Actors
Bruce Willis Net Worth
| Net Worth: | $250 Million |
|---|---|
| Age: | 70 |
| Born: | March 19, 1955 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Country of Origin: | United States of America |
| Source of Wealth: | Professional Actor |
| Last Updated: | Feb 20, 2026 |
Introduction
Bruce Willis is an American former professional actor and producer with an estimated net worth of $250 Million.
Although now retired, Willis had an incredible film career that spanned four decades. He starred in almost 150 films and television series, which grossed $6.37 billion at the global box office. The most significant highlights of his career include The Sixth Sense, his highest-grossing movie, and his role as John McClane in the Die Hard franchise.
At the peak of his acting career, Willis regularly commanded $15-$20 million per movie. Most significantly, due to an interesting set of events in the late 90s, he earned the highest compensation for an actor from a single film. His role in The Sixth Sense would earn Willis over $100 million, primarily due to backend points.
Quick Facts
- Earned $100-$120 million compensation from The Sixth Sense
- Die Hard franchise accounts for $70-$80 million of his earnings
- Regular commanded $20 million per movie in the late ’90s to mid-2000s
- Agreed to a fee of just $800,000 for 1994’s Pulp Fiction
Acting Career
Bruce Willis got his start in the TV series Moonlighting in 1985 after competing with 3,000 other actors for the role of David Addison. This show helped establish him as a comedic actor, and he won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his performance.
He landed his first lead role in the film Blind Date and, the same year, was cast in the critically acclaimed film Die Hard. Following the unprecedented success of Die Hard, Willis was cast in In Country and found modest success as a recording artist.
Bruce Willis reprised his role as John McClane in Die Hard 2 in 1990 and again in Die Hard with a Vengeance in 1995. However, during the 90s, Willis also starred in many flops, including Hudson Hawk and The Bonfire of the Vanities. Fortunately, he had plenty of successes, especially in 1994, when he was cast in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction.
In 1996, he was the executive producer and star of the cartoon Bruno the Kid and appeared in the film Beavis and Butt-head Do America. After another brief slump at the end of the 90s, Willis returned in Michael Bay’s Armageddon, the highest-grossing film of 1998. The following year, he appeared in M. Night Shyamalan’s movie The Sixth Sense, another critical and commercial success.
The 2000s
In 2000, Bruce Willis won an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series after appearing in Friends. He then appeared in the 2005 film adaptation of Sin City and voiced RJ the Raccoon in Over the Hedge. Two years later, he reprised his role as John McClane in Live Free or Die Hard and then joined Tracy Morgan in Cop Out.
In 2012, Willis joined Edward Norton and Bill Murray in Moonrise Kingdom, followed by an appearance in Looper. Willis was cast in Fire with Fire and then reprised his role as John McClane for a fifth time in A Good Day to Die Hard. After hosting Saturday Night Live in 2013, he made his Broadway debut in an adaptation of Stephen King’s Misery.
In 2018, he was roasted on Comedy Central and had a cameo in the 2019 film The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.
Health Decline & Retirement
During the final years of his career, Bruce Willis starred in several independent thrillers and sci-fi films, often in minor roles. However, those working with him in his later films usually stated that he appeared confused and was fed lines via an earpiece. These roles earned him many Golden Raspberry Awards, and they even added a designated category for Willis’ worst performances.
In 2022, Willis’ family announced he was retiring after he was diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder that caused language and comprehension difficulties. Subsequently, the Golden Raspberry Awards retracted his awards and eliminated his category, apologizing for his medical condition. At the time of his retirement, Willis had 11 films waiting to come out, which he’d taken to ensure his family’s financial security.
In 2023, Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, the same as Wendy Williams, and his condition had progressed.
