Top 16+ actors paid a pittance for iconic roles

Stars who earned shockingly low salaries

Acting, for the most successful in the profession, is a lucrative occupation, and Hollywood's top talent can command multi-million dollar paydays for their performances.

But not all iconic roles come with massive salaries. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that some of Hollywood’s most memorable performances earned their actors peanuts. 

From a Harrison Ford career-defining turn to superhero actors who were ridiculously underpaid, read on to discover 16 stars who earned shockingly little for their legendary roles, ranked from most to least.

All dollar amounts in US dollars. Pre-2023 figures adjusted for inflation.

16. David Corenswet - Superman: $750,000 (£554k)

David Corenswet is the latest actor to take on the mantle of the Man of Steel in James Gunn’s Superman (2025). Despite stepping into one of cinema’s most iconic roles, Corenswet earned a surprisingly modest $750,000 (£554k). Given the film's $225 million (£169m) production budget, his salary accounted for just 0.33% of the total.

In stark contrast, Henry Cavill reportedly earned $14 million (around $19m/£14m in 2025 money) for his first appearance as Superman. This figure includes a $300,000 upfront payment and a share of box office profits.

Interestingly, Nicholas Hoult, who played the villainous Lex Luthor, was the highest-paid actor in the cast, earning $2 million (£1.5m). However, it's worth noting that Hoult is an established star with credits like the X-Men franchise to his name, while Corenswet is a relative newcomer. With the film receiving rave reviews and Gunn planning to expand his DC cinematic universe, it’s likely Corenswet’s salary will soar in future entries. 

15. Michelle Williams - All the Money in the World: $625,000 ($822k/£607k today)

Michelle Williams earned just $625,000 ($822k/£607k today) for her powerhouse performance in the Getty family biopic All the Money in the World (2017). Meanwhile, co-star Mark Wahlberg banked $5 million ($6.6m/£4.9m today). With a production budget of $50 million, Williams' salary accounted for just 1.25% of the total, compared to Wahlberg's 10%.

Yet the real shocker came when the film required extensive reshoots after actor Kevin Spacey was fired and replaced by Christopher Plummer. Williams was paid just $1,000 ($1.3k/£960 today) for the reshoots, while Wahlberg earned $1.5 million ($2m/£1.5m today) for the same work. While Wahlberg arguably had more name recognition, Williams was a four-time Academy Award nominee at the time. 

The disparity sparked widespread criticism and highlighted Hollywood's ongoing gender wage gap. Wahlberg ultimately donated his reshoot fee to the Time's Up movement.

At the box office, the film flopped, grossing just $57 million ($75m/£56m). Critically, however, it fared better, earning an Academy Award nomination for Plummer in the Best Supporting Actor category.

14. Chris Evans - Captain America: The First Avenger: $300,000 ($430k/£318k today)

Chris Evans took home a mere $300,000 ($430k/£318k today) for his inaugural performance as Captain America in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). The superhero blockbuster had a $140 million budget, meaning his salary accounted for just 0.21% of the total.

The lowly payday is even more surprising considering Evans was already an established star at the time, having portrayed the Human Torch in the Fantastic Four franchise between 2005 and 2007.

However, the role proved to be a career-defining move. The movie was a huge hit, grossing $370.5 million ($530m/£397m today) globally and launching one of the most successful superhero franchises in cinema history. Evans went on to reprise the role in multiple Marvel films.

Naturally, Evans’ salary skyrocketed in future films. He's reportedly earned between $75 million (£55m) and $100 million (£74m) from playing Captain America. 

13. Gal Gadot - Wonder Woman: $300,000 ($395k/£292k today)

Gal Gadot earned $300,000 (around $395k/£292k in 2025 money) for her first outing as DC superhero Diana Prince in Wonder Woman (2017). The blockbuster had a $149 million budget, meaning her salary accounted for just 0.20% of the total. Gadot's modest pay seems even more shocking considering Wonder Woman was a box office juggernaut, grossing $823.9 million ($1.1m/£824m today) worldwide.

Adding to the controversy, rumours swirled that Gadot's male co-star Chris Pine was paid more than her for his part in the movie. Although his salary was never confirmed, the speculation fuelled the debate about gender pay disparity in Hollywood.

