Top 10 Highest-Paid Actresses in the World (2026)
By Editorial Team
February 17, 2026
The entertainment landscape in 2026 is defined by a seismic shift in how Hollywood’s leading women earn their fortunes. The days of the simple $20 million upfront paycheck are evolving into complex compensation packages that blend executive producing fees, backend box office points, and lucrative streaming buyouts.
While the “streaming wars” have settled into a steady state, the battle for top-tier talent has only intensified. Studios like Apple Original Films, Netflix, and Amazon MGM are writing massive checks to secure A-list names for their prestige projects, effectively driving up the market rate for theatrical stars. Meanwhile, the power of the “hyphenate”—actress-producer—has never been stronger, with nearly every woman on this list owning a production company that grants them greater creative control and a larger slice of the financial pie.
From returning legends commanding record-breaking fees to Gen Z icons leveraging massive brand empires, here are the Top 10 highest-paid actresses in the world for 2026.
1. Margot Robbie
The Billion-Dollar Mogul
- Estimated 2026 Earnings: $60 Million+
- Key Projects: Wuthering Heights, Barbie (Residuals), LuckyChap Productions slate
Margot Robbie sits comfortably at the throne of Hollywood’s earning hierarchy. Following the historic success of Barbie, Robbie has transitioned from a star-for-hire to a full-fledged studio mogul. Her production company, LuckyChap Entertainment, is now a dominant force, allowing her to take backend points that dwarf her acting fees. In 2026, her earnings are bolstered not just by her $12 million salary for starring in Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, but by a continuous stream of producing credits and residuals from her billion-dollar hits. She has effectively rewritten the playbook for modern stardom, proving that ownership is the ultimate payday.
- Age: 35
- Nationality: Australian
- Role: Actress, Producer (LuckyChap Entertainment)
- Key Income Source: Box office backend & Producing fees
- Net Worth: ~$100 Million+
Contribution & Impact: Robbie has single-handedly revitalized the concept of the “star-producer.” By betting on herself and female-led stories, she has created a financial ecosystem where her income is no longer capped by a studio’s budget. Her influence extends beyond her own bank account; she is actively greenlighting projects that employ thousands, making her one of the most powerful figures in the industry.
2. Cameron Diaz
The $22.5 Million Comeback
- Estimated 2026 Earnings: $22.5 Million
- Key Projects: Back in Action (Netflix), Shrek 5
After a decade-long hiatus, Cameron Diaz has returned to Hollywood with one of the most lucrative deals of the year. Netflix reportedly lured the comedy icon out of retirement with a staggering $45 million two-picture deal, putting her upfront payday for 2026’s Back in Action at a confirmed $22.5 million. This massive figure serves as a reminder of Diaz’s enduring bankability; despite her time away, she commands a salary that outpaces nearly all of her active contemporaries. Additionally, her return to voice Princess Fiona in Shrek 5 adds a significant eight-figure sum to her annual tally.
- Age: 53
- Nationality: American
- Role: Actress, Author, Entrepreneur
- Key Income Source: Netflix streaming buyout & Voice acting
- Net Worth: ~$140 Million
Contribution & Impact: Diaz’s return highlights the premium streaming services place on nostalgia and established star power. Her ability to command a top-tier salary after a ten-year break underscores the industry’s scarcity of true “movie stars” who can drive global viewership instantly.
3. Jennifer Aniston
The TV Royalty
- Estimated 2026 Earnings: $22 Million+
- Key Projects: The Morning Show (Season 4), Friends Syndication
Jennifer Aniston remains the gold standard for television earnings. For the fourth season of Apple TV+’s The Morning Show, Aniston (along with co-star Reese Witherspoon) successfully negotiated a historic salary of $2 million per episode. With a 10-episode season, this guarantees her $20 million in acting fees alone, before accounting for her executive producer fees and ownership points. When combined with her perpetual $20 million annual income from Friends syndication and high-profile endorsements (Pneuma, Emirates), Aniston’s cash flow is arguably the most stable and impressive in Hollywood.
- Age: 57
- Nationality: American
- Role: Actress, Producer, Entrepreneur (LolaVie)
- Key Income Source: TV Salary & Syndication Royalties
- Net Worth: ~$320 Million
Contribution & Impact: Aniston has championed the “pay-per-episode” model, pushing the ceiling for TV actors to heights previously reserved for blockbuster film stars. Her business acumen, particularly in retaining ownership stakes in her projects, serves as a blueprint for veteran actors transitioning to streaming.
