Last year, the movie industry produced some truly box-office breaking blockbusters and the best paid actors of 2014 were all featured in these films. Although the names on this list will surely sound familiar, given their level of popularity and trajectory in the business, their earnings have varied significantly over the past decade, according to the roles they accepted. However, from action heroes to gangsters, these movie stars’ stellar performances have demonstrated that they’re worth every penny.
While the interpreters on this list earned their whopping salaries through more than one production in most cases, some casts have been adamant about retaining a specific actor for a part, thereby paying him fortunes. If you’re curious to see who the highest-paid actors for a single role are, check out our previous compilation. But for now, let’s take a look at the best paid actors of 2014.
7. Christian Bale
Earnings in 2014: $35 million
Last year was definitely a good one for the former Batman protagonist, Christian Bale. Not only did he receive his second Academy Award nomination as Best Actor for his role in the blockbuster American Hustle, he also landed the part as Moses in Ridley Scott’s massive production film of the Bible tale, Exodus. Considering that Bale has tackled several challenging character interpretations over the past decade, which in some cases included starving to reach a certain weight, his 2014 earnings seem pretty justified.
6. Ben Affleck
Earnings in 2014: $35 million
After demonstrating his directing abilities to the world, at the hand of his movie Fargo, Ben Affleck faced some hefty critique from bad-mouthers who claimed he wasn’t worthy of playing Batman in Warner Bros. latest production of the comic. However, his pay check was rather handsome and he’ll most likely stay on the list of best paid actors for the next couple of years.
5. Liam Neeson
Earnings in 2014: $36 million
Although Liam Neeson has shown his audience a broad range of character interpretations over the past 30 years, it was one particular role that catapulted him onto the best-paid list. As Bryan Mills, a former trained government operative, whose daughter gets abducted in Paris and he crosses the world to rescue her, Liam won over millions of fans with his action stunts. But what’s more, he also earned himself a solid salary last year, as Taken 3 hit the cinemas worldwide.
4. Leonardo DiCaprio
Earnings in 2014: $39 million
With two gigantic blockbusters under the hood in a single year, it’s no surprise that our favourite almost Oscar winner is one of the best paid actors of 2014. With The Great Gatsby reeling in $351 million and Martin Scrosese’s The Wolf of Wall Street earning $395 million at the global box offices, he’s now solidified his status as the go-to actor for big Hollywood productions.
3. Bradley Cooper
Earnings in 2014: $46 million
For the past five years, Bradley Cooper has appeared in the majority of Hollywood’s best productions, be it in the comedy, romance, drama, thriller, or action genre. And for such a hard working young gentleman, movie studios are willing to pay a whopping salary. The only thing still missing on Cooper’s repertoire is an Oscar, but we’re sure that will happen any day now.
2. Dwayne Johnson
Earnings in 2014: $52 million
Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock, might not be the world’s best actor, but he sure is one of the best-paid. After his movies G.I. Joe and Fast and Furious took off, the former wrestler took on his first leading role as Hercules, as well as venturing into the lucrative world of television. As executive producer and main character in the HBO show Ballers, Johnson has his millions well assured for the future years.
1. Robert Downey, Jr.
Earnings in 2014: $75 million
When you’re an audience favourite and your face grazes millions of virtual memes, any Hollywood studio knows you’ll bring them big bucks. And this was exactly the case with Robert Downey, Jr., who really escalated his fortune by negotiating with Marvel on the Iron Man and Avengers franchises. Given that Iron Man 3 was the highest grossing movie of 2013 with $1.2 billion in box office revenue, Mr, Downey can relax about his income as he maintains his top spot amongst the best paid actors of 2014.
