If you think Tinseltown is the last word in big-money screen stardom, think again. A billionaire Bollywood legend has now overtaken Arnold Schwarzenegger to become the richest actor on Earth. And with major names in France, China, and other global film hubs boasting net worths that rival America's most bankable A-listers, the numbers speak for themselves.
Read on to discover the richest non-Hollywood stars and see why the planet's top acting fortunes stretch far beyond Los Angeles. Personal wealth estimates are courtesy of Celebrity Net Worth unless otherwise stated. All dollar amounts in US dollars
A doyenne of French cinema, Catherine Deneuve rose to fame in the 1960s through Gallic New Wave classics like The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and Belle de Jour, becoming one of the nation's most celebrated actresses.
The star's ice-cool beauty and poise made her a muse of Yves Saint Laurent and a long-time face of Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, and other French luxury brands. She's even served as the official embodiment of Marianne, the national symbol of France, a testament to her enduring cultural stature.
In 2008, French comedian Dany Boon became the highest-paid actor in European cinema history off the back of the success of his movie Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis ('Welcome to the Sticks'), France's biggest-ever box-office smash. Boon earned at least $33 million (£25m) for the flick, which he directed, co-wrote and starred in.
The multitalented star has gone on to pen, direct, and star in a series of hit films, including 2010's Nothing to Declare and 2018's La Ch'tite famille. He also provided the French voice of Olaf in Disney's Frozen movies.
Huang Xiaoming vaulted into the spotlight in the early noughties with his star-making turn as Emperor Wu of Han in The Prince of Han Dynasty, which made him one of China’s most recognisable TV actors. He went on to anchor hit dramas such as The Return of the Condor Heroes and Cruel Romance, while building a major film career with titles like American Dreams in China and The Crossing. A singer to boot, he's also released two top-selling albums.
Huang's 2015 wedding to Angelababy, China's answer to Kim Kardashian, was one of the most expensive in celebrity history, costing a reported $31 million (£23m). The couple divorced in 2022.
Maggie Cheung shot to stardom after finishing as first runner-up at Miss Hong Kong 1983, launching a fabulous screen career spanning more than 90 films. Through classics such as Police Story, Center Stage, Comrades: Almost a Love Story, and Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love, she has become one of Hong Kong's most beloved actresses.
Cheung made history in 2004 as the first Asian female to win Best Actress at Cannes for her performance in Clean, cementing her status as a true global cinema icon.
One of four South Korean actors in this round-up, Hyun Bin is worth a tidy $90 million (£67m), according to DNA India and other online sources. His breakout lead role came in the 2005 TV series My Lovely Sam Soon, a romcom often described as South Korea's Bridget Jones's Diary.
Hyun has since starred in a diverse array of top-rated K-dramas and hit homegrown movies like 2014's The Fatal Encounter and 2023's The Point Men.
Staying with South Korean superstars, Song Joong-ki is sitting on a $95 million (£71m) fortune, as per DNA India and other online sources. A former speed skater, the K-drama heavyweight made his screen debut in 2008 in A Frozen Flower before breaking through with 2010's Sungkyunkwan Scandal, and achieving global fame in 2016 series Descendants of the Sun.
His 2017 marriage to co-star Song Hye-kyo, and their 2019 divorce, drew intense media attention across Asia. Song has since fronted major South Korean TV hits, including A Werewolf Boy, Vincenzo, and 2022 ratings wonder Reborn Rich.
Africa's richest actor, Egyptian thespian Adel Emam is a towering figure in Arab cinema, with an illustrious career spanning many decades. Known for effortlessly blending sharp comedy with serious dramatic roles, he rose to prominence in the 1960s and went on to star in over 100 films and numerous stage productions, becoming one of the region's most popular performers.
A cultural icon and national treasure, Emam was appointed a UN Goodwill Ambassador in 2000 and has earned accolades from film festivals worldwide.
Bollywood abounds with mega-rich names. Cue Aishwarya Rai. She found international fame after winning Miss World 1994, a title that launched a glittering modelling career and made her one of India's most familiar faces.
Acting soon followed, and Rai quickly became a bona fide screen star, with showstopping performances in Bollywood blockbusters like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, Guru, and the Ponniyin Selvan films. Rai dipped her toe into Hollywood with 2009's The Pink Panther 2, but Bollywood has always been her true home.
One of China's most famous actresses, Fan Bingbing amassed her centimillionaire net worth through a prolific career in Chinese cinema after finding early fame in the hit 1990s TV drama My Fair Princess. During the noughties and 2010s, she headlined hit domestic films like Cell Phone, Lost in Beijing, and I Am Not Madame Bovary while becoming one of the world's highest-paid actresses through lucrative endorsements.
