Adam Sandler, this year’s highest earner, earned $48 million, significantly less than Dwayne Johnson, the top earner last year, who earned $88 million.
The top 10 actors in the world by salary in 2026: Hollywood is becoming increasingly concerned about whether traditional movie stardom still ensures box office success. The usefulness of paying A-list stars enormous amounts is being questioned by studios more and more as a result of industry consolidation, the development of AI, and declining theater ticket sales. In actuality, podcasters, musicians, athletes, and digital artists now frequently make more money than actors in movies and television shows.
World’s Highest-Paid Actors List: 22-Year-Old Actress Beats Leonardo DiCaprio
As fewer star-led movies were released in 2025, the tendency became more apparent. The top 20 actors’ aggregate earnings decreased from $730 million to $590 million in the previous year. Adam Sandler, this year’s highest earner, made $48 million, far less than the $88 million earned by the top earner previous year.
Nevertheless, studios still offer eight-figure contracts to actors they think can raise awareness of major motion pictures.
1. Adam Sandler – $48 million ($60 million gross)
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Thanks to his rich long-term contract with Netflix, which ensures him significant yearly compensation regardless of a film’s success, Sandler, at 59, continues to be Hollywood’s highest earner. In addition to producing and starring in Happy Gilmore 2 in 2025, he received a second salary for his role in Jay Kelly, which earned him multiple critics’ accolades and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
2. Tom Cruise – $46 million ($54 million gross)
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In Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the 63-year-old action legend made a comeback as Ethan Hunt. He benefited from the movie’s roughly $600 million box office by taking an unusual first-dollar gross contract in exchange for a smaller upfront salary. With Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s upcoming film Digger, which is his first production under a development agreement with Warner Bros., Cruise is now hoping for critical acclaim.
3. Mark Wahlberg – $44 million ($58 million gross)
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Wahlberg has emerged as a streaming platform favorite. He oversaw The Family Plan 2 on Apple TV+ and Play Dirty on Prime Video in 2025, apparently receiving $25 million for the latter following Robert Downey Jr.’s departure. In addition, he worked on other production projects and had an appearance in Mel Gibson’s Flight Risk.
4. Scarlett Johansson – $43 million ($50 million gross)
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Johansson received an upfront payment of roughly $20 million from Universal along with a portion of the revenues from Jurassic World: Rebirth.
Universal paid Johansson almost $20 million up front and a portion of the revenues for Jurassic World: Rebirth, one of the year’s biggest hits, in order to revive its key franchise. Eleanor the Great was her directorial debut, while The Phoenician Scheme brought her back together with Wes Anderson.
5. Brad Pitt – $41 million ($54 million gross)
Pitt was able to partake in the theatrical profits by securing a standard gross participation arrangement for Formula One, which is uncommon for streaming ventures.
With producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Joseph Kosinski, and Pitt as the headliner, Apple made a significant investment in Formula One. The movie made over $600 million worldwide and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture. Pitt was able to partake in the theatrical profits by securing a typical gross participation arrangement, which is uncommon for streaming productions.
6. Denzel Washington – $38 million ($42 million gross)
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Highest 2 Lowest, Washington’s fifth project with Spike Lee, turned out to be his most successful to date. According to reports, the two-time Oscar winner received a $35 million fee plus buyout, which is regarded as a benchmark contract in the current market. His vast collection of over fifty films continues to bring in a consistent revenue every year.
7. Jack Black – $28 million ($33 million gross)
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Black continues to be a major player in family entertainment following successes from the Kung Fu Panda series, Super Mario Bros., and the nearly billion-dollar A Minecraft Movie in 2024. He co-starred with Paul Rudd in the 2025 Anaconda revival, which did rather well for Sony.
8. Jason Momoa – $28 million ($33 million gross)
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Moving from Aquaman in the previous DC setup to Lobo in James Gunn’s new DC universe, Momoa also achieved great success with A Minecraft Movie, for which a sequel is already in the works. Along with touring with his rock band Öof Tatatá, he spent a large portion of the year promoting the movie and his Chief of War series on Apple TV+.
9. Daniel Craig – $27 million ($32 million gross)
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In 2025, Daniel Craig portrayed Benoit Blanc in the most recent Knives Out Story by Rian Johnson.
Director Rian Johnson struck a two-film deal with Netflix after Knives Out’s popularity, guaranteeing Craig a salary. Prior to its streaming release, the most recent Benoit Blanc mystery had a brief theater run; further backend revenue was not anticipated. Craig will next be seen in the Chronicles of Narnia adaption starring Greta Gerwig.
10. Millie Bobby Brown – $26 million ($35 million gross)
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Brown is the youngest actor to ever appear on Forbes’ highest-paid list, at the age of just 22. She received premium rates for the fifth and final season of Netflix’s Stranger Things as the show’s breakout lead, in addition to side deals for other projects like the critically acclaimed The Electric State. With retail experiences, a stage play, and other spin-offs, the series continues to be the streamer’s most valuable original IP.
| Rank | Actors | Earnings |
| 1. | Adam Sandler | $48 million |
| 2. | Tom Cruise | $46 million |
| 3. | Mark Wahlberg | $44 million |
| 4. | Scarlett Johansson | $43 million |
| 5. | Brad Pitt | $41 million |
| 6. | Denzel Washington | $38 million |
| 7. | Jack Black | $28 million |
| 8. | Jason Momoa | $28 million |
| 9. | Daniel Craig | $27 million |
| 10. | Millie Bobby Brown | $26 million |
Source: Forbes
1. Who is the highest-paid actor in the world in 2026?
According to reports, Adam Sandler is the highest-paid actor in 2026, earning about $48 million, largely due to his long-term deal with Netflix and multiple film projects.
2. How much did Adam Sandler earn in 2026?
Adam Sandler earned approximately $48 million in 2026 (around $60 million gross), making him the top-earning actor of the year.
3. Which actor ranked second on the highest-paid actors list?
Tom Cruise ranked second with earnings of about $46 million, mainly from Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
4. Who is the youngest actor on the highest-paid actors list in 2026?
Millie Bobby Brown, at 22 years old, became the youngest actor to appear on the list with earnings of about $26 million.
5. Which streaming platforms contributed to the actors’ earnings?
Streaming services like Netflix, Apple TV+, and Prime Video played a major role by offering high-value contracts and exclusive film deals.
6. How much did the top 20 actors earn collectively in 2026?
The combined earnings of the top 20 actors dropped to around $590 million, compared to about $730 million in the previous year.
7. Which movie helped Tom Cruise earn big in 2026?
Tom Cruise earned significant revenue from Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, benefiting from a rare first-dollar gross contract.
8. Why are Hollywood studios reconsidering paying actors huge salaries?
Studios are questioning large star salaries due to declining theater ticket sales, industry consolidation, and the rise of AI and digital creators competing for audience attention.
9. Which actress earned more than Leonardo DiCaprio in 2026?
Millie Bobby Brown earned $26 million, reportedly surpassing the earnings of Leonardo DiCaprio in the same year.
10. Which actors are included in the top 10 highest-paid list of 2026?
The list includes Adam Sandler, Tom Cruise, Mark Wahlberg, Scarlett Johansson, Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Daniel Craig, and Millie Bobby Brown.
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