Earnings & Salary
| Year | Project | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Die Hard | $5,000,000 |
| 1989 | Look Who's Talking | $10,000,000 |
| 1990 | The Bonfire of the Vanities | $5,000,000 |
| 1990 | Look Who's Talking Too | $10,000,000 |
| 1990 | Die Hard 2 | $7,500,000 |
| 1991 | The Last Boy Scout | $14,000,000 |
| 1994 | Pulp Fiction | $800,000 |
| 1995 | Die Hard: With a Vengeance | $15,000,000 |
| 1996 | Last Man Standing | $16,500,000 |
| 1998 | The Siege | $5,000,000 |
| 1999 | The Sixth Sense | $114,000,000 |
| 2000 | Unbreakable | $20,000,000 |
| 2000 | The Kid | $20,000,000 |
| 2002 | Hart's War | $22,500,000 |
| 2007 | Live Free or Die Hard | $25,000,000 |
| Total Calculated Earnings: | $290,300,000 | |
Die Hard Franchise
Willis’ most beloved role as John McClane in the Die Hard franchise brought the actor some impressive paydays. When Willis was cast in the original Die Hard (1988), he earned $5 million, an amazing salary for the 1980s. In today’s currency, it would be equivalent to $13.3 million. Despite no longer being one of his ten best-performing box office movies, at the time, it grossed $144 million against a budget of $28 million.
For Die Hard 2 (1990), his salary increased by 50% to $7.5 million, and from there, it doubled to $15 million for Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995). By this point, the franchise had become a license to print money. The fourth movie, Live Free or Die Hard, was released over a decade later, earning Willis $25 million. Reports for his salary from the fifth installment, A Good Day to Die Hard, are mixed. However, he’s more than likely to have also earned $25 million.
Willis more than likely earned a solid $75-$80 million from the Die Hard franchise.
The Sixth Sense Earnings
One film in Bruce’s past earned him more money than all five Die Hard films combined. In 1997, David Vogel, a Walt Disney Executive, purchased the film rights to The Sixth Sense from M. Night Shyamalan for $3 million. Vogel also allowed Shyamalan to direct the film, something he didn’t have much experience with at the time.
When Michael Eisner, then Disney CEO, found out, Vogel was fired, and the film rights were offloaded to Spyglass in exchange for Disney keeping 12.5% of the gross profits, which is where Bruce Willis came into the picture. He was offered a $14 million salary upfront, plus 17.5% of the gross profits. After the movie grossed $673 million worldwide against a budget of $40 million, Willis walked away with roughly $100-$120 million.
Other Movie Salaries
Willis often commanded $15-$20 million per movie throughout his career. One of his best years was in 2000, when he earned $20 million for Unbreakable and $20 million for The Kid. He also earned $22.5 million in 2002 for Hart’s War.
Three Stories About Joan Lawsuit
In late 2008, Willis was preparing to star in and make his directorial debut in Three Stories About Joan. However, in September of that year, Willis reportedly left the project due to disagreements about funding and production timelines. The film was being produced by three production companies: Foresight Unlimited, Signature Entertainment Group, and Three Stories Production.
Following his departure, all three companies filed a joint lawsuit against Willis and his production company, Willis Brothers Films, seeking $4 million in damages. The three companies claimed that by leaving the project, Willis had damaged pre-sales of the film and other production arrangements that were relying on his involvement.
The central part of the dispute centered on the $20 million budget that the producers had attempted to raise from multiple sources, including pre-sales of the film. Having Willis as both director and star was a key selling point in negotiations with distributors. Unfortunately for the producers, after Willis quit, the deals secured to fund the movie began to collapse. This meant that the producers lost not only the money they had already spent, but also the money they had expected to earn upon the movie’s completion.
However, within days of the lawsuit, Willis countersued the producers, alleging that the three production companies had failed to finance the project properly. According to statements made by Willis and his legal team, the contract he had signed stipulated that shooting would only start once all funding was secured. Willis said the producers hadn’t provided any proof of having the money, and as a result, he wouldn’t be directing the film. However, by August 2010, both lawsuits had been dismissed, though no details were made public, which usually indicates that a settlement had been reached or both parties agreed to drop the cases.
