonated Jack Sparrow
managed to earn $72 million this year. His latest film, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” did
not gross much at the box office, but earned Depp an Oscar nomination.
The third place is occupied by two
stars, who each earned $55 million this year: Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers. Both
of them owe their financial success mostly to the hit animated franchise Shrek,
in which they star together.
Leonardo DiCaprio ranks the fifth in
the top, with $45 million earned during the year. He is the only movie star who
can get $20 million after starring in R-rated adult dramas, which usually don’t
set records at the box office, because of viewer age restrictions. Three of the
actor’s latest movies were nominated for Best Picture, and one of them, “The
Departed,” also won the prize.
The next on the list is Bruce
Willis, with $41 million. His latest flick, “Live Free or Die Hard,” managed to gross
$380 million. He is to play in the sci-fi thriller “The Surrogates” next year.
The
next spot is occupied by Ben Stiller, who brought home $40 million, due to Night
at the Museum 2 and Tropic Thunder.
Stiller is followed closely by Nicholas Cage, who had
earnings of $38 million. His latest movie “National Treasure, Book
of Secrets” grossed $450 million worldwide.
As
for the ladies, Cameron Diaz is the one leading the top, with takings of $50
million.
Keira
Knightley is next, with $32 million, thanks to her roles in the
Pirates sequel At World's End and Atonement. She also
earned part of her fortune as the face of Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle
perfume.
Jennifer Aniston is the third on the best-paid ladies list,
taking home $27 million.
The highest-earning media personality is, as expected, Oprah
Winfrey, with earnings of $275 million.
Among TV stars, the men’s list is led by “Two and a Half
Men” actor Charlie Sheen, who earned $20 million, while the ladies’ list is
topped by “Grey’s Anatomy” actress Katherine Heigl, with $13 million.