However, the role firmly established Gadot as one of the biggest stars in the world. She received a major pay bump for the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), taking home a substantial $10 million ($12.5m/£9m today). 

12. Chris Hemsworth - Thor: $150,000 ($215k/£159k today)

Chris Hemsworth earned $150,000 ($215k/£159k today) for his debut as the God of Thunder in Thor (2011) – a shockingly low salary for the leading man in a superhero blockbuster. The movie boasted a $150 million budget, meaning his payday accounted for just 0.1% of the total.

At the time, Hemsworth was relatively unknown outside his native Australia, where he rose to fame on the soap opera Home and Away. But his breakout performance quickly made Thor one of Marvel’s most beloved characters.

As his popularity rose, so did his salary. He earned an undisclosed sum for Thor: The Dark World (2013), $15 million ($20m/£15m today) for Thor: Ragnarok (2017), and $20 million ($22m/£16m today) for Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).

He's also appeared in several Marvel ensemble films and has earned an estimated $78 million (£58m) to $88 million (£66m) from playing Thor. A sum worthy of a god, indeed.

11. Zoe Saldana - Guardians of the Galaxy: $100,000 ($136k/£100k today)

Zoe Saldana earned just $100,000 ($136k/£100k in 2025) for her performance as Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). The intergalactic superhero movie had a $170 million budget, meaning her salary accounted for a mere 0.059% of the total.

Her pay seems even more unfair considering the film grossed $773.3 million ($1.1m/£824k today) worldwide. And there's the fact that her male co-stars were paid far more for their roles…

Leading man Chris Pratt earned $1.5 million ($2m/£1.5m today) for his performance as Star-Lord, while Dave Bautista received $1.4 million ($1.9m/£1.4m today) for his role as Drax. Adding insult to injury, Saldana was arguably more famous than both of them at the time, with major credits like Avatar and Star Trek under her belt.

Saldana went on to star in two Guardians of the Galaxy sequels and several other Marvel Cinematic Universe films. Fortunately, her pay increased dramatically, and today she’s estimated to have earned around $15 million (£11m) from her Gamora role. 

10. Sean Astin - The Lord of the Rings: $83,000 ($146/£109k today)

Sean Astin's portrayal of beloved hobbit Samwise Gamgee earned him just $250,000 ($438k/£326k today) across all three Lord of the Rings films. That's roughly $83,000 ($146k/£109k today) per movie.

By comparison, Sir Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf, reportedly banked a whopping $31 million ($54m/£40m today) for his starring turn in the fantasy franchise.

Astin isn't the only LOTR star who was shockingly underpaid for his work. Stay tuned for more on that soon…

9. Jonah Hill - The Wolf of Wall Street: $60,000 ($83k/£62k today)

Jonah Hill's standout performance as Donnie Azoff in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) earned him a shockingly low $60,000 ($83k/£62k today) – just 0.06% of the film's $100 million production budget.

Hill accepted the tiny salary because he desperately wanted to work with director Martin Scorsese. The decision paid off when the film grossed $392 million worldwide and scored Hill an Oscar nomination. As for leading man Leonardo DiCaprio, he banked $25 million ($35m/£26m today) for his role as Jordan Belfort, or about 417 times more than Hill made.

Hill wasn't the only underpaid actor in the project; Margot Robbie earned just $347,000 ($480k/£358k today). However, the film was Robbie's Hollywood breakout role, with her most notable previous credit being the Australian soap opera Neighbours. Meanwhile, Hill had already established himself with comedy flicks like Superbad (2007) and an Oscar-nominated turn in Moneyball (2011).

8. Orlando Bloom - The Lord of the Rings: $58,000 ($102k/£76k today)

Back to the LOTR franchise. Fearless archer elf Legolas remains one of Orlando Bloom's most famous roles, but the actor earned a mere $58,000 per film, or $175,000 ($307k/£229k today) for the entire trilogy.

While Ian McKellen raked in millions for his Gandalf role, many other actors received a pittance. Elijah Wood’s salary as Frodo remains undisclosed, though it's believed to have been relatively modest.

Meanwhile, Cate Blanchett, who portrayed Galadriel, once remarked about the experience: "No one got paid anything to do that movie... I mean, I basically got free sandwiches, and I got to keep my [elf] ears".

