Barbie stars Robbie and Gosling in top 10 on list of highest paid actors in 2023

Barbie stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling were among the highest paid actors in 2023, according to Forbes’ annual list.

Greta Gerwig’s comedy about the Mattel doll contributed more than £80 million to the UK economy, according to production company Warner Bros, and US business magazine Forbes said it grossed 1.4 billion dollars (£1.1 billion) worldwide.

Australian actress Robbie, 33, is the youngest actor on the list by a decade and the second highest earner, achieving 59 million dollars (£46.3 million) for the year.

She starred as Barbie and was a producer on the summer blockbuster which was created by her production company LuckyChap, which was also behind hit dark thriller Saltburn.

Canadian actor Gosling, 43, who starred opposite Robbie playing Ken, was placed joined fourth on the list alongside Matt Damon, with both earning 43 million dollars (£33.7 million).

Adam Sandler came out as the top earner as he managed to rake in 73 million dollars (£57.3 million) following the success of his 2023 Netflix film Murder Mystery 2 and his stand-up comedy tour.

Friends star Jennifer Aniston, who was Sandler’s co-star in the comedy film, was placed sixth with 42 million dollars (£32.9 million) and is one of the two women who feature in the top 10.

Denzel Washington, who starred in the third instalment of The Equalizer franchise in 2023, landed in 10th place and is the only non-white actor to make the cut.

He made 24 million dollars (£18.8 million) and is also the oldest movie star to feature on the list.

Tom Cruise cashed in on the latest Mission: Impossible movie and managed to earn himself 45 million dollars (£35.3 million) last year, placing him in third.

Elsewhere, Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred in Martin Scorsese’s epic Killers Of The Flower Moon, managed to rake in 41 million dollars (£32.2 million) placing him joint seventh with the only English actor to make the cut – Jason Statham.

In 2023, the 56-year-old starred in films Fast X, Meg 2: The Trench, Expend4bles and Guy Ritchie’s Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre.

In ninth place, with 38 million dollars (£29.8 million), is actor Ben Affleck, who serves as chief executive of artist-led studio Artists Equity, which he co-founded with Damon.

In 2023 his sports film Air, which he had directed and starred in alongside his friend and co-worker Damon, was released.

Forbes’ estimations are calculated through a host of interviews including with agents and industry experts, as well as using data sources such as IMDB Pro and Polestar.

The business magazine said its figures represent taxed earnings for the calendar year 2023 and only include income related to entertainment.