Highest-Grossing Movies
The top-grossing movie of Willis’ career is The Sixth Sense, which grossed $673 million at the global box office against a budget of $40 million. The oldest movie to make it in Willis’ top ten was 1989’s Look Who’s Talking, which grossed $297 million.
Although most Bruce Willis fans know and love him from his iconic role in the Die Hard franchise, only three of the five movies reached the top ten: A Good Day to Die Hard (9th, $305 million), Die Hard with a Vengeance (5th, $366 million), and Live Free or Die Hard (3rd, $388 million). As for the other two films, Die Hard 2 grossed $240 million, while the original Die Hard grossed $144 million, not even cracking the top 25. In total, the franchise grossed $1.44 billion.
Here’s a complete list of Bruce Willis’ ten highest-grossing movies:
- The Sixth Sense – $673 million (1999)
- Armageddon – $554 million (1998)
- Live Free or Die Hard – $388 million (2007)
- G.I. Joe: Retaliation – $376 million (2013)
- Die Hard with a Vengeance – $366 million (1995)
- Ocean’s Twelve – $363 million (2004)
- Over the Hedge – $340 million (2006)
- The Expendables 2 – $315 million (2012)
- A Good Day to Die Hard – $305 million (2013)
- Look Who’s Talking – $297 million (1989)
Actors
Tom Hanks Net Worth
Introduction
Tom Hanks is an American professional actor with an estimated net worth of $400 Million.
Hanks has starred in almost a hundred movies during his forty-year career. While he can easily command between $20 and $25 million per movie today, once upon a time, he earned just $800 for his role in the 1980 film He Knows You’re Alone.
One of Hanks’ highest-grossing movies was Forrest Gump, which earned him an estimated $70 million after he forwent his salary in exchange for backend points. His other significant paydays include $68 million for The Da Vinci Trilogy, $40 million for Saving Private Ryan, and $20 million for Cast Away.
Quick Facts
- Earned more than $411 million from twenty-one films
- Rejected a $7 million salary for Forrest Gump in exchange for backend points
Net Worth History
Tom Hanks’ net worth is largely due to earning over $200 million in salary in the 90’s. That money has had almost three decades of compound growth. When we first researched his net worth in 2020, it was estimated to be $400 million. Since then, he’s likely seen compound growth from investments, in addition to earnings from Finch, Elvis, Pinocchio, and A Man Called Otto, to name a few.
In 2025, Tom Hanks’ net worth is estimated to be $400 Million.
Film Salaries
| Year | Project | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | He Knows You're Alone | $800 |
| 1984 | Splash | $70,000 |
| 1988 | Punchline | $5,000,000 |
| 1988 | Big | $1,800,000 |
| 1989 | The 'Burbs | $3,500,000 |
| 1990 | The Bonfire of the Vanities | $5,000,000 |
| 1994 | Forrest Gump | $70,000,000 |
| 1995 | Toy Story | $50,000 |
| 1998 | You've Got Mail | $20,000,000 |
| 1998 | Saving Private Ryan | $40,000,000 |
| 1999 | Toy Story 2 | $5,000,000 |
| 1999 | The Green Mile | $20,000,000 |
| 2000 | Cast Away | $20,000,000 |
| 2004 | Polar Express | $100,000,000 |
| 2006 | The Da Vinci Code | $18,000,000 |
| 2009 | Angels & Demons | $25,000,000 |
| 2010 | Toy Story 3 | $15,000,000 |
| 2013 | Captain Phillips | $15,000,000 |
| 2016 | Inferno | $25,000,000 |
| 2018 | Toy Story 4 | $15,000,000 |
| 2022 | Elvis | $8,000,000 |
| Total Calculated Earnings: | $411,420,800 | |
Tom Hanks’ first publicly recorded acting salary was $800 in 1980 for He Knows You’re Alone. Eight years later, he was earning multiple 7-figures for performances in films such as Punchline ($5 million), Big ($1.8 million), and The ‘Burbs ($3.5 million).
