Highest Paid Actors

02 December 2008

Rate this article

So we looked at how much Hollywood's top actresses got paid yesterday and today it's time we took a look at the actor's pay packets in a little more detail.

2008 really has been the actor's year as the likes of Will Smith, Robert Downey Jr and Ed Norton took on superhero roles and dominated the summer box office.

1. Will Smith

The thirty nine year old star grossed $80 million this year and tops out chart as the top earning actor as both I Am Legend and Hancock both topped the American box office.

He now has had eight consecutive movies that have gone through the $100 million barrier as well as being 4th of July weekend.

There is Oscar talk around his next film Seven Pounds, he has already two Oscar nominations under his belt for Ali and In The Pursuit of Happiness.

2. Johnny Depp

With $72 million over the last twelve months Johnny Depp was just piped at the post, and who would have thought a slightly camp pirate would be able to resurrect a career in such spectacular style.

And with his critically acclaimed role this year in The Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, a role which earnt him a Best Actor Oscar nomination.

And if reports are to be believed he will earn a whopping $56 million dollars for the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film, break Tom Hanks' record to become the highest paid actor ever.

3. Eddie Murphy

It's amazing with the amount of rubbish that Eddie Murphy has churned out over the last year that he has made this list at all but third he is with $55 million.

But it seems that Shrek has saved the actor.

4. Mike Myers

Also finds himself with $55 million due to the success of Shrek as, let's face it, The Love Guru will have done little to help his bank balance.

He returns in 2009 with Inglourious Basterds and Shrek Goes Forth is currently being filmed.

5. Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio has managed to turn his career from Hollywood pin-up to serious actor and he rounds off the top five with $45 million.

It's been a reasonable year with Body of Lies and Revolutionary Road, which could see him gain another Oscar nomination.

2009 looks like it might be just successful Ashecliffe in post production and The Chancellor Manuscript and The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt announced