The top stars of Hollywood and Bollywood don’t make their money solely by participating in films and television shows.
This clever group uses its celebrity to supplement their income in various ways. Brand partnerships, sponsorships, and directing are just a few of the ways the celebrities on our list have dramatically increased their net worth.
Read on to find out who today’s richest actors and actresses are; some of the names on the list may surprise you. All dollar values are in US dollars, unless otherwise noted.
15. Jack Nicholson: $400 million (£317 million)
Jack Nicholson is among the most successful performers of all time. He has won the Best Actor Oscar twice for his roles in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and As Good as It Gets, as well as Best Supporting Actor for Terms of Endearment.
In fact, the Hollywood legend is tied with Walter Brennan and Daniel Day-Lewis for the most performance awards by a male actor.
His decade-long work has resulted in an estimated total worth of $400 million (£317 million).
14. Brad Pitt – $400 million (£317 million)
Brad Pitt is one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, having played main roles in cult films such as Se7en, Fight Club, and Bullet Train.
The actor earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in 2020, and 12 Years a Slave, which he produced and starred in, won Best Picture in 2014.
His cinematic triumph has translated beautifully into financial gain, with a reputed net worth of $400 million (£317 million).
13. Mel Gibson – $425 million (£337 million)
Mel Gibson has had a successful career as an actor, director, and producer since the 1980s. He made his first million by appearing in the Mad Max film franchise before establishing Icon Productions in 1989, which produced his mega hit Braveheart. The historical epic garnered him two Academy Awards: Best Director and Best Picture.
His next major success was The Passion of the Christ, which he produced and directed. Gibson put a lot of his personal money into the film and received 50% of the earnings. His current estimated total worth is $425 million (£337 million).
12. Reese Witherspoon – $440 million (£349 million)
Reese Witherspoon’s memorable role as law school student Elle Woods in Legally Blonde launched her to stardom.
Other notable films starring the actress include Wild and Walk the Line. She is presently starring in the Apple TV+ series The Morning Show and is reportedly paid more than $2 million (£1.6 million) per episode.
In 2021, Witherspoon sold a controlling stake in her production firm, Hello Sunshine, for a whopping $900 million (£710 million). The actor still has an 18% stake in the company, which produces shows like Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere.
According to Forbes, her net worth is a whopping $440 million (£349 million).
11. Adam Sandler – $440 million (£349 million)
Adam Sandler had his big break on Saturday Night Live as a writer and cast member. Following his appearance on the iconic TV sketch show, he established a successful Hollywood career in the 1990s, with films including Happy Gilmour, Billy Madison, and The Wedding Singer.
Sandler founded Happy Madison Productions in 1999, which produced comedy films such as 50 First Dates, Click, and Murder Mystery.
The highly sought-after performer is said to command upwards of $20 million (£16 million) every film, and his net worth is estimated to be $440 million (£349 million). Sandler was the highest-paid actor in 2023, earning an impressive $97 million (£77 million). In addition to developing content for Netflix, such as the comedy smash Murder Mystery 2, the busy performer performed over 40 comedy shows last year.
10. Arnold Schwarzenegger – $450 million (£357 million)
Arnold Schwarzenegger, an Austrian-American former bodybuilder, has worked as a model, actor, businessman, and politician over the years. His diversified career has earned him an estimated total fortune of $450 million (£357 million).
While he is best recognized for his work on the action-packed Terminator franchise, he has also appeared in Conan the Barbarian, Total Recall, and Last Action Hero.
9. Kevin Hart: $450 million (£357 million)
Kevin Hart, an American comedian, actor, and producer, rose to prominence after appearing in comedic films such as the Scary Movie franchise, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and Ride Along.
He’s increased his riches through comic TV series such as Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud, stand-up performances, and tours.
In 2022, Hart merged his firms Laugh Out Loud Productions and HartBeat Productions to create the media brand HARTBEAT, which received a $100 million (£79 million) investment from private equity firm Abry Partners to launch.
His estimated net worth is $450 million (£357 million).
8. George Clooney: $500 million (£397 million)
George Clooney rose to prominence as the star of the medical drama ER, which aired from 1994 to 1999. Following that, he landed starring roles in some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, including the Ocean’s 11 trilogy, Batman & Robin, and Gravity.
