Adam Sandler Is The Most Overpaid Actor In Hollywood, According To Forbes
It seems like every few months, there's a new article about how movie stardom just isn't what it used to be, and how even the biggest names can no longer guarantee a box office smash. Nevertheless, the world's most popular actors continue to get paid a lot, and not all of them actually make those hefty paychecks worth it.
According to Forbes, the worst value in Hollywood right now is Adam Sandler, whose Jack & Jill and That's My Boy tanked horribly. He's followed closely by Katherine Heigl and Reese Witherspoon, and at more of a distance by his pal Kevin James. Find out who the next six are after the jump.
It's not a perfect system — Sandler's last three films are really Grown Ups 2, Hotel Transylvania, and That's My Boy, but the first doesn't count because it was released in July and the second doesn't count because it's an animated movie. Had those two films factored in, his ROI would be much, much better.
Still, it's an entertaining exercise for anyone who's ever wondered if these celebs truly deserve the eight-figure paydays that they demand. Here are ten who, per Forbes' calculations, do not.
1. Adam Sandler ($3.40)
2. Katherine Heigl ($3.50)
3. Reese Witherspoon ($3.90)
4. Nicolas Cage ($6.00)
5. Kevin James ($6.10)
6. Denzel Washington ($8.30)
7. Steve Carell ($10.00)
8. Jennifer Aniston ($10.60)
9. Matt Damon ($10.60)
10. Ryan Reynolds ($10.70)
If some of those numbers don't sound so bad, keep in mind that Forbes' "best value" actor of 2012, Natalie Portman, brought in $42.70 for each dollar she was paid.
There are some overlaps with Forbes' highest paid actors and actresses lists, which isn't surprising. Sandler and Washington both landed on the former, while Aniston was on the latter. More shocking is the fact that Heigl comes in at #2. Frankly, who knew anyone was still paying her big bucks to star in things?