The entertainment industry has created some of the biggest fortunes in the world. Many famous actors started their careers with modest opportunities, difficult circumstances, or years of rejection before finally reaching the top of the film and television industry.
Over time, successful actors can build enormous wealth through movie salaries, television projects, production companies, investments, endorsements, and other business ventures. Some of the names on this list became Hollywood legends, while others built extraordinary careers in Bollywood and international cinema.
Here is a look back at 10 actors who were among the wealthiest stars according to the estimates featured in the original 2016 list.
10. Tom Hanks
Estimated net worth in the original list: $350 million.
Tom Hanks built one of the most respected careers in Hollywood through a combination of memorable performances, commercial successes, and critically acclaimed films. His filmography includes major productions such as Apollo 13, The Da Vinci Code, and Angels & Demons.
Beyond his acting career, Hanks has also worked as a producer and filmmaker. His longevity in the entertainment business demonstrates how consistent work and a diverse career can translate into substantial financial success.
9. Clint Eastwood
Estimated net worth in the original list: $375 million.
Clint Eastwood is one of the most enduring figures in American cinema. His breakthrough came with the television series Rawhide, before he became internationally famous through westerns and action films.
Eastwood later expanded his career behind the camera, becoming an accomplished director and producer. His work in both acting and filmmaking helped turn him into one of Hollywood's most influential and financially successful figures.
8. Jack Nicholson
Estimated net worth in the original list: $390 million.
Jack Nicholson's career spans decades and includes some of the most memorable performances in American film history. His distinctive acting style and ability to portray complex characters helped make him a Hollywood icon.
He worked his way into the film business through smaller productions before landing increasingly important roles. Over the years, acclaimed performances and major box-office successes transformed Nicholson into one of the industry's best-known stars.
7. Bill Cosby
Estimated net worth in the original list: $400 million.
Bill Cosby became widely known as a comedian, actor, and television personality. His career expanded from stand-up comedy into television, where he became one of the most recognizable entertainers in the United States.
His financial success grew considerably during the height of his television career. However, his public reputation and legacy were later dramatically affected by numerous sexual assault allegations and his subsequent criminal conviction. His story illustrates how a highly successful entertainment career can become deeply complicated by events outside the screen.
6. Amitabh Bachchan
Estimated net worth in the original list: $400 million.
Amitabh Bachchan is one of the most celebrated stars in Indian cinema. His journey to the top was not immediate, and his distinctive voice initially presented a challenge when he was trying to establish himself in the entertainment industry.
That same voice eventually became one of his trademarks. Bachchan worked as a narrator and performer before finding major success as an actor. His decades-long career in Bollywood has made him a legendary figure with an enormous international following.
5. Johnny Depp
Estimated net worth in the original list: $400 million.
Johnny Depp became one of Hollywood's most recognizable stars through a career filled with unusual characters and major film franchises. He is particularly famous for portraying Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean series.
Depp's path into acting began after he moved to Los Angeles and met actor Nicolas Cage, who encouraged him to audition for film roles. Depp subsequently appeared in A Nightmare on Elm Street, launching a career that eventually made him one of the world's most commercially successful actors.
4. Tyler Perry
Estimated net worth in the original list: $400 million.
Tyler Perry's rise is one of the more remarkable success stories in entertainment. Before becoming a major filmmaker and producer, Perry experienced financial difficulties and struggled to find an audience for his early theatrical work.
After several setbacks, one of his plays finally found a receptive audience and sold out. That breakthrough became the foundation for a much larger entertainment business. Perry eventually expanded into films, television, writing, directing, and producing, creating a powerful independent entertainment brand.
3. Tom Cruise
Estimated net worth in the original list: $480 million.
Tom Cruise has remained one of Hollywood's biggest stars for decades. His career includes blockbuster franchises, action films, dramas, and some of the industry's most recognizable productions.
Cruise initially considered becoming a Catholic priest but eventually discovered a passion for acting as a teenager. He pursued that goal with determination and quickly established himself in Hollywood. His ability to headline major productions has helped him build a remarkable career and fortune.
2. Shah Rukh Khan
Estimated net worth in the original list: $600 million.
Shah Rukh Khan, often known as SRK, became one of Bollywood's most internationally recognized actors. Before entering the entertainment industry, he was known as an excellent student and participated actively in sports.
His transition into acting changed everything. After gaining recognition through television and early film roles, Khan became a leading Bollywood superstar. His extensive filmography, global fan base, production work, endorsements, and business interests helped establish him as one of India's most financially successful entertainers.
1. Jerry Seinfeld
Estimated net worth in the original list: $820 million.
At the top of the original ranking was comedian, actor, writer, and producer Jerry Seinfeld. His journey began with stand-up comedy performances at clubs around New York before television success transformed his career.
The defining achievement of his career was Seinfeld, the hugely successful sitcom he co-created and starred in. The show's success, combined with his stand-up career, writing, producing work, and ownership interests, helped make Seinfeld one of the wealthiest entertainers on the original list.
A Look Back at Hollywood's Wealthiest Stars
This ranking highlights how dramatically successful an entertainment career can become when acting is combined with writing, producing, directing, television, business ventures, and long-term intellectual-property income.
From Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood to Shah Rukh Khan and Jerry Seinfeld, these entertainers followed very different paths to financial success. Some started with small roles or stand-up performances, while others faced significant personal and professional obstacles before finding their breakthrough.
Note: The net-worth figures above are historical estimates from the original 2016 article and should not be interpreted as current net-worth figures. Celebrity wealth estimates can change substantially over time.