Black Widow is kicking ass all the way to the bank. Forbes has published its World’s Highest-Paid Actresses list of 2018 with “Avengers” mainstay Scarlett Johansson at the top. The four-time Golden Globe nominee earned $40.5 million between June 1, 2017 and June 1, 2018.
Although she didn’t make the list last year, playing Black Widow in the ever-more-epic “Avengers” franchise — most recently in this spring’s “Infinity War” — helped Johansson quadruple her earnings from 2017. She made her debut as the villainess-turned-superheroine Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow in 2010’s “Iron Man 2.” Johansson’s reprised the role five times since then, and will return as Black Widow again in next year’s “Avengers” pic as well as her own standalone movie directed by Cate Shortland.
Angelina Jolie took the second spot on this year’s list after also being absent from 2017’s. Her $28M is “thanks largely to her upfront pay for ‘Maleficent 2.'” The sequel to 2014’s dark “Sleeping Beauty” reimagining is due out May 29, 2020.
Jennifer Aniston is No. 3 on Forbes’ list with $19.5M, down a spot from last year. Most of the “Friends” alumna’s earnings come from endorsement deals with brands such as Emirates airlines, Smartwater, and Aveeno.
Johansson and Jolie aren’t the only returnees on this year’s list. Reese Witherspoon took fifth place with $16.5M, made from movies and a reported $1M-an-episode “Big Little Lies” paycheck.
Wonder Woman herself, Gal Gadot, is the only newbie. Patty Jenkins’ groundbreaking 2017 blockbuster “accounts for the majority of Gadot’s payday this year. Though she only made an estimated six figures for the first installment, her increased quote, coupled with a Revlon endorsement, launched her among the highest-paid,” Forbes writes.
Once again, no women of color made the Highest Paid Actresses list. Gadot, who is Israeli, and Cate Blanchett (No. 8, $12.5M), who is Australian, are the only international stars to make it. Mila Kunis, who was born in Ukraine and is an American citizen, is No. 6 with $16M.
Forbes has yet to publish its Highest-Paid Actors list, although it’s likely they will have earned much more than their female counterparts. Last year the top female earner, Emma Stone, made $26M, $3M less than the 14th-highest-paid man, her “La La Land” co-star Ryan Gosling.
Here are the highest-paid actresses of 2018, courtesy of Forbes.
1. Scarlett Johansson: $40.5 million
2. Angelina Jolie: $28 million
3. Jennifer Aniston: $19.5 million
4. Jennifer Lawrence: $18 million
5. Reese Witherspoon: $16.5 million
6. Mila Kunis: $16 million
7. Julia Roberts: $13 million
8. Cate Blanchett: $12.5 million
9. Melissa McCarthy: $12 million
10. Gal Gadot: $10 million
