“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…

“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 (Warner Bros.’ I Am Legend) or sappy drama (Sony’s The Pursuit of Happyness)–he can deliver an audience.”
      —Forbes on Hollywood’s best-paid actors

“The $20 million paycheck club in Hollywood is shrinking, and for good reason: When it comes to the highest-paid performers, the studios aren’t getting good returns on their investment.

“Just check out our Ultimate Star Payback list for proof. At the top of our list is comedy actor Vince Vaughn. His films earned $14.73 for every dollar he was paid. That’s because until recently his salary was relatively low, and the films he was in, like Wedding Crashers and The Break-Up, had modest budgets yet did extremely well at the box office worldwide ($285 million and $205 million, respectively).”
      —Forbes on Hollywood’s best values

“Today, Absolut Vodka becomes a “Friend” of the walk, shelling out hundreds of thousands of dollars for a star-like plaque embedded in Hollywood Boulevard… It’s unclear just how different the Absolut plaque, near the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, will be from nearby stars for Antonio Banderas, Matthew Broderick and Jackie Chan.

“Chamber officials wouldn’t provide a sneak preview, but Gubler described the plaque as a 3-foot square set in terrazzo and brass featuring an Absolut bottle, text citing Absolut as a ‘Friend of the Walk of Fame,’ and icons such as a film projector and microphone that appear on other stars.”
      —LA Times

[Photos: Famous! Will Smith in “Hancock,” Columbia Pictures, 2008; Vince Vaughn in “The Break-Up,” Universal Pictures, 2006; Absolut Vodka]

+ Hollywood’s Best-Paid Actors (Forbes)
+ The Ultimate Star Payback (Forbes)
+ Some find corporate sponsorship of Walk of Fame hard to swallow (LA Times)