• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • GMA3: WYNTK
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2025 ABC News
  • Culture

Scarlett Johansson tops list, again, of world's highest-paid actresses

0:54
'GMA' Hot List: Scarlett Johansson dishes on 'Black Widow'
Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, FILE
ByStephen Iervolino
August 27, 2019, 6:57 PM

Forbes has ranked the highest-paid actresses in the world, and once again, Scarlett Johansson tops the list.

The magazine compiled its list by tallying up the actresses' earnings from June 1, 2018 to June 1, 2019.

Johansson's reported $56 million in earnings was buoyed by her compensation for "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Endgame." Forbes notes her work in the Marvel movies earn her an "eight figure check" as well as lucrative profit points -- especially profitable considering "Endgame" is now the highest-grossing movie of all time.

Related Articles

(MORE: Taylor Swift is the highest paid woman in music, according to Forbes)

Coming in second was "Modern Family" actress Sofia Vergara, who earned $44 million in that same time frame, according to Forbes. She made money not only for her work on the long-running ABC sitcom, but also from signature offerings of everything from jeans to home furnishings.

While she got famous from her work in front of the screen, thanks to movies like "Cruel Intentions" and "Legally Blonde," Reese Witherspoon is making a mint as a producer. Her $35 million take between June and June 2018/19 was earned in part by producing the Emmy-winning HBO hit "Big Little Lies," and the upcoming Natalie Portman film "Lucy in the Sky," among other projects. She ranks third.

Right below Witherspoon is her "Big Little Lies" co-star Nicole Kidman. Fourth place-ranking Kidman continuously works on screens big and small; 2018 saw her play Aquaman's mom in the titular blockbuster about the DC Comics hero, and she will soon be seen in the Fox News-set movie "Bombshell," and the drama "The Goldfinch."

Rounding out the top five is former "Friends" star Jennifer Aniston. Back in the day she made a $1 million per episode of "Friends" playing Rachel Greene -- which continues to make her bank, thanks to syndication and streaming deals. Like Witherspoon, she's also turned to producing. Aniston is starring and calling the shots behind the scenes on her new Apple TV+ series "The Morning Show."

Incidentally, several of the other actresses on the list are actress-producer hyphenates as well: Emmy-winning, 7th-ranked Elizabeth Moss, who co-produces Hulu's "The Handmaid's Tale"; Margot Robbie from "Birds of Prey" (#8); Oscar-winning actress turned "Mindhunter" series co-producer Charlize Theron; and in the 10th position, Ellen Pompeo, who gets paid big bucks to star in and co-produce "Grey's Anatomy."

Here's the full top 10 list of Forbes' World's Highest-Paid Actresses Of 2019

  • 1. Scarlett Johansson - $56 million
  • 2. Sofia Vergara - $44.1 million
  • 3. Reese Witherspoon - $35 million
  • 4. Nicole Kidman - $34 million
  • 5. Jennifer Aniston - $28 million
  • 6. Kaley Cuoco - $25 million
  • 7. Elisabeth Moss - $24 million
  • 8. Margot Robbie - $23.5 million
  • 9. Charlize Theron - $23 million
  • 10. Ellen Pompeo - $22 million

Disney is the parent company of ABC, ABC News and Marvel.

Up Next in Culture—

HBO shares 1st look at Nick Frost as Hagrid in 'Harry Potter' series

July 15, 2025

'Madam Secretary' stars Téa Leoni, Tim Daly tie the knot with close family by their side

July 15, 2025

Late poet Andrea Gibson's life, love story featured in upcoming documentary

July 15, 2025

'Adolescence' star Owen Cooper earns Emmy nod as youngest in limited series supporting actor race

July 15, 2025

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2025 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2025 ABC News