Forrest Gump Earnings
Hanks was initially offered $7 million to star in Forrest Gump, unarguably the most iconic movie of his career. However, the movie’s production was struggling with a budget of only $50 million and was on the verge of being shut down. Hanks agreed to a deal in which he exchanged his upfront salary for a share of the box office revenue. Due to the film’s success, Hanks was compensated with an estimated $70 million, ten times his original salary.
The Da Vinci Trilogy
In 2006, Hanks earned $18 million for The Da Vinci Code, which remains his third-highest-grossing film of all time, with a worldwide total of $760 million. The original’s success paved the way for two further movies, Angels & Demons and Inferno. Hanks earned $25 million each for the second and third films in the series, totaling $68 million in salary for the trilogy.
Toy Story Salary
Hanks earned just $50,000 for voicing Woody in the original 1995 Toy Story film. The movie’s success tripled the budget for the second installment, from $30 million to $90 million. As a result, Hanks was paid $5 million in 1999 for Toy Story 2. For Toy Story 3 and 4, the budget was $200 million, and Hanks’ salary increased to $15 million per installment.
Highest-Grossing Movies
Hanks’ highest-grossing films primarily comprise the Toy Story franchise. Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4 both grossed $1.07 billion at the box office, with a production budget of $200 million. Toy Story 2 grossed $497 million worldwide, compared with $90 million for the 1995 Toy Story, which took in $394 million. The original film had a much smaller budget of $30 million, making it the best-performing in terms of ROI.
The Da Vinci Code (2006) was Hanks’ third-highest-grossing movie, at $760 million. Forrest Gump came in fourth, grossing $678 million on a production budget of just $55 million. Other films to make the list include Angels & Demons ($486 million), Saving Private Ryan ($482 million), and Cast Away ($430 million).
Several films in Hanks’ career performed incredibly well at the box office but didn’t make the top ten. However, they are worth mentioning. Big (1988) grossed $152 million worldwide on a budget of just $18 million. Sleepless in Seattle (1993) grossed $228 million on a $21 million budget.
Here’s the complete list of Tom Hanks’ ten highest-grossing movies:
- Toy Story 4 – $1.07 billion (2019)
- Toy Story 3 – $1.07 billion (2010)
- The Da Vinci Code – $760 million (2006)
- Forrest Gump – $678 million (1994)
- Toy Story 2 – $497 million (1999)
- Angels & Demons – $486 million (2009)
- Saving Private Ryan – $482 million (1998)
- Cars – $462 million (2006)
- Cast Away – $430 million (2000)
- Toy Story – $394 million (1995)
Actors
Tom Cruise Net Worth
| Net Worth: | $600 Million |
|---|---|
| Age: | 63 |
| Born: | July 3, 1962 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Country of Origin: | United States of America |
| Source of Wealth: | Professional Actor |
| Last Updated: | Feb 20, 2026 |
Introduction
Tom Cruise is an American professional actor with an estimated net worth of $600 Million.
Cruise’s career began in the 1980s, and he has starred in almost fifty movies. His early salaries included $75,000 for 1983’s Risky Business, $2 million for 1986’s Top Gun, and $3 million for 1988’s Cocktail.
The most significant impact on Tom Cruise’s net worth came from his Mission: Impossible franchise earnings. Cruise starred in all seven movies and worked as a producer for all seven. When factoring in additional income from his producer credits, he’s estimated to have earned more than $300 million with the franchise.
Quick Facts
- Earned an estimated $835 million from 1985 to 2023
- Earned approximately $100 million from War of the Worlds (2005)
- Received a $50,000 salary for starring in Taps (1981)
- Previously paid $400,000 per year in child support
Net Worth History
When we first discussed Tom Cruise’s net worth in 2019, it was estimated at $570 million. Since then, the release of the long-awaited Top Gun sequel and the latest Mission: Impossible film have helped Cruise earn at least another $26 million in base salary. At the time of writing, Tom Cruise’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $600 Million.
