The highest-paid actors of 2025: who topped the Forbes list
Forbes has published its list of the highest-paid actors of 2025. The combined earnings of the 20 actors on the list totalled $590 million. This is 20% less than the previous year, when the total stood at $730 million.
Adam Sandler topped the list. His earnings were estimated at $48 million after agent and manager fees, or $60 million in gross income. In 2025, he produced and starred in “Happy Gilmore 2”, and also received a further fee for his role in the Netflix project “Jay Kelly”.
Tom Cruise took second place with $46 million after agent and manager fees, or $54 million in gross earnings. In 2025, he reprised his role as Ethan Hunt in the film “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” and received a share of the box office takings, which approached $600 million.
Mark Wahlberg came in third with $44 million, or $58 million in gross earnings. Last year, he starred in “The Family Plan 2” for Apple TV and “Play Dirty” for Prime Video, as well as working on other projects as a producer.
Fourth place went to Scarlett Johansson with earnings of $43 million, or $50 million in gross revenue. She starred in the reboot of the “Jurassic” franchise and, according to the publication’s estimates, received around $20 million in advance plus a share of the profits.
Rounding out the top five was Brad Pitt with $41 million, or $54 million in gross earnings. He became the face of the film “F1”, which was one of Apple’s most ambitious film projects.
The top 10 also included Denzel Washington with $38 million, Jack Black with $28 million, Jason Momoa with $28 million, Daniel Craig with $27 million and Millie Bobby Brown with $26 million.
22-year-old Millie Bobby Brown has become the youngest actress ever to feature in this ranking. She is hailed as the first star of the streaming era to have built her career almost entirely on Netflix.
John Cena and Reese Witherspoon each earned $26 million. George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio each received $25 million.
Further down the list are Rob Mack with $23 million, Chris Pratt with $22 million, Tom Hardy with $21 million, Jennifer Aniston with $20 million, Cameron Diaz with $20 million and Jason Bateman with $19 million.
Despite the drop in the list’s overall earnings, major studios and streaming services remain willing to pay eight-figure sums to actors capable of drawing attention to projects. It is streaming services that currently remain one of the most stable sources of lucrative contracts for many stars, as they guarantee fixed payments and often buy out future profit-sharing.
Netflix maintains a particularly strong position in this market. It is there that Adam Sandler, Daniel Craig, Cameron Diaz and Millie Bobby Brown continue to work.
The ranking includes only income related to film and television – specifically acting, producing and directing. Business income, advertising, licensing, social media, stand-up comedy and podcasts were not included in the calculation.
Forbes’ top 20 highest-paid actors of 2025:
Adam Sandler – $48 million.
Tom Cruise – $46 million.
Mark Wahlberg – $44 million.
Scarlett Johansson – $43 million.
Brad Pitt – $41 million.
Denzel Washington – $38 million.
Jack Black – $28 million.
Jason Momoa – $28 million.
Daniel Craig – $27 million.
Millie Bobby Brown – $26 million.
John Cena – $26 million.
Reese Witherspoon – $26 million.
George Clooney – $25 million.
Leonardo DiCaprio – $25 million.
Rob Mack – $23 million.
Chris Pratt – $22 million.
Tom Hardy – $21 million.
Jennifer Aniston – $20 million.
Cameron Diaz – $20 million.
Jason Bateman – $19 million.
