
Cristiano Ronaldo just scored a major milestone.
The athlete has become the first soccer player to reach billionaire status. Bloomberg reports this is partly thanks to a $400 million, tax-free, two-year contract with the Saudi Arabian team Al-Nassr FC.
According to reports, Cristiano Ronaldo has earned a total of $1.4 billion from his contract and other ventures outside of playing the sport.
Before moving to the Saudi Pro League in 2023, the Portuguese soccer star was consistently among the world’s highest-earning athletes while playing for Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Besides playing soccer, Cristiano, age 40, earns significant income from endorsements. Bloomberg reports he has a $18 million, 10-year deal with Nike, plus sponsorships with Armani and real estate ventures through his CR7 brand.
Cristiano Ronaldo recently showed his affection and financial success by proposing to his long-term partner, Georgina Rodríguez.
The 31-year-old announced on Instagram on August 11th, with a picture of her engagement ring, “Yes, I do!” She added, “In this life and every life before it.”
Georgina, who shares 8-year-old twins Eva Maria and Mateo, as well as daughters Alana, 7, and Bella, 3, with Cristiano, recently showcased a stunning ring. She attended the Kering Foundation’s Caring for Women dinner in New York City on September 11th, and proudly displayed the large, square-cut diamond ring while posing for photos in a stylish dress. She also lost Bella’s twin brother in 2022.

Georgina has talked about how Cristiano—who is also a father to 15-year-old Cristiano Jr. from a previous relationship—welcomed her into his luxurious life when they first got together in 2017. She described what it’s like living with him at home.
Georgina, recalling a story from her 2022 Netflix documentary *I Am Georgina*, remembered her now-fiancé picking her up from work in a Bugatti. She said her coworkers were shocked, especially since they arrived by bus while she left in such a luxurious car. “They couldn’t believe it,” she added.
For more stars who have discussed their massive paydays, keep reading…

According to Joe Giudice, he and his ex-wife Teresa Giudice didn’t make much money during the first season of *The Real Housewives of New Jersey*. He revealed on his daughter Gia’s *Casual Chaos* podcast in August 2025 that they were paid around $25,000, which he considered very little, but they accepted it.
Creating the first season of the show wasn’t inexpensive. The father of four recalled, “I remember that big party we threw in my living room. I’d estimate the show cost me around $150,000 that first year.”

Although the winner of *Dancing With the Stars* doesn’t receive a cash prize, everyone who reaches the finale gets paid, according to Jenna Johnson, who won season 33 with Joey Graziadei. She also mentioned that there’s a bonus for those who make it that far.
Johnson explained that winning doesn’t come with a huge financial reward; it’s more about the experience and a trophy. While dancers start earning around $1,200 to $1,600 per episode—potentially reaching $100,000 for the whole season (though ABC hasn’t confirmed these figures)—celebrities begin with a $125,000 salary. As they progress, celebrities receive bonuses, with those reaching the semifinals and finals potentially earning an additional $50,000. Contestants are guaranteed payment for a certain number of weeks, regardless of how quickly they are eliminated.

Jennifer Lawrence, who has won an Oscar, earned $25 million for her role in Adam McKay’s comedy film *Don’t Look Up*. However, her co-star, Leonardo DiCaprio – also an Oscar winner – received $30 million for the same movie.
In an interview with *Vanity Fair* in December 2020/January 2021, Jennifer Lawrence acknowledged that Leonardo DiCaprio generates more revenue at the box office than she does. While she’s grateful for her own compensation, she’s observed a common issue for women in the workplace: it’s awkward and difficult to ask for equal pay. And when discrepancies are questioned, explanations are often vague, with people claiming it’s not about gender without offering a clear reason.
Jennifer Lawrence’s optimistic outlook wasn’t always natural. When the 2014 Sony email leak revealed she was paid less than her male co-stars in the 2013 film *American Hustle*, it sparked a widespread discussion about unequal pay for women in Hollywood.
In a 2017 interview with Channel 4 News, Lawrence explained she wasn’t worried about her earnings. ‘I’m lucky to have the job I do,’ she said, ‘and it wasn’t the amount of money I made from movies that bothered me. I was frustrated by the broader issues of unfairness and inequality.’

