Crazy: Vanity Fair's Hollywood Top 40 Earners

This is why I want to become an actress!

Read rules, calculations on the link @ the bottom of post.

I bet by this time next year these figures will change completely though.

1 Michael Bay
(William Morris Endeavor Entertainment)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $125 million
$75 million: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (back-end profit participation for directing and producing, based on worldwide box-office gross of $835 million)
$28 million: Transformers: R.O.T.F. (share of estimated $280 million in DVD revenue)
$12.5 million: Transformers: R.O.T.F. (share of toy and other licensing royalties)
$4 million: Friday the 13th (back end for producing, based on worldwide gross of $90 million, and share of DVD)
$2 million: The Unborn (back end for producing, based on worldwide gross of $77 million, and share of DVD)
$2 million: A Nightmare on Elm Street (fee for producing inexplicable remake)
$1.5 million: Royalties from older films, other income

2 Steven Spielberg
(Creative Artists Agency)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $85 million
$50 million: Universal theme-park royalties and consulting fees (ongoing deal signed in 1987)
$20 million: The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (fee for producing and directing upcoming 2011 release)
$10 million: Other back-end revenue, royalties from older films
$5 million: Transformers: R.O.T.F. (back end as executive producer)

3 Roland Emmerich
(CAA)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $70 million
$70 million: 2012 (back end for producing and directing, based on worldwide gross of $746 million as of December 31)

4 James Cameron
(CAA)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $50 million
$50 million: Avatar (back end for producing, writing, and directing, based on worldwide gross of $830 million as of December 31)

5 Todd Phillips
(CAA)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $44 million
$39 million: The Hangover (back end for directing, based on worldwide gross of $460 million, and share of DVD)
$5 million: Due Date (fee for producing and directing upcoming comedy starring Robert Downey Jr.)

6 Daniel Radcliffe
(Artist Rights Group)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $41 million
$20 million: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I (fee for starring in upcoming penultimate Potter film)
$20 million: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II (fee for starring in 2011 series finale, also filmed last year)
$1 million: Royalties from older films, other revenue

7 Ben Stiller
(WME)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $40 million
$20 million: Little Fockers (fee for starring in upcoming threequal)
$6 million: Greenberg (fee for starring)
$6 million: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (back end for starring, based on worldwide gross of $415 million, and share of DVD)
$5 million: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (back-end bonus for voice work, and share of DVD)
$2 million: Megamind (fee as executive producer of upcoming animated film)
$1 million: Submarine (fee as executive producer of upcoming indie film)

8 Tom Hanks
(CAA)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $36 million
$19 million: Angels & Demons (back end for starring, based on worldwide gross of $486 million, and share of DVD)
$15 million: Toy Story 3 (fee for voice work in upcoming 3Dqual)
$2 million: Royalties from older films, other revenue

9 J. J. Abrams
(WME)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $36 million
$31 million: Star Trek (back end for producing and directing, based on worldwide gross of $385 million, and share of DVD)
$5 million: Morning Glory (fee for producing upcoming comedy starring Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton)

10 Jerry Bruckheimer
(CAA)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $35.5 million
$10 million: The Sorceror's Apprentice (fee for producing upcoming action-comedy starring Nicolas Cage)
$10 million: Annual first-look deal with Disney
$7.5 million: Back end from various film projects
$5 million: G-Force (back end for producing, based on worldwide gross of $285 million)
$3 million: Confessions of a Shopaholic (back end for producing, based on worldwide gross of $105 million, and share of DVD)

11 Tyler Perry
(WME)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $32.5 million
$19 million: Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail (back end for writing, directing, producing, and starring, based on domestic gross of $90 mil, Perry's films are not yet distributed internationally - and share of DVD)
$6 million: Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All by Myself (back end for writing, directing, and producing, based on domestic gross of $52 million)
$3 million: Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys (share of DVD for writing, directing, and producing)
$2.5 million: Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too? (fee for writing, directing, and executive-producing upcoming sequel starring Janet Jackson)
$2 million: Georgia Sky (fee for executive-producing a film without his name)

12 Adam Sandler
(WME)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $31.5 million
$25 million: Grown Ups (fee for writing and starring in upcoming comedy with Chris Rock)
$2.5 million: Born to Be a Star (fee for writing and producing upcoming comedy starring Christina Ricci and Stephen Dorff)
$2 million: Zookeeper (fee for voice work in and producing upcoming animated feature)
$2 million: Assorted back end from other producing projects, royalties from older films, other revenue