4. Reese Witherspoon
The Media Tycoon
- Estimated 2026 Earnings: $22 Million+
- Key Projects: The Morning Show (Season 4), Hello Sunshine Productions
Matching Aniston’s $2 million-per-episode payout for The Morning Show, Reese Witherspoon stands alongside her as one of the highest-paid women in television history. However, Witherspoon’s wealth portfolio is diversified heavily into production. Even after selling a majority stake in her media company, Hello Sunshine, she retains a significant role and continues to earn producing fees on a slate of adaptations and series. Her ability to identify bestselling books and convert them into hit shows ensures she is paid at every level of production, from rights acquisition to starring on screen.
- Age: 49
- Nationality: American
- Role: Actress, Producer, Entrepreneur
- Key Income Source: TV Salary & Production Deals
- Net Worth: ~$440 Million
Contribution & Impact: Witherspoon reshaped the industry’s approach to female-led storytelling. By creating her own material rather than waiting for roles, she not only increased her own earnings but created a marketplace for stories centered on complex women over 40.
5. Julia Roberts
The Last Movie Star
- Estimated 2026 Earnings: $20 Million
- Key Projects: After the Hunt
Julia Roberts proves that the traditional $20 million star salary is not extinct—it just requires the right name. For the Amazon MGM thriller After the Hunt, Roberts commanded a flat $20 million fee, a testament to her global draw. Unlike many peers who now rely on backend points that depend on box office performance, Roberts maintains the leverage to demand massive upfront payments, insulating her earnings from the volatility of the theatrical market. Her continued relevance in both rom-coms and dramatic thrillers keeps her paycheck in the upper echelon of the industry.
- Age: 58
- Nationality: American
- Role: Actress, Producer
- Key Income Source: Upfront Film Salary
- Net Worth: ~$250 Million
Contribution & Impact: Roberts represents the enduring power of the “A-List” brand. In an era of IP-driven franchises, she remains one of the few actors whose name alone on a poster can greenlight an $80 million budget, preserving the model of star-driven cinema.
6. Scarlett Johansson
The Blockbuster Queen
- Estimated 2026 Earnings: $18 – $20 Million (Base + Backend)
- Key Projects: Jurassic World: Rebirth
Scarlett Johansson has strategically pivoted from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to arguably the biggest franchise in cinema history. As the lead of Jurassic World: Rebirth, Johansson negotiated a deal that likely includes a hefty upfront fee (estimated at $15M-$20M) coupled with significant backend participation. Given the Jurassic franchise’s history of multi-billion dollar grosses, her final take-home pay for 2026 could easily skyrocket past $50 million depending on the film’s summer performance. She remains the highest-grossing actress of all time, a statistic she leverages in every negotiation.
- Age: 41
- Nationality: American
- Role: Actress, Producer
- Key Income Source: Franchise Backend Points
- Net Worth: ~$165 Million
Contribution & Impact: Johansson’s public legal battle with Disney in 2021 changed the industry standard for talent contracts in the streaming era, ensuring actors are compensated for digital releases. Her role in Jurassic World solidifies her status as the ultimate franchise anchor.
7. Zendaya
The Gen Z Icon
- Estimated 2026 Earnings: $18 Million+
- Key Projects: Euphoria (Season 3), Dune Backend, Brand Partnerships
Zendaya is the youngest power player on this list, commanding fees that rival veterans with decades of experience. For the long-awaited third season of Euphoria, she renegotiated her contract to earn $1 million per episode, totaling roughly $8 million for the season. Combined with continuing backend payments from the massive success of Dune: Part Two and her producer/star role in Challengers, her screen earnings are substantial. However, her “C-suite” level income is supplemented by elite ambassadorships with brands like Louis Vuitton and Bulgari, which pay in the millions annually.
- Age: 29
- Nationality: American
- Role: Actress, Producer, Model
- Key Income Source: TV Salary, Film Backend, Luxury Endorsements
- Net Worth: ~$35 Million
Contribution & Impact: Zendaya has mastered the art of the 360-degree career. She creates a synergy between her roles and her fashion presence that elevates both, making her arguably the most marketable face in the world for 2026.