Earnings History
| Year | Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1986 | $5,000,000 |
| 1988 | $6,000,000 |
| 1989 | $10,000,000 |
| 1992 | $37,000,000 |
| 1993 | $19,000,000 |
| 1994 | $14,000,000 |
| 1996 | $27,000,000 |
| 1997 | $55,000,000 |
| 2000 | $27,000,000 |
| 2001 | $43,000,000 |
| 2004 | $45,000,000 |
| 2005 | $31,000,000 |
| 2006 | $67,000,000 |
| 2007 | $31,000,000 |
| 2008 | $13,000,000 |
| 2009 | $30,000,000 |
| 2010 | $22,000,000 |
| 2011 | $22,000,000 |
| 2012 | $75,000,000 |
| 2013 | $35,000,000 |
| 2015 | $40,000,000 |
| 2016 | $53,000,000 |
| 2017 | $43,000,000 |
| 2022 | $40,000,000 |
| 2023 | $45,000,000 |
| Total | $835,000,000 |
Acting Career
Before becoming an actor, Tom Cruise was interested in becoming a priest as a teenager. A high school teacher encouraged him to participate in a production of Guys and Dolls, which sparked his initial passion for acting.
Originally from New Jersey, Cruise moved to New York to pursue his acting career while working as a busboy. He later moved to Los Angeles and landed a role in 1981’s Endless Love. That same year, he earned $50,000 for his next film, Taps.
Breakthrough Movie Roles (1986 – 1992)
In 1986, starred in The Color of Money and Top Gun. The latter, in which he earned the role of Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, thrust him into the spotlight. Top Gun became the year’s highest-grossing movie, reaching $357 million worldwide with a budget of just $15 million.
His performance helped him secure leading roles in 1988’s Cocktail, 1989’s Born on the Fourth of July, and 1990’s Days of Thunder. During this period, the amount Cruise could command per movie increased from $2 million to $9 million.
Mission: Impossible Franchise (1996 – Present)
One of Cruise’s most notable qualities is his ability to perform almost all of his own stunts without a double. The birth of the Mission: Impossible franchise in 1996 allowed him to showcase his stuntman talent. Tom has also worked as a producer on all seven MI movies. The producer credits, along with his upfront salary, have helped him earn $70-75 million per film on several of his projects.
So far, the MI franchise consists of seven movies:
- Mission: Impossible (1996)
- Mission: Impossible II (2000)
- Mission: Impossible III (2006)
- Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
- Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
- Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
- Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
Mainstream Action Movie Star (2003-2016)
Following the success of Mission: Impossible, Cruise’s passion for stunt performance led to more roles in fast-paced action movies. Some of the highest-grossing action films he starred in during this time included The Last Samurai (2003), War of the Worlds (2005), Knight and Day (2010), Jack Reacher (2012), and Oblivion (2013).
War of the Worlds, in particular, was responsible for one of the biggest paydays of Tom Cruise’s career. Thanks to backend points, he earned an estimated $100 million from the movie, which grossed $600 million at the box office.
Film Salaries
| Year | Project | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Taps | $50,000 |
| 1983 | Risky Business | $75,000 |
| 1985 | Legend | $500,000 |
| 1986 | Top Gun | $2,000,000 |
| 1986 | The Color of Money | $1,000,000 |
| 1988 | Rain Man | $3,000,000 |
| 1988 | Cocktail | $3,000,000 |
| 1989 | Born on the Fourth of July | $3,000,000 |
| 1990 | Days of Thunder | $9,000,000 |
| 1992 | A Few Good Men | $12,500,000 |
| 1992 | Far and Away | $13,000,000 |
| 1993 | The Firm | $12,000,000 |
| 1994 | Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles | $15,000,000 |
| 1996 | Jerry Maguire | $20,000,000 |
| 1996 | Mission: Impossible | $70,000,000 |
| 1999 | Magnolia | $100,000 |
| 1999 | Eyes Wide Shut | $20,000,000 |
| 2000 | Mission: Impossible II | $75,000,000 |
| 2001 | Vanilla Sky | $20,000,000 |
| 2002 | Minority Report | $25,000,000 |
| 2003 | The Last Samurai | $25,000,000 |
| 2005 | War of the Worlds | $100,000,000 |
| 2006 | Mission: Impossible III | $75,000,000 |
| 2008 | Valkyrie | $20,000,000 |
| 2010 | Knight and Day | $11,000,000 |
| 2011 | Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol | $12,500,000 |
| 2022 | Top Gun Maverick | $13,000,000 |
| 2023 | Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 | $13,000,000 |
| Total Calculated Earnings: | $573,725,000 | |
In the early 1980s, during the early days of his career, Cruise earned under $100,000 per movie. As mentioned, he earned $50,000 in 1981 from starring in Taps. In 1983, his salary increased slightly to $75,000 for Risky Business, and in 1985, he earned half a million for Legend.