13 Denzel Washington
(WME)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $31 million
$15 million: The Book of Eli (fee for starring)
$15 million: Unstoppable (fee for starring in upcoming runaway-train thriller)
$1 million: Royalties from older films, other revenue

14 Emma Watson
(WME)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $30 million
$15 million: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I (fee for starring)
$15 million: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II (fee for starring)

15 Rupert Grint
(Hamilton Hodell)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $30 million
$15 million: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I (fee for starring)
$15 million: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II (fee for starring)

16 Owen Wilson
(United Talent Agency)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $29 million
$15 million: Little Fockers (fee for co-starring)
$8 million: Untitled James L. Brooks project (fee for starring opposite Jack Nicholson and Reese Witherspoon)
$2 million: Marley & Me (back end for starring, based on worldwide gross of $243 million, and share of DVD)
$2 million: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (back end for co-starring, and share of DVD)
$1 million: Marmaduke (fee for voice work in upcoming animated film based on tired comic strip)
$1 million: Royalties from older films, other revenue

17 Nicolas Cage
(CAA)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $28 million
$12 million: The Sorceror's Apprentice (fee for starring)
$12 million: The Hungry Rabbit Jumps (fee for starring in upcoming vigilante thriller)
$2 million: G-Force (back-end bonus for voice work, based on worldwide gross of $285 million)
$1 million: Knowing (back end for starring, based on worldwide gross of $151 million, and share of DVD)
$1 million: Royalties from older films, other revenue

18 Russell Crowe
(WME)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $28 million
$20 million: Robin Hood (fee for starring in umpteenth Sherwood Forest romp, this time from Ridley Scott)
$7.5 million: The Next Three Days (fee for producing and starring in upcoming thriller)
$500,000: Royalties from older films, other revenue

19 Cameron Diaz
(CAA)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $27 million
$10 million: Shrek Forever After (fee for voice work in upcoming 3-D 4qual)
$10 million: Knight and Day (fee for starring in upcoming action-comedy opposite Tom Cruise)
$6 million: The Green Hornet (fee for starring in upcoming would-be franchise opposite Seth Rogen)
$1 million: Royalties from older films, other revenue

20 Brian Grazer and Ron Howard
(CAA [Howard])
Estimated 2009 earnings: $25.5 million
$16 million: Angels & Demons (back end for directing [Howard] and producing [both], based on worldwide gross of $486 million, and share of DVD)
$2.5 million: Untitled Gus Van Sant project (fee for producing)
$2.5 million: Robin Hood (fee for producing)
$2.5 million: Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey! (fee for producing animated sequel)
$2 million: Royalties from older films, other revenue

21 Johnny Depp
(UTA)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $25 million
$15 million: The Rum Diary (fee for starring in and producing upcoming film based on Hunter S. Thompson novel)
$7.5 million: Rango (fee for voice work in upcoming animated film)
$2.5 million: Royalties from Pirates films, other revenue

22 Steve Carell
(WME)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $25 million
$12.5 million: Date Night (fee for starring in upcoming Shawn Levy comedy opposite Tina Fey)
$12 million: Dinner for Schmucks (fee for starring in upcoming comedy)
$500,000: Despicable Me (fee for voice work in upcoming animated feature)

23 Robert De Niro
(WME)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $24.5 million
$20 million: Little Fockers (fee for starring)
$2.5 million: Stone (fee for starring in upcoming psychological thriller with Edward Norton)
$1 million: Public Enemies (back end for executive-producing, based on worldwide gross of $213 million, and share of DVD)
$1 million: Machete (fee for supporting role in upcoming political thriller), royalties from older films, other revenue

24 Sarah Jessica Parker
(CAA)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $24 million
$15 million: Sex and the City 2 (fee for starring in upcoming sequel)
$8 million: Did You Hear About the Morgans? (fee for starring)
$1 million: Royalties from older films, other revenue

25 Katherine Heigl
(Paradigm)
Etimated 2009 earnings: $24 million
$12 million: Killers (fee for starring in upcoming action-comedy opposite Ashton Kutcher)
$12 million: Life As We Know It (fee for starring in upcoming romantic comedy opposite Josh Duhamel)

26 Shawn Levy
(WME)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $23 million
$12.5 million: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (back end for directing and producing, and share of DVD)
$10 million: Date Night (fee for directing and producing)
$500,000: Pink Panther 2 (share of DVD as executive producer)