8. Jennifer Lawrence
The Prestige Powerhouse
- Estimated 2026 Earnings: $15 – $20 Million
- Key Projects: Die, My Love, The Wives (Apple Original Films)
Jennifer Lawrence continues to blend high-art projects with high-paying studio deals. Her involvement in the Apple Original film The Wives comes with a streaming-inflated paycheck typical of Apple’s aggressive talent acquisition. Additionally, the rights war for her Lynne Ramsay project Die, My Love (sold for ~$24 million) ensures she is paid handsomely as both star and producer. Lawrence has maintained a strict quote of $20 million for commercial fare, refusing to dilute her brand for lesser paydays, keeping her firmly in the top 10.
- Age: 35
- Nationality: American
- Role: Actress, Producer (Excellent Cadaver)
- Key Income Source: Streaming Film Salary & Producing
- Net Worth: ~$175 Million
Contribution & Impact: Lawrence proves that an actress can oscillate between R-rated comedies, indie dramas, and blockbusters without losing earning power. Her transparency about the gender pay gap has also kept the conversation alive, ensuring she and her peers are paid on par with male co-stars.
9. Gal Gadot
The Global Action Star
- Estimated 2026 Earnings: $15 Million
- Key Projects: Snow White (Evil Queen), Red Notice Sequels (Development)
Despite the controversy and delays surrounding Disney’s live-action Snow White, Gal Gadot secured a massive payday to play the Evil Queen, reported to be in the $15 million range. Gadot has established herself as a global action brand, and while Wonder Woman 3 is in limbo, her Netflix relationship remains lucrative. With Red Notice sequels in active development and her production company Pilot Wave spinning up new projects, she remains one of the few actresses who can sell a movie internationally on name recognition alone.
- Age: 40
- Nationality: Israeli
- Role: Actress, Producer
- Key Income Source: Blockbuster Film Salary
- Net Worth: ~$50 Million
Contribution & Impact: Gadot has carved a niche as a reliable international box-office draw. Her ability to secure top-tier paychecks for villain roles (like the Evil Queen) signals a shift where established leading ladies are monetizing “character actor” roles at superstar rates.
10. Millie Bobby Brown
The Streaming Darling
- Estimated 2026 Earnings: $12 – $15 Million
- Key Projects: Stranger Things (Season 5), The Electric State
2026 marks the grand finale of Stranger Things, and Millie Bobby Brown is cashing in on the cultural phenomenon she helped build. Her overall deal with Netflix, which includes her salary for the final season (an ensemble-leading tier) and her producing deal for the Enola Holmes universe, keeps her earnings sky-high. Reports suggest her package for the final season and exclusive rights puts her firmly in the double-digit millions for the year. At just 22, she has already accumulated a wealth portfolio that rivals actors twice her age.
- Age: 22
- Nationality: British
- Role: Actress, Producer, Entrepreneur (Florence by Mills)
- Key Income Source: Netflix Overall Deal
- Net Worth: ~$25 Million
Contribution & Impact: Brown represents the future of the industry—a star born and bred in the streaming ecosystem. She has successfully leveraged a single breakout TV role into a multimedia empire, proving that Gen Z stars can command veteran-level salaries by owning their audience connection.
Comparative Analysis: The 2026 Paycheck Landscape
The 2026 ranking reveals a distinct bifurcation in how wealth is generated in Hollywood. On one side, we have the “Streaming Queens” (Diaz, Aniston, Witherspoon, Brown), whose earnings are defined by massive, guaranteed buyouts from Netflix and Apple. These salaries are insulated from box office risks, offering stability and astronomical upfront cash.
On the other side are the “Theatrical Gamblers” (Robbie, Johansson), who are betting on backend points. For Robbie, this bet paid off with Barbie to the tune of $50 million, and Johansson is poised to do the same with Jurassic World. This model offers higher potential ceilings but carries greater risk.
Notably, the “Mid-Budget Movie Star” is largely absent from the top 10. You are either a franchise anchor or a prestige TV mogul. The threshold for entry into this elite club is now firmly set at $15 million per year, with the top tier earning triple that amount.
Conclusion
In 2026, the highest-paid actresses are no longer just “talent”—they are corporations. The common thread among the top earners is ownership. Whether it is Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap, Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, or Jennifer Aniston’s EP credits, the path to the top of the list requires equity. As the industry continues to consolidate, we can expect these women to further entrench themselves not just as the faces on the screen, but as the architects of the business itself.
