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As one of the leading global film production studios, Marvel Studios is the celestial galaxy to which top-tier celebrities gravitate.
From Hollywood stalwarts like Robert Downey Jr. to newcomers like Simu Liu, the studio has delivered a diverse array of performers to the silver screen.
Since its inception in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has produced interconnected stories of superheroes and villains, shattering box office records and bagging billions in revenue.
This success can be attributed to several factors, including the studio's ability to attract top Hollywood talent. Marvel excels at enlisting A-list actors capable of attracting cinema-goers.
These actors, in turn, benefit from the franchise's popularity by seeing their popularity skyrocket – not to mention the guarantee of a fat paycheck coming their way for each performance in the franchise.
This symbiotic relationship is one of the fundamental driving forces behind the MCU's enduring success.
Marvel Studios has grossed over $27 billion worldwide, and has launched or revived the careers of many actors in the process.
Some of these actors are now among the richest in the world.
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Marvel Studios has transformed into a powerhouse in Hollywood, with its interconnected universe of films now spanning 15 years and 32 movies.10 Jeremy Renner
Net Worth: $80 Million
Jeremy RennerA significant percentage of Jeremy Renner's net worth comes from his involvement in the MCU.
The Bourne Legacy star's journey in the MCU began in 2011 with Thor, where he made a brief cameo as Clint Barton (Hawkeye). The bow-wielding Hawkeye became a key member of the Avengers, and his role expanded in The Avengers, earning him a reported $3 million.
His salary steadily increased with each subsequent MCU appearance, reaching $6 million for Avengers: Age of Ultron and $8 million for Captain America: Civil War.
Renner's most significant paycheck came from Avengers: Endgame, where he reportedly pocketed $15 million. He also takes real estate investment seriously, as it contributes to his bank balance.
When not slinging arrows, the actor flips houses in Los Angeles, earning as much from real estate as acting. He has so far renovated around 25 homes in the Los Angeles area.
Renner started with modest properties in the early 2000s, selling them for up to $900,000. In 2013, he struck gold with a $24 million property sale.
He currently resides on a six-acre property close to Lake Tahoe.
9 Chris Pratt
Net Worth: $100 Million
Chris PrattOne of the "three Chrises" on the MCU payroll, Chris Pratt has established himself as a bankable star with his appearances in two top-grossing film series.
He portrayed Star-Lord in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with Guardians Of The Galaxy, and starred as Owen Grady in the Jurassic World trilogy.
Pratt initially rose to prominence playing the goofy but loveable Andy Dwyer in the NBC sitcom Parks And Recreation. Pratt's first MCU role as Star-Lord in Guardians Of The Galaxy paid a relatively modest $1.5 million, considering the film's massive success.
However, the space traversing Star-Lord secured a bigger paycheck for his appearance in Avengers: Infinity War, where he was paid $5 million.
2016 was a successful year for Pratt, as he pocketed $26 million for his roles in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 and Passengers. He earned $19 million in total for playing the lead role in the Jurassic World trilogy.
In 2023, Pratt was paid $20 million to reprise his role in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3.
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Marvel has became one of the biggest production houses in Hollywood over the years.8 Chris Evans
Net Worth: $110 Million
Chris EvansNo one could have portrayed Captain America the way Chris Evans did.
His decade-long tenure as the iconic superhero largely built his net worth of $110 million. Evans' MCU journey began in 2011 with Captain America: The First Avenger, where he received a relatively modest $300,000.
However, his salary steadily increased with each subsequent MCU appearance, reaching $3 million for The Avengers, $15 million for Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and $15 million again for Avengers: Age of Ultron.
In 2016, he raked in $20 million for Captain America: Civil War. He retained his $20 million when he reprised the role in Avengers: Infinity War.
Evans concluded his MCU run with a reprise of his iconic role in Avengers: Endgame, earning the same impressive paycheck – and earning the honor of uttering the franchise's most iconic iteration of the phrase "Avengers, assemble" to date:
2019 was a successful year for Evans. After the aforementioned $20 million for Endgame, he appeared in Guy Ritchie's breakout hit Knives Out and forayed into television (Defending Jacob).
