The New Money Meritocracy: Hollywood’s Richest Under 30s in 2026
By The Editorial Team • February 18, 2026
The old guard is clutching their Oscars a little tighter these days. It used to be that you needed a decade of box office bombs and a highly publicized rehab stint before you could afford the compound in Montecito. Not anymore. Welcome to the 2026 Young Hollywood Rich List, where the ink on the contracts is barely dry before the wire transfer hits eight figures.
We are looking at a generation that viewed fame not as a destination, but as a seed round. They didn’t just want to be on the poster; they wanted points on the back end, the producer credit, and the inevitable lifestyle brand acquisition. This isn’t just a list of pretty faces with good lighting; it is a dossier of cold, hard capitalism wearing couture.
In early 2026, the economic landscape of stardom has shifted. The streaming wars have settled into an uneasy truce, paying out massive residuals to the talent who can actually keep our eyes glued to the screen. Meanwhile, the beauty and fashion industries have realized that a Gen Z endorsement is worth more than a Super Bowl slot. From reality royalty who rewrote the rules of influence to former Disney kids who are now acquiring the studios that made them, here are the top 10 richest young stars defining the new status quo.
1. Kylie Jenner
The matriarch of the digital age isn’t just “famous for being famous” anymore; she is famous for being solvent. While the debate over her billionaire status was the favorite parlor game of 2020, by 2026, Kylie has firmly silenced the skeptics. It’s no longer just about lip kits. The Jenner engine has diversified into baby gear, ready-to-drink vodka sodas, and a private equity portfolio that would make a Wall Street broker sweat. She sits at the top not because she is the best actress—she isn’t one—but because she understood before anyone else that in Hollywood, you are the product.
- Full Name:Kylie Kristen Jenner
- Age/DOB:28 (August 10, 1997)
- Net Worth:$700 Million
- Origin:Los Angeles, California
- Known For:The Kardashians, Kylie Cosmetics, redefining the “influencer” economy.
- Current Status:Expanding her lifestyle empire while managing a quiet, high-security life in Hidden Hills away from the cameras—mostly.
The Verdict: She is the outlier, the benchmark, and the bank. Kylie proved that while acting gets you applause, ownership gets you the jet. Her legacy is the complete monetization of the self.
2. Sydney Sweeney
If you thought Sydney Sweeney was just a flash in the pan, you haven’t been paying attention to her margins. Sweeney didn’t just survive the “blonde bombshell” typecasting; she weaponized it. By 2026, she has become the hardest-working woman in show business, reviving the romantic comedy genre single-handedly and producing her own vehicles to ensure she keeps the lion’s share of the profits. With Euphoria finally wrapping its long-delayed third season and her production company, Fifty-Fifty Films, churning out mid-budget hits that actually make money, Sweeney is the new model for Hollywood efficiency. She fixes up vintage Broncos on weekends and negotiates eight-figure checks on Mondays.
- Full Name:Sydney Bernice Sweeney
- Age/DOB:28 (September 12, 1997)
- Net Worth:$40 Million
- Origin:Spokane, Washington
- Known For:Euphoria,The White Lotus,Anyone But You.
- Current Status:filming the highly anticipatedBarbarellareboot and overseeing a new partnership with Ford.
The Verdict: The hustle is real. Sweeney represents the return of the “movie star” who treats acting like a blue-collar job that pays exceptionally well. She is building a war chest to ensure she never has to audition again.
3. Zendaya
Zendaya is the crown jewel of her generation. She has curated a career so devoid of misses that it almost feels engineered in a lab, if not for her undeniable, organic charisma. By 2026, her rate per film has skyrocketed, commanding upfront salaries that rival the legends of the 90s. But it’s her fashion alliances—Bulgari, Louis Vuitton, Lancôme—that keep the coffers overflowing. She isn’t just an ambassador; she is a partner. With Dune: Messiah pushing her global box office numbers into the stratosphere and her producer credits on Euphoria securing her backend, Zendaya has achieved the rarest thing in Hollywood: absolute creative freedom paid for by massive commercial success.