Although Fan has appeared in big-budget Hollywood titles such as 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past, the bulk of her stardom and success firmly belongs to Chinese cinema.
Kamal Haasan is a titan of South Indian cinema, with a remarkable career as an actor, director, producer, and screenwriter spanning six decades. Widely regarded as one of the nation's greatest method actors, he's the recipient of four National Film Awards and a record 19 Filmfare Awards.
Haasan has also worked as a choreographer, playback singer, and lyricist, and produces many of his movies through his banner Rajkamal International. Honoured with the Padma Shri in 1990, he remains among Tamil film's most influential figures.
Lee Min-ho is worth $100 million (£75m), according to DNA India and other online sources. The South Korean star became widely known across Asia for his breakout role as Gu Jun-pyo in 2009's Boys Over Flowers. He went on to lead several quintessential K-drama series, including City Hunter, The Heirs, and The Legend of the Blue Sea, along with films such as Gangnam Blues and Bounty Hunters.
More recently, Lee made his international debut in Apple TV+’s acclaimed drama Pachinko, further expanding his already humongous global fanbase.
An international pop star at 14 thanks to her 1987 global hit Joe le Taxi, Vanessa Paradis became an award-winning actress soon after, earning France's Oscar equivalent for her movie debut in 1989's Noce Blanche. Alongside her stellar music career, she has appeared in a string of hit French films and also shone as a model, fronting campaigns for Chanel, Miu Miu, and other high-end fashion houses.
Yet for many in the English-speaking world, Paradis is best known as Johnny Depp's ex and the mother of their A-list Hollywood actress daughter, Lily-Rose Depp.
One of China's revered 'Four Dan' actresses, Beijing-born Zhang Ziyi got her big break with the 1999 movie The Road Home before grabbing the global limelight in 2000's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. She has gone on to star in a plethora of hits, including Hero, House of Flying Daggers, Memoirs of a Geisha, and Wong Kar-wai’s The Grandmaster, picking up multiple major awards along the way.
Off-screen, Zhang has landed coveted endorsement deals with luxury brands such as Armani, Omega, Chopard, and Mercedes-Benz.
A defining Japanese idol for over two decades, Satoshi Ohno built an enviable career as lead vocalist of boy band Arashi while establishing himself as a respected actor in hits like Maō, Kaibutsu-kun, and Kagi no Kakatta Heya. His work spans music, drama, film, and even choreography, reflecting a rare breadth of talent.
Ohno's net worth estimate of $112 million (£84m) comes courtesy of the website Japan Daily.
South Korea's richest actor, according to DNA India and other online sources, Kim Soo-hyun has been a top Hallyu idol since the early 2010s. Famed for his leading roles in My Love from the Star, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, and more recently, Netflix smash Queen of Tears, he has reportedly commanded up to $423,000 (£317k) per episode, the highest figure for any South Korean star. But his career has faltered this year amid allegations tied to the late actress Kim Sae-ron.
Though Kim denies any wrongdoing, he has lost major endorsements and faced frozen projects, putting his once-bulletproof earning power in jeopardy.
Rowan Atkinson is unique among Britain's richest actors: unlike peers such as Anthony Hopkins, Christian Bale or Daniel Radcliffe, he's amassed his vast fortune without a major Hollywood career.
Instead, global success from homegrown creations, most notably Blackadder, Four Weddings and a Funeral, international sensation Mr Bean, and the Johnny English films, have made him one of the UK's wealthiest entertainers. Away from acting, Atkinson is famed for his passion for classic cars and motorsports.
One of Japan's most successful multi-hyphenates, Masaharu Fukuyama is worth an estimated $175 million (£131m), according to Japan Daily and other online sources.
A chart-topping singer-songwriter since the early 1990s with millions of records sold, he's also a leading TV and film star, winning huge followings for dramas such as Galileo and the Taiga epic Ryōmaden.
Aamir Khan ranks among India's most esteemed actors. Over the years, the star has accrued a $200 million (£150m) fortune through era-defining roles and savvy producing. After finding early fame with 1988's Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, he became a critical and box-office force with Raja Hindustani, Oscar-nominated Lagaan, and the record-breaking 3 Idiots.
Later projects such as Dangal have bolstered his status as a global draw, especially in China, where he has become a household name.
A luminary of Hong Kong cinema, Chow Yun-fat made his mark in the 1980s and 1990s in homegrown hits by director John Woo, from A Better Tomorrow to The Killer and Hard Boiled. He went on to reach global audiences in the 21st century with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.
Despite his superstardom, Chow famously lives a modest, near-frugal life and has said he plans to leave his entire fortune to charity.
Japan’s wealthiest actor, Takuya Kimura was the breakout star of J-pop group SMAP before becoming the country's most bankable leading man and number-one heartthrob.
