As the entertainment industry takes one final look back at 2010—and stars' accountants start to prepare for Income Tax Day—we've got a survey of who made how much last year. And an iron man, a tawny werewolf and the king of the world made out pretty well.
In compiling lists like these, with figures like these, its important to realize that royalties, residuals and profit participation play a big role in what someone like Christopher Nolan, for example, takes home from writing, producing and directing Inception. He'll be making money off that one for years and years to come.
So, without further ado, the men and, well, woman who padded their bank accounts the most last year:
19. HUGH JACKMAN
Actor: Reel Steel
Estimated 2010 earnings: $14 million
18. TOM CRUISE
Actor, producer, writer: Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol
Estimated 2010 earnings: $14.5 million
17. SHIA LABEOUF
Actor: Transformers: The Dark of the Moon
Estimated 2010 earnings: $16 million
16. DANIEL CRAIG
Actor: Cowboys & Aliens, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Estimated 2010 earnings: $18 million
15. JOEL SILVER
Producer: Sherlock Holmes
Estimated 2010 earnings: $21 million
14. NICOLAS CAGE
Actor: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Drive Angry
Estimated 2010 earnings: $23.5 million
13. JON FAVREAU
Director, producer: Iron Man 2, Cowboys & Aliens
Estimated 2010 earnings: $24 million
12. ROBERT PATTINSON
Actor: The Twilight Saga
Estimated 2010 earnings: $27.5 million
11. JERRY BRUCKHEIMER
Producer: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Estimated 2010 earnings: $27.5 million
10. KRISTEN STEWART
Actress: The Twilight Saga
Estimated 2010 earnings: $28.5 million
9. WILL SMITH
Actor, producer: Men in Black III, The Karate Kid
Estimated 2010 earnings: $29 million
8. ROBERT DOWNEY JR.
Actor: Iron Man 2, Sherlock Holmes 2
Estimated 2010 earnings: $31.5 million
7. TAYLOR LAUTNER
Actor: The Twilight Saga, Abduction
Estimated 2010 earnings: $33.5 million
6. TIM BURTON
Director: Alice in Wonderland
Estimated 2010 earnings: $53 million
5. LEONARDO DICAPRIO
Actor: Inception, Shutter Island
Estimated 2010 earnings: $62 million
4. CHRISTOPHER NOLAN
Writer, director, producer: Inception
Estimated 2010 earnings: $71.5 million
3. STEVEN SPIELBERG
Director, producer, consultant: War Horse, Universal theme parks
Estimated 2010 earnings: $80 million
2. JOHNNY DEPP
Actor: Alice in Wonderland, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, The Tourist
Estimated 2010 earnings: $100 million
1. JAMES CAMERON
Writer, director, producer: Avatar
Estimated 2010 earnings: $257 million
For the rest of the top 40 money-makers of 2010—as well as a more detailed breakdown of who made what and how—head over to Vanity Fair.
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