Over 70 years old and still acting, Anthony Hopkins is the oldest actor on our list. Although he landed his first starring role in 1968, Hopkins cemented himself as a big-name star with the 1991 film, Silence of the Lambs. Since then, the Welsh actor has appeared in dozens of films, such as Beowulf and Thor. With five films slated to release in 2015 and 2016, Hopkins shows no signs of slowing down.
This dedicated humanitarian and multi-faceted actress has tried her hand at directing. After starring in numerous action, drama and biopic flicks, Angelina Jolie wrote and directed the 2011 wartime film In the Land of Blood and Honey and the upcoming film, By the Sea. Her most financially successful movie, Dreamworks animated film Kung Fu Panda grossed over $630 million worldwide.
Robert Downey Jr. was the highest paid actor of 2015. The Disney-Marvel series of Iron Man and Avengers films are the big moneymakers; Downey raked in $80 million in 2015, thanks mostly to Avengers: Age of Ultron. And thanks to a sweet deal with the studio, his appearances in future Marvel films will grant him some big bucks too.
Denzel Washington has been acting on-stage and on the screen for just over forty years. The Academy Award-winning actor is known for his roles in Glory, Philadelphia, and Remember the Titans. Washington has produced two of his films, The Book of Eli and Antwone Fisher, along with directing his 2007 film, The Great Debaters.
The former Invisible Woman has broadened her interests beyond the world of film. In January 2012, Jessica Alba co-founded The Honest Company, which specializes in eco-friendly household and baby goods. Alba reportedly owns roughly 20% of the ethical company, meaning she has a $200 million dollar stake.
The rapper-turned-actor almost declared bankruptcy in his early twenties, but once the beloved ‘90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air took off, he’s seen only success. Smith has since starred in action blockbusters Men in Black and Independence Day and has excelled in comedic and dramatic roles as well. He raps, he acts, and he’s also produced several of his (and other) films. You can also add “Hollywood’s proudest father” to his list of accomplishments.
The Olsen twins have been working since they were in diapers, and it has paid off. Combined, Mary-Kate and Ashley have a net worth of $300 million. Their fortune comes from several sources; they released a series of direct-to-video movies under their very own production company, Dualstar Entertainment Group, and had countless products under their brand. Although the Olsens haven’t starred in a feature film since 2004’s New York Minute, our favorite nineties’ kids haven’t fully retired. Mary-Kate and Ashley have two clothing lines: Mary-Kate and Ashley: Real fashion for real girls, and The Row.
Sylvester Stallone is known to the world as the "Italian Stallion." Not only did he star in the six Rocky films, he also wrote or co-wrote all of them. Stallone’s starring roles in action films ranging from the Rambo movies to the Expendables has contributed to his massive net worth, even though his less famous films performed well overseas.
Tom Cruise is one of the world’s most well-known actors. With a career spanning thirty years, he’s been starring in iconic films such as Top Gun and Jerry Maguire. Cruise is probably most famous for the Mission: Impossible series of movies, which he produces and stars in. The infamous couch-jumper has been named Hollywood’s most powerful actor, most powerful celebrity, and even has “Tom Cruise Day” in Japan.
Oprah Winfrey is one of the most powerful stars in America. Seriously, what hasn’t Oprah done? She has her own cable network, her own scholarship, and even opened up an all-girls boarding school in South Africa. While the media mogul is best known for The Oprah Winfrey Show, she has starred in several acclaimed films, ranging from the 1985 adaptation of The Color Purple to 2014’s Selma. Winfrey produced the latter film, in addition to Precious, The Great Debaters, and countless television productions.
