7/24/08

Hollywood Best-Paid Actors$$

Tinseltown's leading ladies may generate more tabloid ink, but when it comes to blockbuster paychecks, Hollywood is still a man's town. 

In an era where risk-averse studio executives have declared men the more reliable movie stars-- and the more desirable moviegoers -- perhaps it's no surprise that they are also the medium's top earners. The reality: Hollywood's 10 best-paid actors out-earned Hollywood's 10 best-paid actresses 2-to-1 over the course of the year. 

Collectively, the big screen's leading men took home an estimated $487 million this year, compared with the leading ladies' haul of $244.5 million. 

Will Smith leads the pack of Hollywood's best-paid actors, banking an estimated $80 million over the course of the year. Frequently called the hardest-working man in Hollywood, Smith has proved that no matter the genre -- be it sci-fi thriller ("I Am Legend") or sappy drama ("The Pursuit of Happyness") -- he can deliver an audience. 

The former "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" star also set a theatrical record this year. Thanks to the commercial success of this summer's anti-superhero flick "Hancock," Smith is the first actor in Hollywood history to have eight straight movies eclipse $100 million at the box office. 

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