Compared to Leonardo DiCaprio’s earnings, Jonah Hill received a relatively small $60,000 for his work in the 2013 film *The Wolf of Wall Street* – before taxes and commissions. This is significantly less than the $10 million earned by the lead actor.
Hill remembered being offered very little money on *The Howard Stern Show* in 2014. However, he was eager to appear in a film directed by Martin Scorsese, so he quickly agreed to the deal, worried they might reconsider.
Hill, a two-time Best Supporting Actor nominee known for playing a frantic, drug-using stockbroker, said he’d be willing to sacrifice everything to work with director Martin Scorsese. He explained that making a living often means taking roles just to pay the bills—like his work on *22 Jump Street*—but working with someone you admire is a different story. He’d gladly do it again, emphasizing that passion and meaningful work are more important than financial gain.

Oprah Winfrey happily accepted only a little bit of green to star in 1985’s The Color Purple.
In a 2023 interview with *Essence*, the media billionaire shared that they were only paid $35,000 for the film, but it was the most valuable $35,000 they ever made. They explained it was a turning point in their career and a great learning experience.

Jennifer Lopez made history when she played the late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla in the 1997 movie *Selena*. She was the first Latina actress to be paid $1 million for a film role.
Looking back on her first big film, Lopez explained to *Variety* in 2019 that she was very young and didn’t fully understand what was happening. She was thrilled they offered her a million dollars, and she sensed everyone involved was trying to make a statement.
This success allowed her to earn hundreds of millions of dollars, and often she doesn’t even have to invest any of her own money to do so.
I’ve always admired Jennifer Lopez’s drive, and she explained it perfectly in a 2019 interview with *GQ*. She said she takes on projects simply because she’s passionate about them. A great example is *Hustlers* – she didn’t even take a big paycheck, and she produced it herself! She really believes in herself and invests in her own vision. It reminds me of her song ‘Jenny From the Block’ – she just does what she loves, and that’s inspiring!

Adrien Brody wasn’t motivated by financial gain when he accepted the role in *The Brutalist*. He chose to play a Hungarian architect struggling with his craft in post-World War II America, a performance that earned him his second Academy Award for Best Actor, despite a salary of just $250,000.
You know, I’m at a point where I really need to do a big studio film! I’ve been completely focused on this massive renovation project – it’s a barn I’m turning into something that honestly feels like a castle, up in upstate New York. It’s been all-consuming, and now I’m ready for a different kind of creative outlet.

When asked how he spent his first paycheck from *Saturday Night Live*, Pete Davidson joked to *New York* magazine, “Do you know how much we make?” He explained that he earned around $3,000 per episode when he started in 2014, adding, “So I probably just bought dinner.”
It’s notable that pay for new cast members on *Saturday Night Live* has stayed consistent over the years. In 1975, the original season one stars – John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, and Chevy Chase – were reportedly paid $750 per episode. Adjusted for inflation, that’s about $3,300 in 2014, and around $4,428 in 2025.

As a lifestyle expert, I always say everyone starts somewhere! While Kenan Thompson is incredibly successful now – and earns *way* more than $3,000 per episode after 22 seasons on *SNL* – it’s fun to remember he began his career, like so many of us, with humble beginnings as a Nickelodeon star.
In Demi Lovato’s 2024 documentary, *Child Star*, a former cast member of *All That* shared that their first paycheck was $800. They joked that, being 12 at the time, it felt like a fortune – almost a million dollars.

It turns out Gilmore Girls’ status as a beloved rewatchable classic is literally priceless.
Lauren Graham, best known for playing Lorelai Gilmore for seven seasons and then returning for the 2016 revival *Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life*, recently shared that she doesn’t receive any ongoing payments (residuals) from Netflix. She told Jimmy Kimmel in March 2025 that she’s instead been ‘paid in love and appreciation.’

