The 11 Wealthiest Movie Stars Ever

With A-list actors and actresses frequently pulling in millions per movie, it’s not that hard to rack up some serious money quickly. 

Here’s our list of the wealthiest movie stars ever ranked by net worth.

1. Jamie Gertz 

Net Worth: $3 Billion

One of the lesser-known names on our list is Jamie Gertz, who’s known for appearing in movies like Sixteen Candles, The Lost Boys, and Crossroads.

She’s a bit of a caveat, as most of her net worth doesn’t come directly from movies but from her marriage to billionaire Tony Ressler who has a net worth of $6.1 billion.  

Gertz is also an avid investor and, along with her husband, is part owner of the Atlanta Hawks basketball team as well as a minority owner of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team.

Put that all together, and this makes her the wealthiest movie star in the world. 

2. Merv Griffin

Net Worth: $1 Billion

Merv Griffin is perhaps best known for creating two of the most popular game shows of all time, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. 

But he was also in several movies, including So This is Love, By the Light of the Silvery Moon, and The Lonely Guy.

This, along with hosting his own talk show, fittingly called The Merv Griffin Show, numerous appearances on TV shows like Newhart and Sanford and Son, and generally being a media mogul all led to him accumulating $1 billion by the time of his death in 2007.

3. Shah Rukh Khan

Net Worth: $700 Million

Often referred to as “The King of Bollywood,” Shah Rukh Khan began his acting career in the late ‘80s and has appeared in over 100 movies. 

Over the years, he has solidified his name as one of, if not the biggest, Bollywood actors and has accumulated a massive fortune in the process. 

While he may not be a household name to western audiences, he’s one of the most successful movie stars in the world and could reach billion-dollar status before it’s all said and done. 

4. Tom Cruise 

Net Worth: $550 Million

Making his acting breakthrough in the ‘80s with smash hits like Risky Business and Top Gun, Tom Cruise is one of the top American actors of all time. 

Over the decades, he’s gone on to appear in countless other blockbusters, such as Mission Impossible, Days of Thunder, Interview with a Vampire, Vanilla Sky, and many more. 

This, of course, has resulted in huge earnings, with Cruise easily bringing in $10 to $20 million per film. 

That, along with money from box office tickets, grosses and earnings from DVD and Blu-ray sales, has resulted in Cruise amassing more than half a billion in net worth. 

5. George Clooney 

Net Worth: $500 Million

Speaking of another larger-than-life actor that’s put together one heck of a career is George Clooney. 

Initially appearing in humble, low-budget ‘80s films like Return to Horror High and Return of the Killer Tomatoes, Clooney has since gone on to become one of the biggest names in Hollywood. 

Some of his most popular movies include Ocean’s Eleven, O Brother, Where Art Thou, and From Dawn to Dusk. 

Besides earning big bucks from acting, he also founded Casamigos Tequila, which is currently valued at $1 billion.

6. Robert De Niro

Net Worth: $500 Million

Known for being the consummate tough guy and occasionally unhinged, Robert De Niro has been in over 130 films spanning over five decades. 

Starring in countless heavy hitters like Raging Bull, Cape Fear, Casino, and Heat, De Niro has built one of the most solid reputations in the industry while also amassing serious wealth.

Besides just earning money from acting, he also runs production and hospitality businesses, which contribute to him tying George Clooney at $500 million.

7. Mel Gibson

Net Worth: $425 Million

Mel Gibson has, admittedly, ruffled a few feathers during his career with his controversial antics. That said, he’s still one of the top actors of all time and has managed to accumulate a cool $425 million.

Originally getting his start in action movies like Mad Max and Lethal Weapon, Gibson went on to appear in countless classics, including Braveheart, The Patriot, and Signs.

Experts believe he pulls in around $25 million per film and even $15 million for doing voice acting for animated films.

Combine that with his career as a director and producer, and his time in the film industry has been lucrative, to say the least, and his personal income statement is enviable. 

8. Adam Sandler

Net Worth: $420 Million

Known for his unique brand of comedy and a film career that spans over three decades, Adam Sandler has been in a laundry list of successful movies.

There’s The Waterboy, The Wedding Singer, Happy Gilmore, and 50 First Dates just to name a few. 

A big chunk of his $420 million net worth came from a massive contract with Netflix in 2014 where he was paid a staggering $250 million to star in just four films. 

Even though those movies weren’t as successful as many of his previous works, Sandler averaged over $62 million from each of them. Not too shabby. 

9. Sylvester Stallone

Net Worth: $400 Million

“Yo Adrian, I did it!” (Sorry, I had to.)

When it comes to action, it doesn’t get much bigger than Stallone. He’s been in everything from the Rocky and Rambo series to Cobra and Demolition Man to The Expendables series and more. 

And it’s hard not to root for “the Italian stallion”—one of the all-time favorite underdogs. 

Besides his signature acting, Stallone has made his money from screenwriting, directing, and producing. And at 76 years of age in 2022, he’s still very much active in Hollywood, starring most recently in The Samaritan. 

10. Jack Nicholson

Net Worth: $400 Million

Also tying Stallone at $400 million is one of the most award-nominated actors in history, Jack Nicholson. And his list of works is truly mind-blowing. 

Since his original film debut in 1958 with The Cry Baby Killer, Nicholson has starred in countless hits, including One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Shining, Batman, The Departed, and so many more. 

It’s also worth noting that his huge net worth comes largely from his $100 million real estate investments and his $150 million art collection. This means he’s clearly a guy that knows a thing or two about creating a personal balance sheet. 

11. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Net Worth: $400 Million

Formerly the governor of California, “the governator” needs no introduction. 

Putting himself on the map as one of the top bodybuilders in the world in the ‘70s, Arnold Schwarzenegger is true Hollywood royalty and has done quite well for himself financially. 

Starring in everything from action classics like The Terminator, Predator, and Total Recall to family films like Kindergarten Cop and Jingle All the Way, Schwarzenegger has a huge portfolio of work that spans multiple genres. 

He’s also financially diverse, earning money from bodybuilding, acting, real estate, and other multiple business investments. 

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