It wasn’t until 1986 that Cruise began commanding seven-figure salaries for acting projects. The first was $2 million for the lead role as “Maverick” in Top Gun. During the next few years, several $3 million paydays followed for Cocktail, Born on the Fourth of July, and Days of Thunder.
In the 1990s, Cruise’s average salary increased to $15 million per movie. In 1992, he made $25.5 million combined from A Few Good Men and Far and Away. A year later, he took home $12 million for his role in The Firm. Cruise’s first reported $20 million salary was in 1996 for Jerry Maguire.
Mission: Impossible Salary
Due to his producer credits, Tom Cruise has earned a lot of money from the Mission: Impossible franchise. He was estimated to have earned $220 million for the first three movies. While most reports on his salary for the later films estimate $13 million per movie, this is likely just his base salary.
War of the Worlds Salary
One of Cruise’s highest single-movie earnings came from his lead role in 2005’s War of the Worlds. Once backend points were taken into account, he earned roughly $100 million from the film.
Divorce Settlement
Tom Cruise was married to actress Katie Holmes for roughly six years, from 2006 to 2012. However, in June 2012, Holmes officially filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences in the court documents. The divorce proceedings were primarily centered around the couple’s daughter, Suri Cruise, who was only six years old at the time.
Holmes was granted primary custody of Suri, and their divorce settlement stated that Cruise would pay her roughly $400,000 per year in child support, equating to $33,000 per month. This arrangement would last until Suri turned eighteen in April 2024. Cruise also paid for Suri’s health care and education and set up a trust fund for her. Since Suri is now over eighteen, Cruise is no longer required to pay child support to Katie, and if our calculations are correct, he would have paid approximately $4.8 million in total between 2012 and 2024.
Additionally, Holmes didn’t receive spousal support or a personal settlement, and child support was the only issue during the couple’s brief court process.
Highest-Grossing Movies
Six films in the Mission: Impossible franchise made Cruise’s top ten highest-grossing list, but none ranked highest. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) grossed $792 million globally, followed by $695 million for Ghost Protocol (2011) and $683 million for Rogue Nation (2015). The most recent release, Dead Reckoning Part One, grossed only $568 million despite a $291 million budget. The only film in the franchise not to make the list was Mission: Impossible III, which grossed $398 million worldwide.
The highest-grossing film of Tom Cruise’s career was Top Gun: Maverick (2022), which grossed $1.5 billion at the box office while costing $170 million to produce. The other movies on the list include War of the Worlds ($604 million), The Last Samurai ($455 million), and The Mummy ($409 million).
It would be remiss if we didn’t mention the number one-performing film of Cruise’s career in terms of return on investment. The original Top Gun (1986) grossed $357 million worldwide but cost only $15 million to produce. It could technically be considered the biggest box-office success of Tom’s career.
