Not All Heroes Wear Capes... They Wear Very Expensive Suits
You can expect any successful Hollywood actor to earn a generous paycheck. Most of them are probably millionaires. However, the ones who are lucky enough to get cast in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are probably in another tax bracket, to say the least. Marvel films are some of the highest-grossing of all time, and the actors they select to be the face of them play a big role in how well they perform at the box office. In case you weren't already feeling poor, here are the highest-paid Marvel actors and their absurd salaries.
1. Robert Downey Jr.
Without Robert Downey Jr., the MCU would not be what it is today. As Iron Man, he became the face of Marvel, his salary growing from $500,000 for his first performance in 2008 to an incredible $75 million.
2. Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson's relationship with the MCU started way back with Iron Man 2 when she first put on that black bodysuit as Natasha Romanoff. After over a decade in the Marvel universe, she finally got her own solo movie Black Widow which she was paid a whopping $20 million.
3. Brie Larson
Brie Larson was already an Oscar-winning actor when she was cast as Carol Danvers, and premium talent doesn't come cheap! She was paid $5 million right off the bat for her first solo movie and likely much more for her subsequent Marvel appearances.
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4. Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch was already a considerably popular actor when he joined the Marvel brigade, and his performance as Doctor Strange proved to be a huge pull for getting seats in cinema chairs. His salary for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was reportedly $6.4 million and we can only expect that number will climb.
5. Paul Rudd
Paul Rudd breathed some fresh life into the Marvel Universe when they brought him on the play Ant-Man. Movie executives clearly understood what his lovable face was worth as they paid him $8 million for Avengers: End Game.
6. Jeremy Renner
Hawkeye is not typically the first superhero that comes to mind when Marvel is brought up. Even so, Jeremy Renner managed to negotiate as huge a salary as some of the most integral characters. Forbes reported his pay for Avengers: Endgame was an impressive $15 million.
7. Mark Ruffalo
Mark Ruffalo received a hulking heap of cash for his performance as the Hulk. He was paid around $15 million for his role as the lovable green monster in both The Avengers and The Avengers: Endgame.
8. Chris Evans
With Captain America such an integral part of the Marvel team, it's only fair that Chris Evans should receive one of the highest salaries. He was reportedly paid $15 million for his performance in Avengers: Endgame.
9. Chris Hemsworth
We can't picture a more perfect Thor than Chris Hemsworth. He knows it and the studios do as well. That's why he gets paid $20 million for his performance as the God of Thunder.
10. Chris Pratt
No one expected this chubby but lovable sitcom actor to become one of the highest-grossing actors in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Chris Pratt's roughly $5 million salary per Guardians of the Galaxy film is a big "I told you so" to anyone who doubted him.
11. Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan was reportedly paid a salary of $2 million for his unforgettable performance as Erik Killmonger in Black Panther as well as a percentage of the film's profits. Seeing as the film was a huge box office success, grossing $1.3 billion worldwide, we can expect he received a hefty sum.
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12. Anthony Mackie
Anthony Mackie has earned himself a spot among Marvel's greatest with his portrayal of Captain America. He reportedly earned $475,000 per episode of 2021's 6-chapter series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
13. Tom Hiddleston
Tom Hiddleston became indispensable in the MCU after his fantastic performance as Loki. He reportedly earned $8 million for 2017's Thor: Ragnarok.
14. Sebastian Stan
Co-starring in the series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier alongside Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan was reportedly paid $400,000 per episode for his performance as Winter Soldier. He was additionally paid $6 million per Avengers film.
15. Zoe Saldaña
Zoe Saldaña became an integral part of the Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers teams for her portrayal of Gamora. She reportedly got paid $11 million for Avengers: Endgame.
16. Samuel L. Jackson
An actor of the caliber of Samuel L. Jackson doesn't come cheap, even if he's just making cameos. He was paid $2 million to $3 million for his initial small appearances in Marvel as Nick Fury, but for his more substantial roles, he got paid upwards of $6 million.
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17. Tom Holland
Tom Holland's salary with Marvel has grown with his fame and popularity. When he was just starting out as Spider-Man, he was paid $1.5 million, but that figure has grown to $10 million with Spider-Man: No Way Home.
18. Don Cheadle
Don Cheadle's Marvel salary may look sparse compared to his co-star, Robert Downey Jr., but that doesn't mean it's modest. He was paid $10 million for his performance as Rhodes in the Iron Man films.
19. Elizabeth Olsen
Elizabeth Olsen made herself a formidable member of the Marvel universe with her portrayal of The Scarlet Witch. Although exact figures have not been publicized, rumor has it she was paid $2 million for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Avengers, but was likely much higher in WandaVision considering the hit show had a budget of $25 million per episode.
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20. Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow was reportedly paid $9 million for her performance as Pepper Potts which is substantial considering she wasn't one of the major superheroes. However, compared to Robert Downey Jr.'s salary, it looks like a handful of pennies.
