The world spins, the sun rises and sets, and actors are often overpaid. These are universal truths and this week, Forbes has laid out for us who gets paid what and whether or not they’re worth it. Even some of the most popular names in Hollywood, like Adam Sandler, don’t always guarantee a box office hit. Despite this, they get paid on the promise and hope that they will, regardless of the actual merit of the work they produce.
For their Top 10 Most Overpaid Actors List, Forbes has calculated each star’s worth based on their last three projects through this past June. The company used data gathered from their Celebrity 100 research and Box Office Mojo “to calculate how much, on average, each star’s last three films earned at the box office per dollar of pay.”
According to Forbes, and this list, Adam Sandler takes the prize as the worst deal in Hollywood right now. Considering the box office bombs that were Jack and Jill and That’s My Boy, that surely can’t come as a surprise to moviegoers.
Admittedly, the system is a bit flawed, as Sandler’s last three films were Grown Ups 2, Hotel Transylvania and That’s My Boy. Had these been taken into consideration, his ranking would have fared much, much better. Grown Ups 2 was tossed because it was released in July and Hotel Transylvania was given the boot due to animation.
Regardless of logistics and calculations, it’s a fun and entertaining way to pass the time and idle curiosity as to whether or not your money is being spent on the eight-figure-paychecks of a star who’s worth it.
Here are the top ten paid actors who, according to Forbes’ calculations, don’t deserve it.
1. Adam Sandler ($3.40)
2. Katherine Heigl ($3.50)
3. Reese Witherspoon ($3.90)
4. Nicolas Cage ($6.00)
5. Kevin James ($6.10)
6. Denzel Washington ($8.30)
7. Steve Carell ($10.00)
8. Jennifer Aniston ($10.60)
9. Matt Damon ($10.60)
10. Ryan Reynolds ($10.70)
If these numbers don’t sound that bad, remember that Forbes’ “Best Value” actor of 2012, Natalie Portman, brought in a whopping $42.70 for each dollar she earned.
Do any of these rankings shock you? Do you agree with how your money is being spent? Let us know in the comments section below.