Here’s a complete list of Tom Cruise’s ten highest-grossing movies:
- Top Gun: Maverick – $1.5 Billion (2022)
- Mission: Impossible – Fallout – $792 Million (2018)
- Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol – $695 Million (2011)
- Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation – $683 Million (2015)
- War of the Worlds – $604 Million (2005)
- Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One – $568 Million (2023)
- Mission: Impossible II – $546 Million (2000)
- Mission: Impossible – $458 Million (1996)
- The Last Samurai – $455 Million (2003)
- The Mummy – $409 Million (2017)
Actors
Will Smith Net Worth
| Net Worth: | $350 Million |
|---|---|
| Age: | 57 |
| Born: | September 25, 1968 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Country of Origin: | United States of America |
| Source of Wealth: | Actor/Rapper |
| Last Updated: | Feb 20, 2026 |
Introduction
Will Smith is an American professional actor, rapper, and songwriter with an estimated net worth of $350 Million.
Since transitioning from music to acting in 1990, Will Smith has starred in nearly 100 films and won 96 awards. For a long time, he was consistently ranked among the world’s highest-paid actors, typically commanding a minimum salary of $20 million per film. Despite some setbacks in his early career, including IRS issues while starring on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Smith has since built a substantial fortune.
Quick Facts
- Typically earns a salary of $20 million per film
- Earned an estimated $125 million from the Men in Black franchise
Net Worth History
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2010 | $170 Million |
| 2011 | $180 Million |
| 2012 | $190 Million |
| 2013 | $200 Million |
| 2014 | $210 Million |
| 2015 | $220 Million |
| 2016 | $260 Million |
| 2017 | $280 Million |
| 2018 | $300 Million |
| 2019 | $320 Million |
| 2020 | $330 Million |
| 2021 | $340 Million |
| 2022 | $350 Million |
| 2023 | $350 Million |
| 2024 | $350 Million |
Film Salaries
| Year | Project | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Fresh Prince of Bel Air (Season 1) | $750,000 |
| 1991 | Fresh Prince of Bel Air (Season 2) | $950,000 |
| 1992 | Where the Day Takes You | $50,000 |
| 1993 | Fresh Prince of Bel Air (Season 3) | $1,100,000 |
| 1993 | Six Degrees of Separation | $500,000 |
| 1993 | Made in America | $100,000 |
| 1995 | Bad Boys | $2,000,000 |
| 1996 | Independence Day | $5,000,000 |
| 1997 | Men in Black | $5,000,000 |
| 1998 | Enemy of the State | $14,000,000 |
| 1999 | Wild Wild West | $7,000,000 |
| 2000 | The Legend of Bagger Vance | $10,000,000 |
| 2001 | Ali | $20,000,000 |
| 2002 | Men in Black II | $20,000,000 |
| 2003 | Bad Boys II | $20,000,000 |
| 2004 | I, Robot | $28,000,000 |
| 2005 | Hitch | $20,000,000 |
| 2006 | The Pursuit of Happyness | $20,000,000 |
| 2007 | I am Legend | $25,000,000 |
| 2008 | Hancock | $20,000,000 |
| 2012 | Men in Black 3 | $100,000,000 |
| 2016 | Suicide Squad | $20,000,000 |
| 2017 | Bright | $20,000,000 |
| 2019 | Aladdin | $12,500,000 |
| 2019 | Gemini Man | $12,500,000 |
| 2020 | Bad Boys for Life | $17,000,000 |
| 2021 | King Richard | $60,000,000 |
| 2022 | Emancipation | $35,000,000 |
| 2024 | Bad Boys: Ride or Die | $25,000,000 |
| Total Calculated Earnings: | $521,450,000 | |
While still working on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Smith was paid minor sums for his first few films. This included $50,000 for Where the Day Takes You (1992), $500,000 for Six Degrees of Separation (1993), and $100,000 for Made in America (1993).
Bad Boys Salary
It wasn’t until 1995 that he earned his first seven-figure salary for a film. Smith earned $2 million starring in Bad Boys (1995). The sequel, Bad Boys II (2003), earned him $20 million. The most recent films, Bad Boys for Life and Bad Boys: Ride or Die, earned him $17 million and $25 million, respectively.
There have been reports that Will would receive a 20% cut of the profits from Bad Boys II, which would have been worth an additional $20-$30 million; however, nothing has been confirmed. He’s estimated to have earned $64 million from the franchise.
