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Actress Scarlett Johansson arrives at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 27: Actress Scarlett Johansson arrives at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on February 27, 2011 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Marvel at Her Millions! Find Out All About ScarJo's Net Worth—And How Much More She Got From Her Disney Lawsuit

She is the highest paid woman in Hollywood after all.

Scarlett Johansson is one of the most successful and highest-grossing female actresses on the planet these days, but to look at her low-key life, you may not know it. In fact, she doesn't live like an A-list diva because, as she previously explained to Parade, she's never really felt like one.

"Since a very young age, I've been rejected constantly. When people starting out ask me for advice, I always say to stay open-minded, because you never know," she said. "I’ve never felt that I had both feet out, you know? I never imagined having another career, but there were definitely times when I felt like I should try something else in the industry."

It's a good thing she didn't: Thanks in large part to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Johansson brings in major bank, raking in $14 billion in box office bucks throughout her career—and that was before the 2021 release of her first MCU star vehicle, Black Widow. According to Box Office Mojo, that movie grossed $379 million in worldwide theatrical ticket sales; it was also simultaneously available for a $30 rental via Disney+, where it reportedly earned another $60 million—but that decision on behalf of Disney to debut it both in theaters and on demand also prompted ScarJo to sue the entertainment giant. More on that below!

So, how much is ScarJo worth—and how much more could she have due to her Disney lawsuit? Here's what we know so far.

What is Scarlett Johansson's net worth?

Scarlett Johansson's net worth is estimated at $165 million, raking in $56 million in 2019 alone. It wasn't easy: She told Marie Claire in 2017 that, although her movies have made her one of the highest-grossing stars in history, she hasn't always been among the highest-paid—especially when compared to her male co-stars.

"Just because I'm the top-grossing actress of all time does not mean I'm the highest-paid. I've had to fight for everything that I have. It's such a fickle and political industry," she admitted. "Some people felt I should talk about my personal struggle in order to shed a spotlight on the greater issue. Maybe I'm being presumptuous, but I assumed it was obvious that women in all positions struggle for equality. It's always an uphill battle and fight. My experience with my close female friends and family is that the struggle is real for everybody. Everyone has been discriminated against or harassed—sexism is real."

Her revenue-generating feat is even more impressive when you examine her résumé. For one thing, it's full of critically acclaimed indies alongside all of that superhero fare, which shows she isn't afraid to take risks; for another, ScarJo forgoes any social media presence, which means she's not publicly flaunting her wealth, nor is she engaged in any influencer or "#sponcon" deals like many of her peers. This works on a number of levels: Not only does it ensure Johansson's treasured privacy, but it also maintains her brand as being aspirational, top-shelf and high-end.

Why did Scarlett Johansson sue Marvel?

In a June 2021 interview with ComicBook.com, ScarJo said Black Widow would mark her final turn in a Marvel movie. At the time, she waxed nostalgic about why she was moving on. "It feels great to leave a party when it's still raging and I think that this film [Black Widow] feels very much like it's alive and fresh and powerful and I feel really pleased with it," she explained. "It's bittersweet to say goodbye, but if you love something, you need to set it free!"

However, it now seems that her exit may have been spurred on by finances. On July 29, 2021, Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney, alleging that the company was in breach of contract when it released Black Widow simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+. She claims her contract explicitly stated that Black Widow would be guaranteed a theatrical-only release to start, and that her overall earnings from the project were based in large part on box-office performance. She further stated in legal documents that, given Disney's decision for a dual debut, she tried to renegotiate her contract ahead of BlackWidow's release, but the studio refused—and that overall, the whole scenario as it played out personally cost her an estimated $50 million.

A ScarJo attorney told CNBC that Disney's decision was intended only to benefit the company and not ScarJo's bottom line: “It’s no secret that Disney is releasing films like BlackWidow directly onto Disney+ to increase subscribers and thereby boost the company’s stock price–and that it’s hiding behind COVID-19 as a pretext to do so. But ignoring the contracts of the artists responsible for the success of its films in furtherance of this short-sighted strategy violates their rights and we look forward to proving as much in court."

For its part, Disney fired back in a statement, "There is no merit whatsoever to this filing. The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic."

On Sept. 30, 2021, it was reported that the two sides had settled out of court, with Deadline claiming that (according to an unnamed source) Johansson made out pretty well, receiving $40 million in the settlement. It also seems that both sides made nice to the other, at least enough that the actress is still on track to star in the upcoming Disney movie, Tower of Terror.

How much did Scarlett Johansson make for Black Widow?

In its July 2021 statement slamming ScarJo, Disney also stated that Johansson had received $20 million to date for Black Widow.

How much money did Scarlett Johansson make with Marvel?

It was rumored that Johansson made double the salary of her male co-stars Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth for the first two Avengers films, but that was false. According to Variety, she made about the same amount, which The Hollywood Reporter estimated to be in the "low seven figures." However, her merchandising may leave her somewhat behind her co-stars in terms of licensing cash, as Mark Ruffalo pointed out in 2015.

Closing the cast's gender gap was reportedly a priority for Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn, who told Variety in 2015, "Audiences have proven that there's an appetite and a market for dynamic female leads and female-driven stories, and as an industry, we have a responsibility to create those roles for women and compensate them accordingly."

Johansson herself hinted that she made at least as much as some of her male colleagues, telling Cosmopolitan in 2016 that while the gender wage gap needs to be addressed for women as a whole, "I am very fortunate, I make a really good living, and I'm proud to be an actress who's making as much as many of my male peers at this stage."

By the numbers, here are the MCU's box office grosses for films featuring Johansson:

Meanwhile, the budget for Black Widow is reportedly in the $200 million range, not including marketing costs.

Related: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Scarlett Johansson

How much did Scarlett Johansson make from Avengers: Endgame?

According to Forbes, Johansson made about $14 million up front for Avengers: Endgame, plus approximately five percent of the box office grosses. Because Endgame made a whopping $2.8 billion, that amounts to about $35 million.

How much money did Scarlett Johansson make from Black Widow?

It's estimated that Johansson made $15 million upfront for Black Widow, the same that Evans and Hemsworth each made for their most recent leading solo Marvel films (Captain America: Civil War and Thor: Ragnarok).

What are Scarlett Johansson's biggest movies outside of the MCU?

Outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Johansson has had a long and illustrious Hollywood career, beginning as a child star in North in 1994. It wasn't until 2001, however, when Johansson was 17, that she first earned big notices with the critically acclaimed Ghost World. Two years later, Johansson enjoyed her biggest breakout film with 2003's Lost In Translation. Playing alongside Bill Murray, the critically acclaimed film made $119 million on a $4 million budget.

The same year, Johansson took over the titular role in Girl With a Pearl Earring, another indie critical darling, from Kate Hudson. (It wasn't the only time that happened: She later became Black Widow because Emily Blunt had scheduling conflicts. Johansson explained to Parade, "The best call you can receive is after you are rejected for something and then you get it. You appreciate it more. I've basically made a career out of being second choice.")