Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has claimed the top position on Forbes’ list of highest-paid actors for 2024, earning $88 million ($103 million gross). This financial milestone reinforces his status as one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars as he continues balancing entertainment ventures with occasional WWE appearances.
Forbes attributes Johnson’s record-breaking payday to two major sources. First, his Amazon streaming deal for “Red One” reportedly earned him “the largest fee-plus-buyout in streaming movie history,” estimated at $50 million. The second major contributor was his unprecedented profit-sharing arrangement with Disney as executive producer on “Moana 2.”
The Rock returned to the top of the highest-paid actors list after landing what is believed to be the largest fee-plus-buyout in streaming movie history, an estimated $50 million to star in Amazon’s Red One last year.
When “Moana 2” surpassed the $1 billion box office mark, this profit-sharing agreement resulted in what one industry agent described as “an ungodly amount of money” for Johnson.
Meanwhile, fellow WWE superstar John Cena secured the 16th position on the list with $23 million ($30 million gross). Cena’s Hollywood presence continues growing through streaming comedies across multiple platforms during the same period he embarks on his WWE farewell tour.
Forbes noted Cena’s versatility across several 2024 releases, including “Argylle” (Apple), “Ricky Stanicky” (Hulu), and “Jackpot!” (Amazon), along with appearances in “Die Hart 2” with Kevin Hart and an episode of critically acclaimed series “The Bear.”
Despite starring in major films like “Dune: Part Two,” former WWE Champion Dave Bautista did not make Forbes’ top 20 list. This absence comes as something of a surprise given his consistent presence in high-profile Hollywood productions over recent years.
The rankings highlight the continued success of WWE performers transitioning to mainstream entertainment, with Johnson maintaining his elite status while Cena steadily climbs the Hollywood hierarchy.