Hit J-dramas like 1996's Long Vacation, Love Generation the following year, and Hero in 2001 locked in his 'King of Ratings' status, while his trendsetting image and huge endorsement deals, from cosmetics to telecoms, turned him into a national style icon. Today, ongoing TV roles, music royalties, brand partnerships, and long-running popularity keep Kimura among Asia's top-earning entertainers.
One of Bollywood's most commercially successful stars, Akshay Kumar has earned his enormous wealth through an outstanding three-decade career spanning action hits, blockbuster comedies, and socially-driven dramas such as Airlift, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, and Pad Man.
An impressively prolific performer who frequently releases multiple films a year, he also banks significant income from endorsements, TV hosting, and his various production companies.
The richest French actor of all time, Gérard Depardieu rose from arty 1960s and 1970s Gallic cinema to become the country's most prolific screen star, earning global acclaim for classics like 1980's The Last Metro and 1990 hit Cyrano de Bergerac. Though he's made some standout Hollywood appearances, most notably in 1990's Green Card, his fortune stems overwhelmingly from European films, restaurants, and extensive vineyard holdings.
In recent years, Depardieu's legacy has been overshadowed by sexual-assault allegations: he was convicted earlier this year of assaulting two women, and now faces a separate rape trial.
Jet Li was a Wushu prodigy before rising to become one of the biggest Chinese action stars of the 1980s and 1990s with films like Shaolin Temple, Once Upon a Time in China, and Fist of Legend. Li also lit up Hollywood with memorable roles in movies like 1998's Lethal Weapon 4 and Romeo Must Die in 2000, but he has always remained primarily a Chinese cinema icon.
These days, Li works selectively, dedicating much of his time to philanthropy and his One Foundation charity.
Hrithik Roshan is now worth $260 million (£195m), according to the 2025 Hurun India Rich List.
The 'Millennial Superstar', who started out as a child actor in the 1980s, remains one of Bollywood's most in-demand leading men. That said, a major share of his fortune now comes from HRX, his hugely successful fitness and lifestyle brand, along with production stakes and money-spinning endorsements.
One of Bollywood’s biggest names, Salman Khan has dominated Hindi cinema for over three decades through blockbusters, TV hosting, and lucrative endorsements. His fortune is also powered by his Being Human brand and prolific production ventures.
Khan's career has however been punctuated by several legal controversies, including a long-running hit-and-run case and wildlife poaching charges.
Amitabh Bachchan has amassed an estimated $400 million (£300m) over a five-decade career encompassing more than 200 films, major TV hosting roles, and highly profitable business investments.
The 'Shahenshah of Bollywood' remains an important cultural figure, with brand deals, production ventures, and property adding to his wealth. His family, including son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai, are Bollywood royalty, though Bachchan himself continues to eclipse them all in fame and fortune.
Jackie Chan became a global favourite from the late 1970s onwards through his acrobatic stunt work and action-comedy hits such as Drunken Master, Police Story, and Project A. His fame later expanded worldwide via roles in Hollywood titles including Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon, and the Kung Fu Panda films, but his core legacy remains rooted in Hong Kong cinema.
Alongside movie salaries, Chan's wealth comes from production companies, a cinema chain, brand partnerships, and a sprawling portfolio of business ventures across mainland China.
Another of China’s 'Four Dan' actresses, Zhao Wei became a 'national Goddess' and pan-Asian superstar in the late 1990s and noughties with smash hits like My Fair Princess, Shaolin Soccer, and Red Cliff. But her extraordinary wealth comes largely from business, most famously from an early investment in Alibaba Pictures.
Zhao was abruptly blacklisted by the Chinese state in 2021 for “having misdeeds” amid regulatory crackdowns, disappearing from platforms almost overnight. Despite this, she remains the richest actress in Chinese history by a wide margin.
India's wealthiest actress owes only a fraction of her fortune to her Bollywood stardom. According to the Hurun India Rich List 2025, Juhi Chawla's wealth has surged to extraordinary levels owing to her business empire with tycoon husband Jay Mehta, most notably their stake in Shah Rukh Khan's Knight Riders Sports, which owns the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders, and his Red Chillies Entertainment banner.
While Chawla hasn't had a major box-office hit in more than a decade, soaring KKR valuations, strategic investments, and extensive property holdings have pushed her net worth far beyond that of younger, more active stars.
Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan is now worth a staggering $1.4 billion (£1.1bn) according to the Hurun India Rich List 2025, making him the wealthiest actor in the world.
'King Khan's' stunning three-decade film career and global endorsement deals have been incredibly lucrative, but the real engine of his fortune is his ownership in Knight Riders Sports and Red Chillies Entertainment, the same ventures that underpin Juhi Chawla's massive wealth through her family's stake.
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