- Full Name:Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman
- Age/DOB:29 (September 1, 1996)
- Net Worth:$35 Million
- Origin:Oakland, California
- Known For:Euphoria,Dune,Spider-Mantrilogy,Challengers.
- Current Status:Prepping for her directorial debut and navigating the Oscar buzz for her latest dramatic turn.
The Verdict: Quality over quantity. Zendaya proved you don’t need to be in everything; you just need to be in the right things. She is the gold standard for the prestige-to-profit pipeline.
4. Tom Holland
Our friendly neighborhood box office savior. Tom Holland is the only actor under 30 who can open a tentpole blockbuster on name recognition alone. While he has taken a few swings at darker, indie fare to flex his acting muscles, the Marvel machine keeps him very, very comfortable. As of early 2026, the ink is drying on contracts for the next Spider-Man trilogy, a deal rumored to be one of the most lucrative in superhero history. But Holland is savvy; he’s used his superhero leverage to headline non-IP action films and invest in beverage startups, specifically his alcohol-free beer brand, BERO, which is cornering the sober-curious market.
- Full Name:Thomas Stanley Holland
- Age/DOB:29 (June 1, 1996)
- Net Worth:$30 Million
- Origin:London, England
- Known For:Spider-Man(MCU),Uncharted,The Crowded Room.
- Current Status:Training forSpider-Man 4and expanding his BERO brand into the US market.
The Verdict: The franchise king. Holland carries the weight of the cinema industry on his shoulders, and he charges a premium for the burden. His wealth is a testament to being the most likeable guy in the room.
5. Timothée Chalamet
The Prince of Arrakis has ascended to the throne. Timothée Chalamet is the art-house darling who accidentally became a blockbuster titan. With the massive success of the Dune franchise and the surprising holiday legs of Wonka, Chalamet proved he could sell tickets without wearing a cape. His deal with Chanel broke records for male fragrance ambassadors, adding a steady stream of passive income to his film earnings. He is selective, elusive, and incredibly expensive to hire. He’s managed to maintain an air of mystery in an era of oversharing, a scarcity tactic that has only driven his price up.
- Full Name:Timothée Hal Chalamet
- Age/DOB:30 (December 27, 1995)
- Net Worth:$25 Million
- Origin:New York City, New York
- Known For:Dune,Call Me by Your Name,Wonka.
- Current Status:Filming the Josh Safdie ping-pong biopicMarty Supremeand counting hisDunebackend points.
The Verdict: The last movie star. Chalamet is keeping the concept of “cinema” alive for Gen Z, and the studios are paying him a king’s ransom to do it.
6. Hailee Steinfeld
Hailee Steinfeld has been quietly building a fortress while everyone else was fighting for attention. An Oscar nominee at 14, a pop star at 18, and a Marvel hero at 25, she plays the long game better than anyone. Her dual-threat status means she has revenue streams coming from streaming royalties and box office gross simultaneously. In 2026, her role as Kate Bishop in the MCU is expanding, and her lifestyle newsletter, Beau Society, is pivoting into a full-fledged e-commerce platform. She doesn’t generate the daily tabloid drama of her peers, which is exactly why brands trust her with their millions.
- Full Name:Hailee Steinfeld
- Age/DOB:29 (December 11, 1996)
- Net Worth:$25 Million
- Origin:Tarzana, California
- Known For:True Grit,Pitch Perfect,Hawkeye,Arcane.
- Current Status:Executive producing a new musical series and expanding theSpider-Versefranchise.
The Verdict: The diversify-or-die champion. Steinfeld is the Swiss Army knife of young Hollywood—she can do it all, and she gets paid for all of it.
7. Millie Bobby Brown
She’s not just Eleven anymore; she’s a mogul. Millie Bobby Brown looked at the Hollywood playbook and decided to rewrite it in Gen Z font. By leveraging her Stranger Things fame into a massive producer deal with Netflix (hello, Enola Holmes universe), she secured ownership over her projects that most actors wait decades to achieve. Then there’s Florence by Mills, her beauty and coffee brand, which is a retail juggernaut found in every Ulta across America. She is 22 years old, married to rock royalty offspring, and likely negotiating a deal right now that makes your annual salary look like a rounding error.
