‘Forbes’ Calculates Which Stars Are Worth the Money

Will Ferrell (in Land of the Lost) is Forbes' most overpaid actor

By : John Latchem | Posted: 23 Nov 2009
jlatchem@questex.com

Will Ferrell has been named the most overpaid star in Hollywood by Forbes Magazine. According to a recent study by the publication, a studio earns just $3.29 for each dollar paid in salary to Ferrell.

Compare that result to Forbes’ list from August naming Shia LaBeouf the best return on investment, bringing in $160 for each dollar he is paid. The magazine in October named Naomi Watts the most worthwhile actress, bringing in $44 for each dollar of salary.

The calculation is based on tabulating the salaries of Hollywood’s top 100 stars who starred in at least three movies in the past five years that opened in more than 500 theaters (not counting animated films). Each star’s estimated earnings for their last three films (including box office receipts, DVD and TV sales) were compared to those films’ estimated budgets (not counting marketing costs) and box office, home video and television earnings.

The findings for the most valuable performers tend to favor actors who are relative newcomers, those who are primarily known for independent projects, or stars whose profile increased after appearing in blockbuster films or surprise hits. LaBeouf’s total of $160 was based on calculations from before the release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, according to Forbes. He is followed by James McAvoy (Wanted) at $114, Michael Cera (Year One and Superbad) at $102, Daniel Radcliffe (“Harry Potter”) at $93 and Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) at $78.

Those on the overpaid list tend to be actors who were once known for appearing in huge hits but whose recent efforts haven’t been as strong. Ferrell’s value, for example, was pushed down by the disappointing box office performance of Land of the Lost. Second on the list was Ewan McGregor, who has followed the “Star Wars” prequels with a string of underperformers to bring his studio earnings to $3.75 per dollar of salary. Tom Cruise is sixth on the list at $7.18, while Drew Barrymore was named the most overpaid actress with an ROI of $7.43.

Best Actors for the Buck

(Studio Earnings per Dollar Salary)
Shia LaBeouf, $160
James McAvoy, $114
Michael Cera, $102
Daniel Radcliffe, $93
Robert Downey Jr., $78
Javier Bardem, $73
Ryan Reynolds, $61
Christian Bale, $55
Aaron Eckhart, $45
Dennis Quaid, $43
Source: Forbes (August 2009)

Best Actresses for the Buck

(Studio Earnings per Dollar Salary)
Naomi Watts, $44
Jennifer Connelly, $41
Rachel McAdams, $30
Natalie Portman, $28
Meryl Streep, $27
Jennifer Aniston, $26
Halle Berry, $23
Cate Blanchett, $23
Anne Hathaway, $23
Hilary Swank, $23
Source: Forbes (October 2009)