Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock has been named the highest-paid actor of 2024 by Forbes, thanks to his massive earnings from Red One and Moana 2.
Despite Red One receiving negative reviews and underperforming at the box office following its November release, Johnson’s relentless promotion on social media helped boost its popularity. When the film debuted on Amazon Prime Video in December 2024, it attracted a record-breaking 50 million viewers in its opening weekend.
According to Forbes, Johnson secured an unprecedented $50 million in up-front fees for acting and producing Red One, alongside a buyout of back-end participation.
This deal marks the highest fee-plus-buyout total in history for a single movie. Combined with his earnings from Moana 2 and residuals from past projects, Johnson’s total earnings for the year reached an estimated $88 million, securing his place at the top of the Forbes list.
He is followed by Ryan Reynolds, who earned an estimated $85 million, while comedian Kevin Hart ranks third with $81 million. Jerry Seinfeld and Hugh Jackman complete the top five.
Beyond acting, Johnson is also set to produce the film adaptation of It Takes Two, a popular video game that has sold over 20 million copies since its release. While his role as a producer is confirmed, speculation continues about whether he will also star in the project.
Here are the top ten highest earners:
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: $88 Million
In 2024, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was named the highest-paid Hollywood star by Forbes, earning an impressive $88 million.
A large part of this fortune came from his role in Amazon’s “Red One,” a film that earned him a hefty $50 million salary.
Although the movie received mixed reviews upon its release in November, it still performed fairly well at the box office, grossing $186 million against a $250 million budget.
More importantly, the movie became a massive hit on Amazon Prime, racking up 50 million views in its first week alone.
Johnson had been actively promoting the film, using his vast Instagram following of 394 million to build anticipation.
Ryan Reynolds: $85 Million
Alongside him on the list, Ryan Reynolds secured the second spot with an impressive $85 million.
Reynolds not only starred in but also co-wrote and produced the highly successful “Deadpool and Wolverine,” which grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide.
Reynolds also contributed to the fourth season of the popular show “Welcome to Wrexham” and appeared in John Krasinski’s film “IF” for Hulu.
His combined earnings for 2024 were even higher, reaching $100 million.
Kevin Hart: $81 Million
Kevin Hart follows closely in third place with $81 million, thanks to his diverse career that includes hosting a podcast for Spotify, completing 90 stand-up comedy shows, and appearing in a variety of projects such as “Borderlands,” “Lift,” and “Die Hard 2.” His total earnings for 2024 amounted to $108 million.
Jerry Seinfeld: $60 Million
In fourth place is Jerry Seinfeld, who made $60 million in 2024. Known for his hit show “Seinfeld” and lucrative stand-up specials, the 70-year-old comedian entered Forbes’ Billionaire Club last year.
His annual earnings continued to be robust, reaching $70 million this year.
Hugh Jackman: $50 Million
Meanwhile, Hugh Jackman earned $50 million, ranking fifth on the list.
His earnings were mainly driven by his work in “Logan” and his partnership with Ryan Reynolds on the successful “Deadpool and Wolverine” movie.
Jackman’s 2024 earnings totalled $66 million.
Brad Pitt: $32 Million
Brad Pitt, a Hollywood veteran, came in sixth with $32 million, a figure boosted by the success of his film “Wolf,” which streamed on Apple TV Plus.
He also appeared in sports drama “F1” on the same platform and was involved in other major projects, including “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and “Nickel Boys.” His total earnings for the year were $42 million.
George Clooney: $31 Million
George Clooney, known for his work in film and business ventures, took seventh place with an income of $31 million in 2024.
Clooney’s collaboration with Brad Pitt on “Wolf” earned the duo a combined $35 million.
Although Clooney prefers not to discuss his salary, his earnings for the year reached $37 million.
Nicole Kidman: $31 Million
Nicole Kidman, the only female actor in the top 10, earned $31 million in 2024.
She starred in various projects, including Netflix’s “The Perfect Couple,” Paramount Plus’ “Lioness,” and Amazon’s “Expatriates.” Kidman also appeared in successful films such as "Baby Girl" and “A Family Affair.”
Her total earnings for 2024 amounted to $41 million.
Adam Sandler: $26 Million
Adam Sandler, with his multi-million-dollar Netflix deal, earned $26 million in 2024, placing him ninth on the list.
His contracts with Netflix and his involvement in projects like “Happy Gilmore 2” and “Spaceman” are expected to generate even more revenue in the future.
Sandler’s total earnings for the year reached $35 million.
Will Smith: $26 Million
Finally, Will Smith, despite the controversies surrounding his actions at the Oscars, made a successful comeback in 2024, securing the 10th spot with $26 million.
His movie “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” earned over $400 million worldwide. Smith’s total earnings for the year were $30 million.