- Adam Sandler topped Forbes' 2023 highest-paid screen actors list with a whopping $73 million in earnings.
- Sandler's success comes from projects like Murder Mystery 2 and stand-up comedy gigs.
- Other top earners included Margot Robbie, Tom Cruise, Ryan Gosling, and Matt Damon.
Adam Sandler – who began his career as a stand-up comic as a teenager making $10 a night – just topped Forbes' list of highest-paid screen actors for 2023.
The 57-year-old SNL alum brought in a whopping $73 million for the year (and a staggering $93 million gross), according to Forbes.
The publication debuted its annual list of highest-paid screen actors on March 7th, and credited Sandler's Netflix projects and stand-up comedy gigs for the actor's massive earnings.
Sandler's 2023 earnings neatly top off his estimated $420 million fortune:
Where Brooklyn At? How Adam Sandler Earns And Spends His $420 Million Net Worth
Adam Sandler's net worth results from his journey from SNL star to Hollywood royalty, and his films have grossed $5.6 billion at the box office.Not bad for a kid from Manchester, New Hampshire (via Brooklyn).
Let's take a look at the projects that earned Sandler the number one spot out of the ten actors who made Forbes' 2023 list.
From Netflix To Comedy Clubs, How Adam Sandler Earned $73 Million Last Year
Forbes credits Sandler's so-called "crass comedy caper" Murder Mystery 2 for a large portion of his earnings in 2023.
The husband-and-wife detective romp (co-starring Jennifer Aniston) was the fifth most-watched film of 2024, with 173 million hours viewed, according to Netflix.
Sandler co-wrote, produced, and voiced the animated caper Leo – also for Netflix – which has been described as "a smart, funny, existential musical comedy about a jaded 74-year-old class pet lizard." Sandler’s wife and two daughters also voiced characters in the film.
Sandler also produced and appeared in the coming-of-age comedy-drama, You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah:
The film was another family affair for Sandler, with his wife and two daughters once again appearing in his project.
Netflix extended its deal with Sandler and his company Happy Madison Productions after the success of the original Murder Mystery in 2019.
Netflix reported that 83 million households streamed Murder Mystery in its first four weeks on the streaming service.
When announcing the extension of the relationship, Netflix pronounced: "There's no such thing as too much Sandler."
Forbes reported that Sandler's return to stand-up-comedy led him to perform 44 dates last year, including stops in Nashville, Austin, and Dallas.
For just 15 shows, Billboard reported that Sandler brought in $14.2 million, and "doing the math" reveals some big numbers.
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Second Place: Margot Robbie
Coming in second was 33-year-old Barbie producer and star Margot Robbie, whom the BBC noted was the youngest person on the Forbes list.
Robbie earned $59 million in a true blockbuster year, with a total gross of $78 million.
In addition to ticket sales, licensing deals and other business partnerships added to Robbie's take.
Robbie's production company, LuckyChap, produced the "black-comedy thriller" Saltburn for Amazon Prime Video.
The project garnered two Golden Globe and five BAFTA awards.
According to ScreenRant, Saltburn brought in $11.5 million domestically and $21 million worldwide.
Robbie's estimated net worth is around $60 million.
Third Place: Tom Cruise
In third place was Mission: Impossible star Tom Cruise, who still does his own stunts at 61, with $45 million ($53 million grossed).
According to Forbes, Cruise commands "first-dollar gross," which means "he gets paid a percentage of box office and other revenues beginning the day it's released, before the studio even recoups its money."
Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One earned $78.5 million after a five-day opening.
Cruise is believed to be worth an outrageous $600 million.
Impossible Wealth: The Richest Cast Members In The Mission: Impossible Franchise
With seven movies and an iconic cast, Tom Cruise's high-octane espionage adventure has been lucrative for its stars.Fourth Place (Tie)
In fourth place was another Barbie star, Ryan Gosling, with $43 million in earnings ($50 million grossed).
The film itself, directed by Greta Gerwig, brought in over $300 million on its opening weekend alone, according to Forbes.
The 43-year-old was nominated for a "Best Supporting Actor" Oscar.
However, Gosling made the following statement when neither Gerwig nor Robbie received nominations individually:
There is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film.
Gosling is reportedly worth $70 million.
The Highest-Grossing Matt Damon Movies, From The Martian To Oppenheimer
His journey to Hollywood heavyweight is a box office success story, and Matt Damons movies have grossed over $9.7 billion.Tied for fourth place with Gosling is 53-year-old Matt Damon, who also brought in $43 million (with $50 million grossed) in 2023.
Damon signed a lucrative deal with business partner Ben Affleck to produce the movie Air, which was sold to Amazon for $130 million.
Rounding Out The Top Ten Highest-Paid Screen Actors Of 2023
| Actor | Rank (Number) | Earnings, Per Forbes |
|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Aniston | 6th | $42 Million |
| Leonardo DiCaprio | 7th (Tied) | $41 Million |
| Jason Statham | 7th (Tied) | $41 Million |
| Ben Affleck | 9th | $38 Million |
| Denzel Washington | 10th | $24 Million |
