Top-Earning Black Actor in Hollywood
1. Zoe Saldaña
Zoe Saldaña has ascended to a new pinnacle. Fueled by the triumph of Avatar: Fire and Ash, her career-spanning global box-office total has surpassed $15 billion, positioning her as the highest-grossing actor of all time, per The Numbers’ latest reporting.
Her résumé spans Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Trek, and she has also become the first performer to feature in four films that each exceeded $2 billion at the worldwide box office.
2. Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson sits just behind Saldaña, with roughly $14.6 billion in global ticket sales.
Credit goes to his long-running stint as Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Jackson’s multi-decade career also includes Star Wars, Jurassic Park, The Incredibles and a multitude of other successes.
3. Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has amassed over $11 billion worldwide. His credits include the Fast & Furious franchise, Jumanji, Moana, and Black Adam. The forthcoming live-action Moana could push that total even higher.
4. Don Cheadle
Don Cheadle sits at about $9 billion, largely driven by his portrayal of James Rhodes, also known as War Machine, in the Marvel films, with the Ocean’s franchise contributing to the milestone as well.
5. Will Smith
Will Smith’s global box-office total approaches $9 billion. Long before the superhero era dominated Hollywood, Smith was a box-office powerhouse with Independence Day, Men in Black, I Am Legend, Bad Boys and Aladdin.
6. Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman’s films amassed over $7.6 billion worldwide prior to his passing in 2020. His legacy includes Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, 42, Get On Up and Marshall.
7. Letitia Wright
With totals surpassing $7.5 billion at the global box office, Letitia Wright’s numbers illustrate the profound impact of the Black Panther franchise.
8. Danai Gurira
Danai Gurira has generated close to $7 billion, with much of that figure driven by her portrayal of Okoye in the Marvel universe.
9. Eddie Murphy
Long before the MCU became Hollywood’s favorite money machine, Eddie Murphy was delivering big numbers. His films have amassed over $6.7 billion, thanks to franchises such as Shrek, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America and The Nutty Professor.
10. Idris Elba
Idris Elba rounds out this group with more than $5.6 billion in worldwide box office receipts. Beyond Marvel, his résumé includes Disney favorites like The Jungle Book, Finding Dory and Zootopia, along with the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.
The numbers may be attached to movies, but the message is bigger than the box office. These actors have helped carry franchises, introduce unforgettable characters and prove that Black talent has never been a side note in Hollywood’s biggest business.