The actor made $43.5 million in 2019, placing him on Forbes "Celebrity 100" list. Evans is also cashing in paychecks as the face of Gucci's Guilty fragrance.
Furthermore, Evans serves as brand ambassador for Smart Communications and smartphone brand TECNO.
7 Bradley Cooper
Net Worth: $120 Million
Bradley CooperYou may be forgiven for not recognizing the actor's face in the MCU, but you can certainly spot his unique vocal contribution to the franchise.
Bradley Cooper voiced the sarcastic Rocket Raccoon character in the MCU. Cooper earned $250,000 in 2014 following his voiceover work in the Guardians Of The Galaxy.
This figure increased by orders of magnitude when he brought home $4.5 million to reprise his role in volume two of the movie. Cooper was called back for Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, earning $13 million in total.
In 2023, Cooper returned in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 for the final time, with the story focused on his character Rocket Raccoon. The Hangover star was paid $20 million for the film, placing him among the highest-paid actors in the franchise.
Before his involvement in the MCU, Cooper made a name for himself in The Hangover trilogy.
According to Forbes, Bradley earned $46 million in 2014 alone — ranking him as the third highest-paid actor that year. In 2018, he came in at third again on the Forbes list, earning $41.5 million.
6 Chris Hemsworth
Net Worth: $130 Million
Chris HemsworthNo matter what character Chris Hemsworth plays in any movie, he is the god of thunder; that is how much he embodied the role of Thor in the MCU.
Hemsworth kicked off his MCU journey as part of the original trinity of Avengers (with Iron Man and Captain America) in 2011 by playing the titular character in Thor.
The actor received a modest $150,000, as he was a new face in the industry at that time.
The number of zeros on his paycheck multiplied with each subsequent MCU appearance, reaching $3 million for The Avengers, $5 million for Avengers: Age Of Ultron, and $15 million each for Infinity War and Endgame.
With respect to Hemsworth's standalone MCU films, the studio paid him $15 million for Thor: Ragnarök – the MCU entry in which the audience is introduced to Thor and his brother Loki's "Get Help" ploy:
He went on to secure $20 million in the fourth installment of the Thor series, Thor: Love and Thunder. As a top Hollywood actor, Chris Hemsworth draws one of the biggest salaries in the industry, which makes his net worth as mighty as Mjölnir.
Hemsworth came in at second on the Forbes list of highest-paid actors in 2019. In 2023, Hemsworth earned $20 million for Netflix's Extraction 2.
5 Scarlett Johansson
Net Worth: $165 Million
Scarlett JohanssonScarlett Johansson is one of the highest-paid actresses in the world, and her time as Black Widow in the MCU has been one of the most lucrative periods of her career.
Johansson first appeared on the screen in 1994, aged ten, in the fantasy comedy North. She was the world's highest-paid actress in 2018 and 2019, and featured multiple times on the Forbes "Celebrity 100" list.
Her debut appearance in the MCU was in Iron Man 2, and she reportedly received $400,000. Johansson's pay increased significantly in The Avengers and Age Of Ultron, as she made $15 million from both films.
In 2016, Johansson earned $15 million for her performance in Captain America: Civil War. Her commitment to the MCU continued with Avengers: Infinity War, where she retained a $15 million salary.
Johansson reprised her iconic role in Endgame, earning $35 million and making her the MCU's highest-paid actress.
In 2021, Scarlett concluded her MCU run when she starred in the standalone film Black Widow, for which she was paid $20 million.
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Be it acting, directing, or producing, Vin Diesel has aced it all.4 Vin Diesel
Net Worth: $225 Million
Vin DieselVin Diesel's voice acting role as the Groot in the MCU saw him repeating three words – "I am Groot" – in the six movies in which he featured.