Men in Black Trilogy Salary
Two years after starring in the first Bad Boys film, Will was paid $5 million for Men in Black (1997). He earned $20 million for Men in Black II (2002) and a $20 million upfront salary for Men in Black 3 (2012), but also received 10% of the gross backend, which amounted to roughly $80 million. He’s estimated to have earned $125 million from the franchise.
King Richard Salary
Smith was paid an upfront salary of $20 million for King Richard (2021) and was expected to earn tens of millions in backend from box office profits. However, Warner Bros. released the film on HBO Max instead due to the pandemic; a tactic they used with many of their films at the time. They paid Will a flat $40 million bonus to compensate for the loss of backend, bringing his total to $60 million for the film.
Other Notable Film Salaries
During the 1990s, between filming for the Bad Boys and Men in Black franchises, Smith earned seven- and eight-figure salaries from other projects. In 1998, he earned $14 million for Enemy of the State and $7 million for Wild Wild West in 1999.
Once the 21st century began, Smith earned $10 million for The Legend of Bagger Vance. A year later, he earned his first $20 million salary from starring in Ali. Since then, Will has commanded at least $20 million per project, including I, Robot ($28 million), Hitch ($20 million), The Pursuit of Happyness ($20 million), I Am Legend ($25 million), and Hancock ($20 million).
How Does Will Smith Spend His Money?
The Smiths spend a lot of money on luxury cars. Will owns a Bentley Azure, a Maybach 57s, a 1965 Ford Mustang, a Cadillac Escalade, and a Mercedes-Benz GL450. Will Smith and his wife have taken many vacation trips in the past, and they are not inexpensive. Over the years, the Smiths have owned real estate worth $100 million worldwide.
Their home in Calabasas is valued at $42 million. The Smiths spend some of their millions spoiling their three kids: Jaden, Willow, and Trey. In 2016, they bought Jaden his 6,000-square-foot home worth $4 million.
Philanthropy
Will Smith and Jada have their own foundation, “The Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation”, which has given over $1 million to charities and other organizations. Their biggest beneficiaries have been Christian churches, the Scientology organization, and Mosques.
Highest-Grossing Movies
Smith’s highest-grossing films include the franchises for which he’s most recognized, Men in Black and Bad Boys. However, his top-grossing movie was 2019’s Aladdin, which grossed $1.05 billion worldwide. This is Will Smith’s only movie to gross over $1 billion.
As for Men in Black, all three of the films in the trilogy made it to the top ten. Men in Black 3 is Smith’s fourth-highest-grossing film, with $654 million in worldwide box office revenue. The original ranks sixth, grossing $589 million, while Men in Black II ranks eighth at $445 million. The two most recent Bad Boys movies just made the list, coming in ninth and tenth place. The Men in Black franchise grossed nearly $1.7 billion, and Bad Boys grossed $1.14 billion.
Here’s a complete list of Will Smith’s ten highest-grossing films at the box office:
- Aladdin – $1.05 Billion (2019)
- Independence Day – $817 Million (1996)
- Suicide Squad – $749 Million (2016)
- Men in Black 3 – $654 Million (2012)
- Hancock – $629 Million (2008)
- Men in Black – $589 Million (1997)
- I Am Legend – $585 Million (2007)
- Men in Black II – $445 Million (2002)
- Bad Boys for Life – $427 Million (2020)
- Bad Boys: Ride or Die – $390 Million (2024)
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Rebecca Good
Nov 15, 2018 at 7:34 pm
He earns every cent he makes and works his ass off.
Every movie is exciting, and understandable!!!!!
Vera Shah
Jul 11, 2019 at 3:45 am
I am a big fan of Bruce Willis, I have always wanted to meet him ,maybe I will one of these days . By the way we have the same birthday date different year. All the best to to Bruce Willis.
Jan milne
Aug 30, 2019 at 11:36 pm
I love Bruce Willis he’s one of the greatest actors of our time and he can sing and play mouth organ he should have won a Oscar for the sixth sense he’s simply the best