Who were Hollywood's top earners in 2010?

Who were Hollywood’s top earners in 2010?

February 3rd 2011, 6:22am

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

With 2010 now well in the can, Vanity Fair has once again released their annual breakdown of which Hollywood players got just a little bit richer this past year. It’s a thorough list that even details where exactly the money came from (such as back-end bonuses and ancillary revenues).

The list focuses on creative figures – meaning actors, directors, and producers – and the money they earn exclusively from film (so no television work and nothing from extra curricular projects).

Here are the top 10 earners in Hollywood from 2010:

1) JAMES CAMERON – $257 MILLION

$248 million: AVATAR (back-end for writing, producing, and directing, based on 2010 worldwide box-office gross of $1.95 billion, and share of DVD and pay-television revenue; excludes $50 million earned in 2009)

$5 million: AVATAR (share of toy licensing, other revenue)

$4 million: Older film revenue (e.g., back-end and royalties from earlier projects, other payments)

2) JOHNNY DEPP – $100 MILLION

$40 million: ALICE IN WONDERLAND (back-end for starring, based on worldwide gross of $1.02 billion)

$35 million: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES (up-front money for starring)

$20 million: THE TOURIST (fee for co-starring)

$5 million: Older film revenue

3) STEVEN SPIELBERG – $80 MILLION

$50 million: Universal-theme-park royalties and consulting fees

$20 million: WAR HORSE (fee for directing and producing)

$10 million: Older film revenue

4) CHRISTOPHER NOLAN – $71.5 MILLION

$69 million: INCEPTION (back-end for writing, producing, and directing, based on worldwide gross of $823 million, and share of DVD and pay-TV revenue)

$2.5 million: Older film revenue

5) LEONARDO DICAPRIO – $62 MILLION

$59 million: INCEPTION (back-end for starring)

$3 million: Back-end for starring in SHUTTER ISLAND, older film revenue

6) TIM BURTON – $53 MILLION

$50 million: ALICE IN WONDERLAND (back-end for directing, based on worldwide gross of $1.02 billion, and share of DVD and pay-TV revenue)

$3 million: Older film revenue

7) ADAM SANDLER – $50 MILLION

$25 million: JUST GO WITH IT (fee for producing and starring)

$20 million: JACK AND JILL (fee for producing and starring)

$3 million: GROWN UPS (back-end for starring and writing, based on worldwide gross of $271 million, plus share of DVD and pay-TV revenue)

$2 million: Older film revenue

8) TODD PHILLIPS – $34 MILLION

$15 million: THE HANGOVER: PART II (fee for writing, producing, and directing)

$13 million: THE HANGOVER (back-end for producing and directing; excludes $39 million earned in 2009)

$3 million: DUE DATE (back-end for producing and directing, based on worldwide gross of $200 million, as of December 31, 2010)

$2 million: Older film revenue

$1 million: PROJECT X (fee for producing)

9) TAYLOR LAUTNER – $33.5 MILLION

$12.5 million: THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 (fee for co-starring)

$12.5 million: THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 2 (fee for co-starring)

$7.5 million: ABDUCTION (fee for starring)

$1 million: Older film revenue, mostly from TWILIGHT franchise

10) ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. – $31.5 MILLION

$15 million: SHERLOCK HOLMES 2 (fee for starring)

$12 million: IRON MAN 2 (back-end, based on worldwide gross of $627 million, and share of DVD and pay-TV revenue)

$3.5 million: SHERLOCK HOLMES (back-end, based on worldwide gross of $523 million, and share of DVD and pay-TV revenue)

$1 million: Older film revenue