This might sound outrageous, but he raked in quite the leafy green paycheck for saying the same three words with different inflections. The Fast And Furious star debuted in the MCU in James Gunn's Guardians Of The Galaxy, and would go on to appear in the second and third films.
Diesel earned between $13 and $15 million from the trilogy. Diesel reportedly received $2 million for the first Fast And Furious film, and $20 million for his performances in F9 and Fast X.
Diesel's salary for each of his appearances in Infinity War and Endgame has not been publicly disclosed. However, it is estimated that he earned at least $5 million for each.
In 2015, Diesel made $47 million and was the third highest-paid actor, according to Forbes.
In 2000, Diesel purchased a house for over $500,000, later listing the property for $1.2 million. He lives in a Beverly Hills mansion valued at over $5 million.
3 Gwyneth Paltrow
Net Worth: $250 Million
Gwyneth PaltrowAs Pepper Potts, Gwyneth Paltrow suited up in her own superhero attire a few times throughout the MCU. Prior to joining the MCU, she was already a household name in the industry.
The Academy Award winner first appeared in Iron Man, earning $250,000. Paltrow reprised her role as Pepper Potts in several subsequent MCU films, including Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Iron Man 3, and Avengers: Age Of Ultron.
Her salary for each of these films increased steadily, reaching a seven-figure sum for Avengers: Endgame.
In 2014, Forbes reported that Gwyneth earned $19 million – thanks to Iron Man 3, plus endorsement deals with major brands like Max Factor and Hugo Boss.
Paltrow's involvement in the MCU has been relatively limited compared to some of her co-stars, but her performances have been consistently well-received by critics and audiences.
Paltrow has an impressive real estate portfolio, which has contributed to her net worth. She also owns the controversial lifestyle brand Goop, which she established in 2008.
2 Samuel L. Jackson
Net Worth: $250 Million
sam-jacksonIt comes as no surprise that Marvel Studios enlisted the services of the highest-grossing actor of all time; Marvel's early success hinged on the first Iron Man, prompting the decision to cast an array of A-list talents ... including the inimitable Jackson as Avengers head honcho Nick Fury.
Samuel L. Jackson's success in the industry is well deserved; the veteran actor has over 120 films under his belt, bringing in a staggering $13 billion at the box office under his intense star power.
Since making his debut in Iron Man, the actor has gone on to appear in nine more MCU films and three Disney+ franchise spin offs.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, the Pulp Fiction star receives between $10 million and $20 million for every leading role he undertakes.
Remarkably, Jackson reportedly manages to rake in a handsome fee of around $2 to 3 million from brief cameos in Marvel productions.
1 Robert Downey Jr.
Net Worth: $300 million
Robert Downey Jr.It hardly controversial to suggest that Robert Downey Jr. made the MCU what it is today, kicking off the franchise with his spectacular portrayal of the armored avenger and arms dealer Tony Stark in Iron Man.
Comic book writer and Marvel Comics executive Stan Lee lauded Downey's performance, decreeing that RDJ was born to play Iron Man. The actor is one of the highest-paid in Hollywood, and his involvement with the MCU cannot be decoupled from his striking financial success.
Downey jump started the MCU as Tony Stark in the eponymous Iron Man in 2008, earning $2 million.
Before featuring in the sequel, RDJ negotiated for more money, earning $10 million – plus another sweet, back-end deal and $10 million for The Avengers. With his career revitalized, Downey became a mainstay of the MCU and Hollywood.
He would go on to appear in Infinity War and Endgame, for which he received $75 million per film. Downey, Jr. earned $64 million for Captain America: Civil War, and around $15 million for his minute-long cameo in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Based on the most recently available estimates, Robert Downey Jr. has reportedly earned over $435 million through the MCU. In addition to his Hollywood earnings, RDJ has a lucrative endorsement deal with Chinese phone company OnePlus.
Robert Downey Jr. also owns several homes in the Los Angeles area, boasting a property portfolio likely worth between $40 and 50 million.
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