- Full Name:Millie Bobby Brown
- Age/DOB:22 (February 19, 2004)
- Net Worth:$20 Million
- Origin:Marbella, Spain (Raised in UK/USA)
- Known For:Stranger Things,Enola Holmes, Florence by Mills.
- Current Status:wrapping the final,finaledits on her debut novel and expanding her production company’s slate.
The Verdict: The prodigy turned tycoon. Brown understands that Stranger Things was just the launchpad. The real money is in the equity she’s building off-screen.
8. Florence Pugh
Florence Pugh brings a certain “don’t mess with me” energy to the list. She alternates between indie grief-fests and Marvel blockbusters (Thunderbolts*) with the ease of someone who knows she is the most talented person on the call sheet. Her paycheck for joining the MCU was substantial, but her rate for prestige dramas has caught up. In 2026, she is the face of Valentino and the go-to lead for any director who wants an Oscar nomination. She has monetized her “cooking with Flo” relatability without ever selling out her artistic credibility.
- Full Name:Florence Rose Pugh
- Age/DOB:30 (January 3, 1996)
- Net Worth:$16 Million
- Origin:Oxford, England
- Known For:Midsommar,Black Widow,Oppenheimer,Dune: Part Two.
- Current Status:starring in the A24 thrillerWe Live in Timeand prepping for her next Marvel ensemble.
The Verdict: The critical darling with commercial clout. Pugh proves you can make millions wearing cargo shorts on Instagram and ballgowns on the red carpet.
9. Anya Taylor-Joy
Anya Taylor-Joy looks like she was carved out of marble and priced accordingly. Her ascent has been steep and lucrative. From The Queen’s Gambit to Furiosa, she has cornered the market on “otherworldly intense women.” Her net worth in 2026 reflects a string of high-paying lead roles and lucrative ambassadorships with Dior and Tiffany & Co. She is the darling of the fashion world, meaning she gets paid just to exist in beautiful clothes. Her quiet, almost elusive public persona has made her a luxury brand’s dream—exclusive, expensive, and aspirational.
- Full Name:Anya-Josephine Marie Taylor-Joy
- Age/DOB:29 (April 16, 1996)
- Net Worth:$12 Million
- Origin:Miami, Florida (Raised in Argentina/UK)
- Known For:The Queen’s Gambit,The Menu,Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
- Current Status:Filming a hush-hush sci-fi epic in Europe and appearing in every major fashion week campaign.
The Verdict: The muse money. Taylor-Joy is capitalizing on her unique look and global background to secure deals that span continents. She is the face of global luxury.
10. Jenna Ortega
The Scream Queen has ascended. Jenna Ortega is the youngest power player on this list, but her trajectory is the most vertical. Wednesday wasn’t just a hit; it was a cultural reset that gave her immense leverage at Netflix. By 2026, she is an executive producer on the show, ensuring she gets a cut of the merchandising, the spin-offs, and the sheer hype. Combined with her back-to-back hits in the Scream franchise and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, she is the definitive “It Girl” of the horror-comedy niche. She’s built a fortune on being the girl who doesn’t blink, and the industry blinked first.
- Full Name:Jenna Marie Ortega
- Age/DOB:23 (September 27, 2002)
- Net Worth:$8 Million
- Origin:Coachella Valley, California
- Known For:Wednesday,Scream,Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
- Current Status:Executive producingWednesdaySeason 2 and filming a secret project with Taika Waititi.
The Verdict: The dark horse. Ortega represents the Gen Z takeover—unapologetic, heavily involved in production, and turning viral moments into direct deposits.
The Verdict
The 2026 list tells a stark story: the days of the “pure actor” are dead and buried. To make this list today, you cannot just memorize lines. You need to be a corporation. You need a production company (Sweeney, Brown), a global fashion contract (Zendaya, Chalamet), or a retail empire (Jenna, Kylie).
This generation watched the stars of the 2000s get chewed up by the machine and decided they would rather own the machine instead. They are younger, richer, and far more ruthless about their business than their predecessors ever were. Hollywood hasn’t just changed; it has been acquired. And looking at these bank accounts, the kids are definitely alright.
