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Forbes Magazine Names Hollywood’s Most Bankable Star — and in Case You Missed It, the Most Overpaid Star Too

Dec 27, 2012  •  Post A Comment

A new list from Forbes magazine reveals the most bankable stars in Hollywood, and the actress who tops the list — as Hollywood’s best actor for the buck — is Natalie Portman.

The success of Portman’s movie “Black Swan,” produced for a mere $13 million and grossing $329 million worldwide, had a lot to do with it.

“Not only did the film help star Natalie Portman win her first Best Actress Oscar, but the fantastic financial return helped land her at the top of our list of Hollywood’s Best Actors For The Buck,” the magazine reports. “We estimate that for every dollar Portman is paid by the studios, she returns $42.70. Compare that to Eddie Murphy, our most overpaid star, who returns $2.30 for every dollar he gets paid.”

Coming in second on the most bankable list was Kristen Stewart. “For every dollar she gets paid Stewart returns an average $40.60,” Forbes reports. “Stewart is in the unusual situation of ranking high on this list and topping our Highest-Earning Actress list. Usually, if an actor is earning more than anyone else in Hollywood, it’s hard for him or her to be considered a bankable investment. That high salary means the films have to do spectacularly to offer profitable returns to the studios.

“Stewart was able to earn a ton over the last three years and offer a healthy return thanks to the ‘Twilight’ franchise. Even though she was paid $25 million to star in the last two films, she was clearly worth the money. The ‘Twilight’ films have grossed $3.3 billion at the global box office and the final film, ‘Breaking Dawn Part 2,’ is still in theaters.”

Stewart’s two “Twilight” co-stars, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, also make the Forbes list. Pattinson comes in 4th with a $31.70 return on each dollar paid, while Lautner ranks 6th with a $29.50 return.

Shia LaBeouf was third at $35.80, with "Harry Potter’s" Daniel Radcliffe in fifth place at $30.50.

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