When you think of the highest paid actor in Hollywood, Tom Hanks or Matt Damon might come to mind. However, you might not think of former wrestling champion Dwayne Johnson who earned a staggering $65 million last year. The actor far out-earned the highest female star Jennifer Lawrence who earned a very comfortable $45 million. Second on the male rich list of actors is Jackie Chan, while Matt Damon comes in third with a cool $55 million.
And while all Hollywood stars are paid a rather handsome salary, it does seem that the women are paid far less than their male counterparts. Other than Lawrence, only four other female stars are said to have made more than $20 million, this is in stark contrast to men, where this figure won’t even put them on the top ten.
Lawrence has spoken very publicly in the past about the large disparity between what men and women are paid in Hollywood. Writing in a feminist newsletter for Lena Dunham she said that she wished she had fought harder for more money, as is common for men in the industry to do. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever worked for a man in charge who spent time contemplating what angle he should use to have his voice heard.’