Despite his evident on-screen success, much of his financial worth stems from other commercial enterprises. Clooney and two friends launched the Tequila company Casamigos together in 2013. The company was sold for $1 billion (£790 million) in 2017, and it is anticipated that he received roughly $237 million (£188 million) from the sale.
Clooney’s A-list notoriety means he makes money from a variety of business deals and endorsements, including his collaboration with coffee giant Nespresso. His net worth is estimated at $500 million (£397 million).
7. Robert De Niro: $500 million (£397 million)
Screen great Robert De Niro is reported to be worth $500 million (£397 million), which is not surprising given his résumé of Hollywood hits such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and The Godfather Part II.
However, the star’s wealth is not simply derived from his on-screen achievements. De Niro is the creator of the famed Tribeca Film Festival and a co-founder of the luxurious Nobu hotel and restaurant chain, which has over 40 sites worldwide.
6. Tom Cruise – $600 million (£476 million)
Tom Cruise has been a top Hollywood celebrity since the 1980s, with movies like Top Gun, Cocktail, and Rain Man to his credit.
When the highly anticipated Top Gun sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, was released in 2022, it grossed about $1.5 billion (£1.2 billion) worldwide, making it the second highest-grossing film of the year, trailing only Avatar: The Way of Water. Leading guy Cruise reportedly earned $100 million (£79 million) from the film thanks to significant backend profit deals.
Cruise was the third-highest-paid actor in 2023, earning $53 million (£42 million) due to the success of blockbusters such as Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1. His entire net worth is estimated at $600 million (£476 million).
5. Shah Rukh Khan: $600 million (£476 million).
Shah Rukh Khan, dubbed the “King of Bollywood,” has an estimated net worth of $600 million (£476 million). The actor has acted in nearly 80 films, earning both upfront compensation and box office cuts for his starring roles.
Khan has increased his vast net worth by promoting products in his home country, India, and owning the film production firm Red Chillies Entertainment.
He also co-owns the Indian Premier League cricket franchise Kolkata Knight Riders and the Caribbean Premier League team Trinbago Knight Riders.
4. Dwayne Johnson – $800 million (£635 million)
Dwayne Johnson, a former professional wrestler, has been in several Hollywood hits, including The Scorpion King, the Fast & Furious trilogy, and DC’s Black Adam.
According to Forbes, the sought-after celebrity can earn more than $20 million (£16 million) every film.
Johnson also benefits from his 30% investment in the tequila brand Teremana, which was reportedly valued at $3.5 billion (£2.8 billion). His estimated net worth is $800 million (£635 million).
3. Jerry Seinfeld: $1 Billion (£793 Million)
Jerry Seinfeld’s net worth is estimated at $1 billion (£793 million). He is most known for co-creating and starring in the classic comedy Seinfeld, and he owns 15% of the show’s backend stock, allowing him to earn millions of dollars in syndication royalties each year.
In 2020, Netflix announced that it would pay $500 million (£394 million) for the rights to stream Seinfeld for five years.
That same year, Seinfeld made even more money from Netflix, which paid $20 million (£16 million) to screen his comedy spectacular 23 Hours to Kill.
2. Tyler Perry – $1.4 billion (£1.1 billion)
Tyler Perry, an actor, writer, and producer, is worth $1.4 billion (£1.1 billion), according to Forbes. Following a career in theatre, Perry’s first feature picture, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, was released in 2005. The film was a huge success, kicking off Perry’s lucrative Madea series.
Perry owns 100% of the content he creates, which definitely contributed to his millionaire position. In 2019, the business-savvy actor opened Tyler Perry Studios, a 330-acre production facility in Atlanta.
That same year, he signed an agreement with Viacom to generate content in exchange for a 25% equity investment in the streaming service BET+.
1. Jami Gertz: $3 billion (£2.4 billion)
Jami Gertz rose to prominence in the 1980s, appearing in cult films The Lost Boys and Crossroads. She has also appeared on several television episodes, including ER, Seinfeld, and Ally McBeal. Despite her fame as an actress, her marriage to Tony Ressler, co-founder of investment firm Ares Management, accounts for a significant amount of her massive multibillion-dollar net worth.
The couple has a number of interests and commercial enterprises, including part ownership of the NBA franchise Atlanta Hawks and a minority stake in the Milwaukee Brewers.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Gertz is worth a stunning $3 billion (£2.4 billion). Despite her enormous wealth, she continues to perform, most recently acting in the 2022 romantic comedy I Want You Back.