The world’s highest-paid actor title has typically now been reserved for leading stars of blockbuster films. These actors have dominated Hollywood’s earning charts by topping the major franchises. But surprisingly the highest paid actor in the world once was not an actor typically playing the role of villain and completely overshadowed the hero, both on and off the screen.
Tim Burton brought Batman to the big screen in 1989 marking the caped cinematic return after two decades. The film was inspired by Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke and Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, cast Michael Keaton as Batman. At that time, Keaton was primarily known for his comedic roles and lacked the star power of other action heroes, leading to a modest $ 5 million paycheck for the role.
The Oscar-winning actor Jack Nicholson, who portrayed Joker in the film. Nicholson negotiated an upfront fee of $ 6 million and a highly lucrative profit-sharing agreement. As Batman went on to gross over $ 400 million worldwide, Nicholson’s deal earned him an additional $ 54 million, bringing his total earnings to an astonishing $ 60 million. This made him the highest-paid actor in the world at the time, eclipsing Hollywood legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, who were earning $ 20–30 million per film during that era.
At 52 years old, Nicholson was no longer a box-office magnet, but his performance as the Joker and the film’s success turned him into the biggest earner in Hollywood. Around the same time, Tom Cruise earned $ 9 million for Days of Thunder, Bruce Willis took home $ 7.5 million for Die Hard 2, and rising stars like Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp earned significantly less. Even action icons like Schwarzenegger and Stallone known for their blockbuster paychecks, couldn’t match Nicholson’s earnings, despite their profit-sharing arrangements.
Nicholson’s unprecedented $ 60 million payday held its place in Hollywood history until Tom Cruise surpassed it in 1996, earning $ 70 million for the first Mission: Impossible. Bruce Willis later broke the $ 100 million barrier in 1999, thanks to The Sixth Sense.
Jack Nicholson’s role as the Joker not only redefined the portrayal of cinematic villains but also set a new benchmark for actor earnings, proving that sometimes, even villains can reign supreme in Hollywood.