During the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, actor Tommy Dorfman revealed details about her pay for the show *13 Reasons Why*. The strike, along with the WGA strike, was partially caused by streaming services like Netflix not sharing additional profits with actors and crew when a show became successful.
Dorfman revealed on Threads on July 24th that she earned $29,953.24 for the first season of *13 Reasons Why* before her agency, manager (combined 20%), and taxes took their cut. She worked on 8 episodes over six months, doing all the promotion and appearing in key promotional artwork. She also traveled frequently between New York City and San Francisco to film, often working for days without pay, and barely qualified for health insurance.
Dorfman also noted that the show’s first season reached 476 million viewing hours in its first 28 days, which is the reason for the strike.

Dax Shepard recently shared with Lauren Graham, a former co-star on their show *Parenthood*, that he was one of the lowest-paid actors during the show’s six-season run on NBC. He didn’t mention specific salaries or names, but indicated he earned significantly less than many of his colleagues.
But, the Armchair Expert host stressed that he did not mind.
Before becoming a parent, I always made it a priority to find out how much my coworkers were earning. I’d either ask them directly or discreetly check with my agent to get the information.
As a lifestyle expert, I often advise people to protect their enjoyment of new experiences. In this case, a friend of mine deliberately avoided finding out too much about his family’s history with the company he joined. It was a smart move! It allowed him to fully appreciate his work, even when he started to get a sense of where he stood in terms of salary and position.

In 2005, George Clooney told the Los Angeles Times that he and Grant Heslov each only made one dollar from the film *Good Night, and Good Luck*. Clooney explained they had to use all the money earned from directing and acting salaries to actually get the movie made, essentially endorsing his own check and forfeiting his acting pay.
George Clooney’s passion project, a play about CBS News journalist Edward R. Murrow and his courageous reporting in the 1950s, proved to be a success. Clooney made his Broadway debut playing Murrow, and the show ran from June 2025. Even before its official opening on April 3rd, the play broke Broadway records for non-musicals, earning $3.3 million during previews, proving it was a much bigger hit than just a personal endeavor.

Christian Bale revealed in a 2022 interview with *GQ* that he earned very little for his role as Patrick Bateman in the 2000 film *American Psycho*. He said he was paid the lowest amount legally permitted because the production team wasn’t initially enthusiastic about casting him, with director Mary Harron being his primary advocate.
Bale recalled earning so little during one job that the makeup artists on set actually joked about him being paid less than they were.

Although his uncle was Rico, Jon Heder revealed in 2010 that he originally earned just $1,000 for his work in *Napoleon Dynamite*.
Once the unexpectedly popular comedy film proved successful, he was able to secure a share of the earnings. He told the *New Zealand Herald* that his cut was increased, saying, “They went a little bit higher.”

Despite a successful career with acclaimed films like *Amistad* and *Blood Diamond*, Djimon Hounsou believes he doesn’t earn enough money in Hollywood.
The Beninese actor told CNN’s Larry Madowo in January 2025 that despite working in film for over twenty years—and even with two Oscar nominations and appearances in many successful blockbusters—he still finds it difficult to earn a living.

In her 2024 memoir, *Rebel Rising*, Rebel Wilson revealed she earned just $3,500 for her role in *Bridesmaids*. However, she had to use the entire amount to pay her union dues to join the Screen Actors Guild, meaning she effectively didn’t receive any payment for the film.
Still, she wrote, the experience was “everything!”
The Australian actress’s career soared, and her salary increased dramatically. She earned the minimum union rate of $65,000 for the 2012 film *Pitch Perfect*, but by 2017’s *Pitch Perfect 3*, she was commanding $10 million. In total, she made $20 million from *Pitch Perfect 3*, *Isn’t It Romantic*, and *The Hustle*. However, after paying nearly 50% in taxes, 10% to her agents, and 5% to her lawyer, along with other professional fees, she still considered her earnings a huge success.

