The Marvel Cinematic Universe features an ever-growing pool of successful actors, and their starring roles in the largest movie franchise in history have netted each of these celebrities a pretty penny. Their earnings may not be quite as high as viewers might expect, though; Marvel is notorious for being frugal and has landed in the news many times over the years for their hardball negotiations with actors over pay rates. Still, there's no doubt that each of these actors is a bonafide box office hit, with the heaps of cash to prove it.
Some of these stars were already famed in their own right, and some found their careers flourishing after joining the Marvel ranks. Generally, actors received smaller paychecks for their first solo outings, with their pay rates climbing as the series continued. Those who managed to cut coveted box office percentage deals saw their earnings increase exponentially with each new release. The MCU is entering Phase Four now, so it's not a bad time to look back on the previous phases and see which stars earned the most in each era. Each actor will only be listed once, so keep in mind that Phase One high earners like Robert Downey Jr. only continued to rake in more and more cash as each era progressed.
Which Marvel Actors Made the Most in Phase One?
When Iron Man turned out to be an unexpected worldwide hit, Robert Downey Jr. went from being considered a risky prospect to becoming the godfather of the MCU. By the time the first Avengers film arrived in theaters, he was raking in the profits with a reported $50 million in earnings for the ensemble outing. His substantial upfront pay was thoroughly padded out by a deal his team made with Marvel ensuring the actor would earn a percentage of all box office revenue. The exact number is unknown, but most rumors put it in the 5 to 7 percent range. That deal would continue to pay out for the rest of his time in the MCU, meaning his checks for later installments, especially Avengers: Endgame, were astronomical.
Scarlett Johansson was already a star when cast as Black Widow. Her cachet and box office cred earned her hefty starting rates, and by the time Avengers rolled around, she was taking home $4-5 million. For a long stretch of time, she was the sole female Avenger, which meant her role was incredibly important. It's strange, then, to think how long it took for Marvel to greenlight her solo Black Widow movie. When the film finally hit theaters in 2021, it netted her a whopping $20 million, despite the well-publicized conflict between Johansson and Disney over her contract.
Samuel L. Jackson is one of the biggest box office earners in the world overall. His filmography reportedly boasts a stunning total value of $13 billion. The actor took home a substantial haul from the first Avengers movie -- reportedly $4-6 million. Jackson's original nine-movie contract has already ended, but he has said he's happy to keep playing Nick Fury for as long as Marvel wants him... and is willing to pay.
Which Actors Made the Most in Phase Two of the MCU?
Chris Evans is the classic case of a Marvel Phase One star whose checks increased by the millions with each movie after taking home a fairly humble $1 million haul for his first solo appearance. A relative unknown prior to being cast as Steve Rogers, his pitch-perfect portrayal of the first Avenger propelled him into stardom. He's since become a defining figure of the universe, arguably equal in stature to Downey's Iron Man. For his work in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Evans raked in a cool $6.9 million.
Jeremy Renner rose to prominence through his roles in action thrillers like The Hurt Locker and The Town. After appearing as Hawkeye in an uncredited cameo in Thor, he debuted in The Avengers, making 2-3 million for the appearance -- the same amount as costars Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo. His performance as the team's archer and pragmatic everyman earned him a solid spot in the MCU. Renner ultimately earned $6.1 million for appearing in Age of Ultron.
Chris Hemsworth was even more unknown than his fellow Chris. His portrayal of Thor in his first solo movie only earned him $150,000, a pittance compared to loads of bullion heaped on the likes of Robert Downey Jr. But also like his fellow Chris, his pay rapidly rose as his time in the MCU continued. After reprising his role in Age of Ultron, he was paid $5.4 million -- not bad for 13 minutes of screentime.
Which Marvel Actors Made the Most in Phase Three?
Benedict Cumberbatch was already a well-established international star prior to being cast in the MCU. Known and loved worldwide for his idiosyncratic, fan-favorite performances in roles like Sherlock Holmes and Smaug the Dragon, he was also respected as a serious actor for his work in films like The Imitation Game. This cachet gave him much more leverage at the bargaining table, and he ultimately earned over $6 million for playing Doctor Strange in the eponymous film. He was top-billed in Infinity War, which implies that he was paid around the same as fellow top biller Scarlett Johansson: approximately $15 million.
Brie Larson was an Oscar-winning critical darling when Marvel began courting her for the role of Carol Danvers. Cognizant of her worth, she firmly negotiated for equity in pay between herself and her male costars. Her team's successful negotiations meant she made $5 million for her work in Captain Marvel, which is a whopping 10 times what Robert Downey Jr. made upfront for the original Iron Man. Larson's earnings for Endgame are unconfirmed, but given the resounding box office success of both that movie and her MCU debut film, there's no doubt those checks were substantial.
Chadwick Boseman garnered critical acclaim for his portrayal of Jackie Robinson in the film 42, a role that led to a successful run in historical dramas like Get On Up and Marshall. After being cast as the young King of Wakanda, he was catapulted into worldwide fame. Boseman earned $2 million for starring in Black Panther, which is impressive for a first MCU appearance. It's not much when one considers that the film earned a stunning $1 billion at the box office, but again, Marvel is notoriously frugal when it comes to solo debut films in the franchise.