Forbes Ranks Hollywood's Most Valuable Actors

February 12, 2009

List-master Forbes is trying something new for 2009. For the first time, it asked entertainment industry members to take the Forbes Star Currency survey and used the results to rank Hollywood's elite in terms of their business appeal. More than 1,400 actors were rated on their ability to attract financing, whether their involvement guarantees the project will make it to theaters, box office results, and how their involvement played into rights deals for things like DVD or pay/free TV.

The first-ever survey concluded that Will Smith is the most valuable actor (without coincident, he was also the top earning actor in 2008). In fact, Smith was the only actor to receive a perfect 10 score. Rick Alvarez, Wayans brothers producing partner, told Forbes, "Will Smith is unique in that he is one of a very few people who is a draw purely on name alone. It almost doesn't matter what genre. The name alone creates a confidence with the audience that they're going to get something that's entertaining whether it's action, comedy, drama."

Will Smith's number one is followed by a four-way tie for second place: Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Angelina Jolie, and Brad Pitt are equally valuable to the entertainment industry. To see the rest of the list, read more.

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9 Comments

emalove 4 years 14 weeks

Most of these actors do nothing for me, but out of this list, I do enjoy watching movies that star Leo DiCaprio, Ben Stiller, or Julia Roberts. Will Ferrell is hit or miss for me...sometimes he's funny, sometimes I just roll my eyes.

SUMMER285 4 years 14 weeks

I'm not surprise by WILL SMITH being no. one , i would have been surprise if he wouldn't have been though, he's the most brilliant actor in hollywood, a hot and sexy one i might add.

soulkey 4 years 14 weeks

they know that 90 % of the time ...sorry, their return outside the US gross more money than in the US. Foreign market is where they make their best return financially.

soulkey 4 years 14 weeks

Reese has zero international appeal. Foreign market is bigger and os where you can maximise you financial return. Four Christmas did 120 millions domestically and only 42 millions outside. The three ladies in the top 20 are all INTERNATIONAL stars financially speaking including like akll the males in the top 20. They can manage to pull it elsewhere too, sometimes making their financial return as much as three to four times comparing to what they do in the domestic market. That's why they promote outside the US cause they know they 9 % most of the times do more outside than in their home country. Never underestimate the foreign component.

Spectra 4 years 14 weeks

Why, why, WHY is Will Farrell on the list?? I can't stand any of his movies. He was way funnier on SNL.

Cinquettacubina2 4 years 14 weeks

I hope one day there will be not only some women of color in the top 20 list, but the list will have more than 3 women total on it no matter what skin they may be in. Reese Witherspoon isn't on it is surprising to me.

Susanna 4 years 14 weeks

Well, Four Christmases was a hit, but before that Reese had a couple of box office flops -- Rendition, Penelope, Just Like Heaven. So they probably bumped her down a bit. There're only 3 women on the list!!!

ilanac13 4 years 14 weeks

i'm not surprised by a few of these, but what about reese witherspoon? a lot of folks find her to be bankable. i also think that there are a lot of younger hollywoods that can be considered for the list as well, but i guess if there were over 1400 included, and these were the top, then there were a lot of things to factor in.

bellaressa 4 years 14 weeks

Interesting list.

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