Who Are The Top 20 Highest Paid Actors In a Single Year?

Dating back from 1989 to 2013, this list ranks the top 20 highest paid film actors in a single year. Will your favorite actor crack the top 20?

20. Arnold Schwarzenegger

The 67 year old Austrian-born American actor and politician made a whopping $29,250,000 in 2003, and that’s only #20 on the list. His primary success came from his star role in the movie Terminator 3: Rise of The Machine. The film grossed $433,371,112 worldwide and made $44,041,440 on opening weekend.

19. Brad Pitt

The 51 year old American actor has had his fair share of success in the entertainment industry, receiving numerous awards including the Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and three Academy Award nominations. The actor made $30,000,000 in 2001, with his primary success coming from his hit film Ocean’s Eleven. The crime comedy movie grossed an astonishing $450,717,150 globally and took in $38,107,822 opening weekend.

18. Mel Gibson

Technically tied with Brad Pitt for the 19th spot, we listed him at #18 as he had a $30,000,000 salary compared to Brad Pitt’s $10,000,000, respectively. The 59 year old American actor is best known for his series of movies entitled Lethal Weapon, however, his most profitable year was when he released Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998. The film grossed $285,444,603 globally and took in $34,048,124 on opening weekend.

17. Jim Carrey

The 53 year old Canadian-American actor and comedian, best known for his highly energetic slapstick performances made $35,000,000 in 2008. His primary success came from his hit movie Yes Man, which grossed $223,241,637 globally and made $18,262,471 on opening weekend.

16. Johnny Depp

The 52 year old Golden Globe Award winner made $40,000,000 in 2010, the most profitable year of his acting career to date. His hit film Alice in Wonderland grossed $1,025,467,110 globally and took in $116,101,023 on opening weekend.

15. Tom Hanks

Best known for his roles in Big, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, the 59 year old American actor and filmmaker earned $40,000,000 in 1998, primarily due to the success of his movie Saving Private Ryan, which grossed $481,840,909 globally and took in $30,576,104 on opening weekend.

14. Leonardo DiCaprio

At #14 (surprisingly not ranked higher, but no surprise he’s on the list) is Leonardo DiCaprio. The 40 year old American actor and film producer born in Hollywood (literally) has been nominated for TEN Golden Globe Awards, winning two, and FIVE Academy Awards. Best known for his romance movie, Titanic, the star actor made $40,000,000 in 1997. His hit film grossed $2,186,772,302 globally and took in $28,638,131 on opening weekend.

13. Robert Downey, Jr.

The 50 year old American actor, born in New York, earned $50,000,000 in 2012. His major breakthrough came when his film The Avengers grossed $1,519,557,910 worldwide and made $207,438,708 on opening weekend.

12. Johnny Depp

Ahh, a familiar name, back on the list again, this time ranked #12. The star actor made $55,000,000 in 2011, primarily due to the success of his movie Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. The film grossed $1,045,713,802 globally and made $90,151,985 on opening weekend.

11. Leonardo DiCaprio

Also, back on the list again, ranked in a higher spot at #11 is Leonardo DiCaprio. This time the start made $59,000,000 in 2010. Hit hit film The Inception was another huge success. The movie grossed $825,532,764 globally and took in $62,785,373 on opening weekend.

10. Jack Nicholson

The 78 year old American actor and filmmaker best known for his movie Batman, made $60,000,000 in 1989. His iconic film has grossed $411,348,924 globally and took in $40,489,746 on opening weekend.

9. Harrison Ford

The 73 year old American actor and film producer gained worldwide fame for his starring roles as Han Solo in the original Star Wars epic space opera trilogy and the title character of the Indiana Jones film series. In 2008, he made $65,000,000, primarily from his role in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The film grossed $786,636,033 globally and made $100,137,835 on opening weekend.

8. Tom Cruise

The 53 year old actor from New York who started acting at the age of 19 has been nominated for three Academy Awards and has won three Golden Globe Awards. In 1996, he made a whopping $70,000,000. His hit film Mission: Impossible grossed $457,696,359 globally and took in $45,436,830 on opening weekend.

7. Tom Hanks

Back on the list again, this time at the #7 spot is Tom Hanks again. In 1994, the star made $70,000,000. His comedy/drama film Forrest Gump grossed $677,945,399 globally and took in $24,450,602 on opening weekend.

6. Sandra Bullock

Finally, a female, and she’s ranked in the top 10 (almost top 5) highest earning actors in a year. The 50 year old American actress and film producer is the recipient of one Academy Award, two nominations, and one Golden Globe Award. Sandra Bullock made $70,000,000 in 2013, which much of her success coming from her hit film Gravity. The sci-fi thriller grossed $716,392,705 globally and took in $55,785,112 on opening weekend.

5. Will Smith

You knew his name would make the list, you just didn’t know where. The 46 year old actor, rapper, producer, and song writer, once called “the most powerful actor in Hollywood” by Newsweek made 100,000,000 in 2012. His hit film Men in Black 3 grossed $624,026,776 globally and took in $54,592,779 on opening weekend.

4. Tom Cruise

Back on the list again, Cruise made $1,000,000 in 2000. The actor’s hit series Mission: Impossible II grossed $546,388,105 globally and took in $57,845,297 on opening weekend.

3. Tom Cruise

Guess who? It’s Tom Cruise again! In 2005, the star actor made another $1,000,000. His movie, War of the Worlds, grossed $591,745,540 globally and made $64,878,725 on opening weekend.

2. Bruce Willis

The 61 year old actor made $100,000,000 in 1999, primarily from his hit film, The Sixth Sense. The horror movie grossed $672,806,292 globally and made $26,681,262 on opening weekend.

1. Keanu Reeves

The 50 year old actor best known for his series, The Matrix, made $156,000,000 in 2003. He released The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions both in 2003 and both were a huge success. The Matrix Reloaded grossed $742,128,461 globally and took in $91,774,413 on opening weekend, while The Matrix Revolutions grossed $427,313,948 globally and took in $48,475,154 on opening weekend.