27 Oren Peli and Jason Blum
(CAA)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $22.5 million
$17.5 million: Paranormal Activity (back end, based on worldwide gross of $141 million, for writing and directing [Peli] and producing [both])
$5 million: Area 51 (fee for writing, directing, and producing upcoming U.F.O. thriller)

28 Robert Downey Jr.
(CAA)
Estimated 2009 earnings:
$22 million
$12 million: Due Date (fee for starring)
$10 million: Iron Man 2 (fee for starring in upcoming sequel)

29 George Clooney
(CAA)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $22 million
$10 million: Up in the Air (fee for starring)
$5 million: Fees for appearing in foreign commercials, royalties from older films, other revenue
$4.5 million: The Men Who Stare at Goats (back end, based on worldwide gross of $44 million; Clooney took no up-front fee, but got a now-rare first-dollar gross deal)
$2.5 million: The American (fee for starring in and producing upcoming spy thriller)

30 Matt Damon
(WME)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $22 million
$7 million: The Adjustment Bureau (fee for starring in upcoming sci-fi thriller opposite Emily Blunt)
$7 million: Invictus (fee for starring)
$7 million: Hereafter (fee for starring in upcoming Clint Eastwood film)
$1 million: Royalties from older films, especially the Jason Bourne movies

31 Reese Witherspoon
(CAA)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $21 million
$10 million: Untitled James L. Brooks project (fee for starring)
$10 million: Monsters vs. Aliens (back end for voice work, based on worldwide gross of $381 million, and share of DVD)
$1 million: Royalties from older films

32 Angelina Jolie
(Media Talent Group)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $21 million
$20 million: Salt (fee for starring in upcoming spy movie)
$1 million: Royalties from older films, other revenue

33 Jennifer Aniston
(CAA)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $20 million
$8 million: The Bounty Hunter (fee for starring in upcoming action-comedy opposite Gerard Butler)
$8 million: The Baster (fee for starring in upcoming romantic comedy opposite Jason Bateman)
$3 million: Marley & Me (back end, based on worldwide gross of $243 million, and share of DVD)
$1 million: He's Just Not That into You (back end based on worldwide gross of $178 million, and share of DVD)

34 Sandra Bullock
(CAA)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $20 million
$15 million: The Blind Side (fee and back end for starring, based on worldwide gross of about $200 million as of December 31)
$4 million: The Proposal (back end for starring, based on worldwide gross of $315 million, and share of DVD)
$1 million: Royalties from older films, other revenue

35 Robert Pattinson
(WME)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $18 million
$7.5 million: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (fee for starring in upcoming third installment of vampire franchise)
$5 million: The Twilight Saga: New Moon (fee for starring in second installment)
$4 million: Remember Me (fee for actually starring in a non-Twilight film)
$1.5 million: New Moon (back end, based on worldwide gross of $661 million)

36 Clint Eastwood
(Leonard Hirshan Mgmt.)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $17 million
$6 million: Invictus (fee for directing and producing)
$6 million: Hereafter (fee for directing and producing)
$4 million: Gran Torino (share of DVD, for starring in, directing, and producing)
$1 million: Royalties from older films

37 Kristen Stewart
(Gersh)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $16 million
$7.5 million: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (fee for starring)
$5 million: The Twilight Saga: New Moon (fee for starring)
$2 million: The Runaways (for starring in upcoming Joan Jett biopic)
$1.5 million: New Moon (back end)

38 Mark Wahlberg
(WME)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $16 million
$8 million: The Other Guys (fee for starring in upcoming action-comedy with Will Ferrell)
$4 million: The Fighter (fee for starring in upcoming boxer biopic)
$4 million: Date Night (fee for co-starring)

39 Shia LaBeouf
(CAA)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $15 million
$8 million: Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (fee for starring in upcoming sequel)
$6 million: Transformers: R.O.T.F. (back end for starring, and share of DVD)
$1 million: Eagle Eye (share of DVD), royalties from older films

40 Brad Pitt
(CAA)
Estimated 2009 earnings: $13.5 million
$5 million: Megamind (fee for voice work)
$4.5 million: Inglourious Basterds (back end for starring, based on worldwide gross of $318 million)
$2 million: The Time Traveler's Wife (fee for executive-producing)
$1 million: Eat, Pray, Love (fee for producing upcoming Julia Roberts vehicle)
$1 million: Royalties from older films, other revenue

This story will be in the March 2010 issue of Vanity Fair Magazine
Original Post here @ Vanity Fair.com