Many of the new class of top-earners got a chunk of their big paychecks from Netflix and other streaming services. Forbes' payday estimates reflect earnings between June 1, 2019, and June 1, 2020. The list of highest-paid female actors, which Scarlett Johansson led with $56 million last year, will be out next month.
Here's a look at who's on the list and what they made:
Dwayne Johnson
Earnings estimate: $87.5 million
Along with cashing a huge check for his Netflix film "Red Notice" – Forbes reports it was worth $23.5 million – Johnson is still selling his successful Under Armour line, complete with shoes, clothes, and headphones. The big checks will keep coming in, as he plans to make his DC superhero debut
Ryan Reynolds
Earnings estimate: $71.5 million
Forbes reports that Reynolds made more than $20 million for each of his recent Netflix films, "Six Underground" and "Red Notice." It's no wonder he offered a huge reward for a lost teddy bear.
Netflix's current golden boy, Reynolds made more than $20 million apiece on Six Underground and Red Notice. In July, the streamer announced it was shelling out for a third Reynolds film, which will undoubtedly mean another eight-figure payday.
Mark Wahlberg
Earnings estimate: $58 million
Wahlberg has made millions producing the series "McMillions" and "Wahl Street." He had a big Netflix movie in the past year, too: "Spenser Confidential."
Wahlberg’s action-comedy Spenser Confidential became Netflix’s third-most-watched original film after it debuted in March. He’s also made millions producing docuseries McMillions and Wahl Street.
Ben Affleck
Earnings estimate: $55 million
Yes, he was also in a Netflix film, "The Last Thing He Wanted." He also starred in "The Way Back."
Vin Diesel
Earnings estimate: $54 million
Diesel still got a "Fast & Furious" payday – for producing the Netflix series "Fast & Furious Spy Racers" – but The F9 star missed out on the chance to collect a massive back-end payday this year after the film’s release was pushed to April 2021. He kept the franchise embers burning by acting as producer on the animated Netflix series Fast & Furious Spy Racers.
Akshay Kumar
Earnings estimate: $48.5 million
The Bollywood star has plenty of endorsement deals and is also starring in an Amazon Prime series called "The End." He also made last year's list.
The only Bollywood star on the list, Kumar is working on his first television series The End for Amazon Prime. Most of his money, though, comes from endorsement deals; he shills for everything from multivitamins to toilet cleaners.
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Earnings estimate: $45.5 million
Forbes reports that much of Miranda's earnings come from Disney buying the rights to his Broadway production of "Hamilton," which is now streaming on Disney Plus. The movie adaptation of his Broadway show "In the Heights" is out next year.
Will Smith
Earnings estimate: $44.5 million
No stranger to this Forbes ranking, Smith returns to the list thanks to his steady stream of lead parts and side projects like his Snapchat series.
The Fresh Prince can still earn big checks for lead parts, such as his upcoming role in King Richard, in which he portrays Richard Williams, father of tennis greats Serena and Venus. He fills the earnings gaps with mobile phone hits, including a Snapchat series and his popular Instagram account.
Adam Sandler
Earnings estimate: $41 million
Although he isn't a box-office draw like the others on the list and his independent film "Uncut Gems" didn't earn him a giant check, Sandler's been successful on Netflix since signing a four-film deal for $250 million in 2014, Forbes reports. His film "Murder Mystery" was popular on the streamer this year.
Jackie Chan
Earnings estimate: $40 million
Six decades into his career, the martial arts star is as active as ever, making five movies in the past year. He pads his film income with millions from endorsement and licensing deals.
From 2019:Forbes' list of highest-paid actors
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