In late 2017, Ellen Pompeo successfully negotiated a new contract with *Grey’s Anatomy* worth $575,000 per episode. The deal also included a substantial signing bonus and equity in the show, estimated to be worth between $6 and $7 million.
In a 2018 interview with *The Hollywood Reporter*, 48-year-old Pompeo explained that she’s reached a point in her career where she confidently asks for fair compensation, something she feels comes with experience. She acknowledged the industry often doesn’t see her as a leading actress, particularly after playing the same character for 14 years. However, she argued that while many actors can perform well during a show’s first couple of seasons, maintaining that quality for 14 years demonstrates real talent.
Ellen Pompeo recently shared that she wasn’t upset about earning less than her *Grey’s Anatomy* costar, Patrick Dempsey, despite being the show’s central character, ‘Grey.’ She clarified she didn’t resent his higher salary.
You know, as someone who’s spent years observing relationships and value dynamics, I really connected with what Alex Cooper shared on her podcast recently. She explained that it wasn’t about another person’s success bothering her, but rather feeling undervalued in comparison. It was tough for her to navigate realizing that, despite being the face and namesake of the show, she didn’t receive the same recognition or compensation. She felt, and continues to feel, that her contributions weren’t appreciated on the same level, and that was the real source of frustration.

Jamie Lee Curtis remembers earning $2,000 per week, totaling $8,000, for her first movie, the 1978 film *Halloween*. As she explained to Rotten Tomatoes in 2018, “Really, no one was paid much at all.”
Although the lead actress made a good amount of money, director John Carpenter’s friend, Nick Castle, felt successful earning $25 a day for sharing the role of Michael Myers. (Interestingly, Anthony Moran is the face briefly shown when the killer’s mask comes off, and editor Tommy Lee Wallace also appeared on screen as Michael.)
Looking back, it was a whirlwind,” said Castle, who went to film school with Carpenter at USC. He explained to *Vanity Fair* in 2018 that he joined the film primarily to learn about filmmaking firsthand and observe the directing process. “I figured I’d be a fly on the wall for free,” he said, “but I ended up getting paid $25 a day just to wear a rubber mask!”

Taraji P. Henson was nominated for an Oscar for her supporting role in the 2008 film *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*. However, she was still frustrated years later that she only received $150,000 for the movie, despite initially requesting $500,000.
Oh my gosh, I was listening to this podcast, *Ladies First With Laura Brown*, and they were talking about how Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett basically demanded, and *got*, twenty million dollars each for this movie! Apparently, back in 2021, that was a big deal – people weren’t usually asking for that much. But honestly? Good for them! They *deserved* every single penny, and I totally agree with what the podcast host said – they were worth it!
Honestly, I was really disappointed to hear about Taraji P. Henson’s salary negotiations. She explained that she was at a point in her career where she deserved a fair deal, especially considering how much she’d bring to the box office. She was hoping for more, and when they initially offered only $100,000, she was devastated! In the end, she did manage to get $150,000, but she admitted it was tough having to accept less than she felt she was worth. It just shows how even successful actresses have to fight for what they deserve.
Henson understands people might think $150,000 is a large sum, and she wants to be clear she’s not ungrateful. However, after taxes and paying her team, the actual amount she receives is significantly less. She estimates that after the government takes its 50% share, she’s left with $75,000. Then, after paying her team 30% of the original amount, she’s concerned she might only have around $40,000 left.

Cate Blanchett has earned a substantial income throughout her career, but her role as the elf Galadriel in the highly successful *The Lord of the Rings* films – which made $2.9 billion worldwide – wasn’t her sole source of wealth.
She was shocked when Andy Cohen suggested *The Lord of the Rings* was her most lucrative role during an August 2024 appearance on *Watch What Happens Live*. “Absolutely not,” she replied. “Nobody made any real money on that film – I pretty much just got free food and was allowed to keep my elf ears.”

Orlando Bloom, known for his role as Legolas in *The Lord of the Rings* trilogy, revealed on *The Howard Stern Show* in 2023 that he earned just $175,000 for all three films.
Hopefully he also got to keep his ears.
Read More
- The Most Jaw-Dropping Pop Culture Moments of 2025 Revealed
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- ARC Raiders – All NEW Quest Locations & How to Complete Them in Cold Snap
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Where Winds Meet: How To Defeat Shadow Puppeteer (Boss Guide)
- Ashes of Creation Mage Guide for Beginners
- Where Winds Meet: Best Weapon Combinations
- Berserk Writer Discuss New Manga Inspired by Brutal Series
- Eldegarde, formerly Legacy: Steel & Sorcery, launches January 21, 2026
- Bitcoin’s Wild Ride: Yen’s Surprise Twist 🌪️💰
2025-10-08 18:20