Of The Movie Stars Who Make The Biggest Salaries In Hollywood, Only 4 Are Black And None Are Bla

A new report by Variety revealed a very sad truth about the biggest salaries in Hollywood.

The outlet reports that the actor who got the biggest payday in Tinsel Town was none other than Daniel Craig. The current James Bond received more than $100 million for the “Knives Out” sequels, which are being directed by Hollywood heavyweight Rian Johnson. And there’s a reason Craig is getting this heavy salary: the “new deal” that’s available to many Hollywood stars.

“Netflix compensates movie stars for the projected back-end box office participation they would reap if their movies were released exclusively in theaters. Add to that salary bumps Craig would’ve received for second and third films in the murder mystery series, and the outgoing James Bond is sitting on a nine-figure check,” explains Variety.

And there’s more to the biggest salaries in Hollywood, too. In a nutshell, actors who are involved in the business of streaming can expect a bigger payday than those who limit their efforts to more traditional outlets. That’s why Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson got an upfront payday of $30 million for his most recent film, but could end up taking home north of $50 million when his deal finalizes.

But, of the movie stars listed who make the biggest salaries in Hollywood, only four of them (out of 17) are Black men. Not one Black woman made the list. This, once again, proves that we still have a long way to go in order to get equity and equality in Hollywood.

Let’s take a look at the four Black actors who made the list, what their payouts were for, and why.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

Payday: $50 million

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson got a $30 million upfront payday for Amazon’s acquisition of “Red One,” but that payday could go as high as $50 million once the backend is squared away.

Will Smith

Payday: $40 million

Will Smith made an exclusive deal with Warner Brothers as part of the movie house’s efforts to release its entire slate on the HBO Max premium streaming service. His $40 million payday for “King Richard” includes his backend payout.

Denzel Washington

Payday: $40 million

Like Smith, Denzel Washington made a deal with Warner Brothers to release “The Little Things” exclusively on the HBO Max premium streaming service. And, like Smith, Washington’s $40 million payday includes his backend payout.

Michael B. Jordan

Payday: $15 million

Finally, Michael B. Jordan got a $15 million payday from Amazon Studios for his Paramount-produced flick, “Without Remorse.” This payday also includes the streaming back-end buyout.

Bernadette Giacomazzo is the SEO Manager at Blavity, Inc. She is also a NYC-based editor, writer, photographer, and publicist with a career spanning more than two decades in the entertainment industry. Her work has been featured in People, Teen Vogue, BET, HipHopDX, XXL Magazine, The Source, Vibe, The Los Angeles Times, and more. Giacomazzo is also the author of The Uprising Series and is the CEO of G-Force Marketing & Publicity, which has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter and has obtained film, television, radio, and print placements for blue-chip clients all over the world. She will release "In Living Color: A Cultural History" on Rowman & Littlefield Press in February 2023, and "The Golden Girls: A Cultural History" on Rowman & Littlefield Press in August 2023.

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