The Golden Age of Hollywood ran from the mid-1930s to the mid-1940s. This is when Hollywood was really beginning to capture the hearts, minds, and wallets of the American public. Some of the biggest names to come from that era include James Stewart, Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, and Laurence Olivie. As some of the biggest names in the industry, you’d think they were also paid quite well for building helping to build the Hollywood empire.
In 1942, Humphrey Bogart was paid a total of $114,125 for four of his films: All Through the Night, The Big Shot, Across the Pacific, and Casablanca. That’s it. Let’s compare that to one of Hollywood’s elite today . . .
In 2021, Daniel Craig is going to get paid for three of his films: Knives Out 1, Knives Out 2, and Knives Out 3. He will be paid a little over $150 million. Times are a’changin’!
Here are some of the highest-paid celebrities in 2021!
Kylie Jenner
You knew you’d see the name “Jenner” on this list. In fact, you may have assumed you’d see it more than once. What is it about the Jenners that the world can’t get enough of? We sure know one thing the Jenners can’t get enough of and that’s money.
Her Net Worth: $590M
Forbes reports, “The reality TV star sold 51% of Kylie Cosmetics to publicly traded Coty, Inc. in January 2019 for $600 million; she pocketed $540 million, pretax.” We’d say she made an excellent deal.
Kanye West
Kanye seems to have his hand in everything from music to fashion. We think we would be hard-pressed to find even one person in the US who doesn’t know who he is! No matter what your opinion of West, no one can argue he’s made a whole lot of money!
His Net Worth: $170M
Much of his money currently comes from royalties on his music, as well as his sneaker brand, Yeezy. West also gets royalties from Adidas, which makes his shoes, which adds up to an estimated $1.7 billion in sales. Though he and Kim Kardashian are divorcing, West still owns a small stake in her shapewear brand, Skims.
Roger Fedderer
Roger Federer is the highest-paid athlete in the world. Can you imagine how much pressure that must be?!
His Net Worth: $106.3M
Federer has a sponsor portfolio that is unmatched in the sports world, which has made him the world’s highest-paid athlete.
One of his biggest sources of ongoing revenue is an endorsement deal he signed with the Japanese apparel brand Uniqlo. According to Sportcasting.com, this deal will make him $30 million a year until 2028!
Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry is a director, actor, producer, and writer. He’s best known for his “Madea” franchise, which has grossed more than $660 million.
His Net Worth: $97M
The bulk of Perry’s wealth comes from some seriously smart decisions he made right at the beginning of his career. He owns 100% of the content he’s ever created!
Howard Stern
We all know Howard Stern is a veteran shock jock. Did you also know he’s the world’s highest-paid radio host? Well, you do now! SiriusXM pays the host an eight-figure salary every year.
His Net Worth: $90M
Stern is another celebrity on this list who made some really savvy contractual decisions early on in his career. He retains rights to his archives, which could mean continued payouts for years to come.
Jerry Seinfeld
Even though his wildly popular television series, Seinfeld, ended in May 1998, Jerry Seinfeld still draws crowds. On a recent comedy tour, the star earned over $20 million from his devout fans.
His Net Worth: $51M
The sitcom hero is still collecting on his 90s-era work. According to Forbes, “Netflix will pay $500 million for the rights to air Seinfeld for five years.”
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is a singer, dancer, and actor. She first rose to fame in 2008 with the release of her album, “The Fame.” All five of her subsequent studio albums have debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart.
Her Net Worth: $38M
While a portion of Lady Gaga’s riches come from the sales of her music, she’s also launched a makeup line, which is sold exclusively on Amazon. Her line, Haus Laboratories, has raised over $10 million in venture funds.
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish was a member of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2019, and she’s only risen in fame ever since. Eilish is an American singer-songwriter who rose to prominence when she uploaded her breakout hit “Ocean Eyes” to SoundCloud in 2015. The song went viral in 2016.
Her Net Worth: $53M
Recently, Eilish has collected $25 million from Apple for a documentary about her life and career, and her newest album–“When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”–was the number one album in 2019. The 19-year-old artist won five Grammy Awards in 2020, making her the first woman to win all four of the major categories in a single year.
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres is a household name. Whether you became aware of her by watching her sitcom in the mid-90s, “Ellen,” or watching her talk show, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” you know she’s one of America’s favorite comedians.
Her Net Worth: $84M
Not only does she make eight-figures from hosting her show, she’s also earned millions more producing shows like “Little Big Shots.”
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez’s most recent tour–in 2019–grossed $55 million, which proves she continues to be a top draw. Up to now, she’s built her fortune by successfully recording eight studio albums, keeping an active touring schedule, and enjoying a Las Vegas residency.
Her Net Worth: $47.5M
Even if she didn’t lift another musical finger, she would continue to pull in millions of dollars a year from endorsements from fashions lines such as Versace and DSW.
Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig’s acting career started in 1992. Even so, most people weren’t familiar with his name until he stepped into the role of James Bond for Casino Royale in 2006. Since then, he’s starred in three other Bond films: Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), and Spectre (2015).
His Net Worth: $160M
Craig’s $160 million net worth is largely due to his role as James Bond, as well as the spinoff video games that have been highly successful for the franchise. He’s also garnered attention and a big paycheck for his roles in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.
