Forbes names Mark Wahlberg highest paid actor, but shows gender pay gap

Forbes just dropped their highest paid list of actors and actresses and it’s looking fugazi.

Topping the list is Mark Wahlberg who brought in a whopping $68 million. Pulling up in second and third are Pain and Gain co-star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson ($65 million) and Fast and Furious legend Vin Diesel ($54.5 million).

Don’t worry about The Rock, who led the pack last year, he’s still making millions of dollars. There should be no concern as Siri’s best friend will also be starring in a remake of Jumanji and continue to play Spencer Strasmore on HBO’s Ballers. 

According to a political poll done in 2017 in regards to the 2020 presidential election, Johnson would slaughter Trump in a race just based on popularity alone.

So, how has Markie Mark gotten so lit? Fuck a fluctuating salary, the rapper turned actor is on a fixed compensation. He’s making bank off an offer you can’t refuse (Vito Corleone Voice).

His deal means that no matter how well a movie does in the box office, bad or good, Wahlberg still walks away with a fat check. But it’s not just Wahlberg’s acting skills that are securing his bag.

The Transformers star is also pulling in bucks from his reality TV show on A&E the Wahlburgers. The show focuses on the Wahlburger restaurant franchise and has been on the air for 8 seasons.

Lest we forget the Time Warner cable endorsement.

What’s a surprising fact about the list? Bollywood is taking over. Beating actors like Tom Hanks (No. 12, $31 million) and Samuel Jackson (No. 13, $30.5 million) are Bollywood superstars Akshay Kumar (No. 10, $35.5 million), Salman Khan (No. 9, $37 Million), and Shah Rukh Khan (No. 8, $38 million).

Forrest Gump fall back.

The comparison of pay between actors and actresses will definitely be a point of discussion. This year’s list proved that there is unequal pay between genders as the highest paid actress, Emma Stone, would fall at No. 15 in the highest paid actors list.

According to Forbes, “The top 10 actors banked a cumulative $488.5 million–nearly three times the $172.5 million combined total of the 10 top-earning women. While only three actresses made more than $20 million in 12 months, 16 actors broached the mark.”

The article continued to describe the disparity,

“This pay disparity is due, in part, to roles: There are simply fewer main female characters in the superhero movies and blockbusters that pay the sizable backend profits that result in leading men’s large paydays, or the franchise sequels that permit aggressive negotiation for future installments. According to a 2016 study, women comprise just 28.7% of all speaking roles in movies.”

Shout out to Mark Wahlberg securing his bag this year, but sheesh that much of a difference in pay because of gender – not ok. Peep the top 30 list below and let us know what you think.

1. Mark Wahlberg, $68 million

2. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, $65 million

3. Vin Diesel, $54.5 million

4. Adam Sandler, $50.5 million

5. Jackie Chan, $49 million

6. Robert Downey, Jr., $48 million

7. Tom Cruise, $43 million

8. Shah Rukh Khan, $38 million

9. Salman Khan, $37 million

10. Akshay Kumar, $35.5 million

11. Chris Hemsworth, $31.5 million

12. Tom Hanks, $31 million

13. Samuel L. Jackson, $30.5 million

14. Ryan Gosling, $29 million

15. Emma Stone, $26 million

16. Jennifer Aniston, $25.5 million

17. Jennifer Lawrence, $24 million

18. Ryan Reynolds, $21.5 million

19. Matt Damon, $21 million

20. Jeremy Renner, $19 million

21. Chris Evans, $18 million

22. Melissa McCarthy, $18 million

23. Chris Pratt, $17 million

24. Mila Kunis, $15.5 million

25. Emma Watson, $14 million

25. Emma Watson, $14 million

27. Mark Ruffalo, $13 million

28. Cate Blanchett, $12 million

29. Julia Roberts, $12 million

30. Amy Adams, $11.5 million