7. Jeff Daniels - Dumb and Dumber: $50,000 (£109k/£81k today)

Jeff Daniels earned just $50,000 (£109k/£81k today) for his hilarious performance as Harry Dunne in Dumb and Dumber (1994), or around 0.29% of the film's $17 million budget.

By comparison, his co-star Jim Carrey took home $7 million (£15m/£11m today), or approximately 140 times more than Daniels. Notably, Carrey was the bigger star at the time, having just scored comedy hits with Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask earlier that same year. Meanwhile, Daniels had mostly acted in TV projects. 

The film grossed $247.2 million ($538m/£403m today) worldwide, becoming a comedy classic. Twenty years later, both actors returned for the sequel Dumb and Dumber To (2014). Daniels' salary wasn't disclosed, but he presumably earned significantly more given the original film's success.

6. Oprah Winfrey - The Color Purple: $35,000 ($105k/£78k today)

Oprah Winfrey made her silver screen debut as Sofia in The Color Purple (1985). Surprisingly, she earned just $35,000 ($105k/£78k today) for the role, or 0.23% of the film’s $15 million production budget.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film featured an all-star cast including Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Laurence Fishburne, though their salaries remain undisclosed.

Despite the modest payday, Winfrey later called it “the best $35,000 I ever earned”. Her powerful performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

5. Harrison Ford - A New Hope: $10,000 ($53k/£40k today)

Harrison Ford's breakout role as Han Solo remains one of his most iconic. Surprisingly, however, he earned a mere $10,000 ($53k/£40k today) for his debut in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977).

The film boasted an $11 million budget and went on to gross an astronomical $307 million ($1.6bn/£1.2bn today) globally on its initial release. His lowly pay becomes even more jaw-dropping considering Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill earned $650,000 ($3.4m/£2.5m today) upfront plus a 0.25% share of the box office profits.

When Ford's roguish smuggler proved to be one of the most beloved characters, his salary increased dramatically. He banked $500,000 apiece for The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983), (approximately $1.6m/£1.2m today), and commanded a staggering $20 million ($27m/£20m today) for The Force Awakens (2015).

4. Jamie Lee Curtis - Halloween: $8,000 ($40k/£30k today)

Jamie Lee Curtis's chilling performance as Laurie Strode in Halloween (1978) launched both the slasher genre and her career. Yet her compensation was a frighteningly small $8,000 ($40k/£30k today). 

The film was budgeted at a modest $325,000, meaning her salary accounted for 2.46% of the total. However, it became a surprise box office hit, grossing $47.1 million ($233m/£175m today) and establishing Curtis as the ultimate scream queen.

Today, Halloween is one of the most successful horror franchises of all time, with many sequels and reboots. Curtis has reprised her role in numerous entries and has reportedly earned up to $20 million (£15m) for her efforts. 

3. Sean William Scott - American Pie: $8,000 ($15k/£11k today)

Seann William Scott's portrayal of the outrageous Steve Stifler is one of the most memorable parts of American Pie (1999). However, Scott earned just $8,000 ($15k/£11k today) for his hilarious performance, or 0.073% of the film's $11 million budget.

His salary seems even more unfair considering his co-star Jason Biggs earned $1 million ($1.9m/£1.4m today) for his role as Jim Levenstein. At the time, both actors were relatively unknown, with mostly minor TV credits to their names.

When Stifler became a fan favourite character, Scott's salary soared for future entries in the comedy franchise. For example, he banked $5 million ($7m/£5m today) for American Reunion (2012) plus a cut of the box office profits.

2. Brad Pitt - Thelma & Louise: $6,000 ($14k/£10k today)

Brad Pitt is one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors, regularly commanding multi-million-dollar paydays for his roles in movies like the Ocean's Eleven franchise and Babylon (2022). However, for his breakout performance as charming cowboy J.D. in Thelma & Louise (1991), he earned a mere $6,000 ($14k/£10k today).

The project boasted a $16.5 million budget, meaning Pitt's pitiful salary accounted for just 0.036% of the total. It also starred Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon as Thelma and Louise, though their salaries are unknown.

While the film achieved a modest global gross of $45.4 million ($106m/£79m today), it fared better critically, earning multiple Oscar nominations and putting Pitt firmly on the map as a Hollywood heartthrob.