Sofia Vergara: The highest paid actress in the world
Hollywood star Sofia Vergara who shot to fame through Modern Family, is leading the list of Forbes’ highest-paid actresses in the world, as revealed by the magazine on Friday.
Vergara — who is also now a judge on America’s Got Talent — earned a whopping $43 million in the past 12 months in salary and endorsements. She moved up from second place last year.
The 48-year-old Colombia-born actress earned $500,000 an episode for the final season of Emmy-winning Modern Family, which wrapped up earlier this year.
Forbes estimated she would earn “at least $10 million each season” for AGT, one of the most popular reality competition shows in the United States.
The coronavirus pandemic paralyzed Hollywood, forcing crews to stop production and shuttering movie theaters, so many big-budget films have been delayed.
Many film stars also make money by earning a share of the profits — meaning if movies are not released in theaters, their income plummets.
Nevertheless, Oscar winner Angelina Jolie was in second place on the Forbes list at $35 million.
But actresses who make most of their money from television and/or streaming services made up the bulk of the list.
Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot came in third at $31 million, but she made a chunk of her money from the Netflix film Red Notice.
Grey’s Anatomy lead Ellen Pompeo was eighth at $19 million, and The Handmaid’s Tale star Elisabeth Moss came in ninth at $16 million.
Another Oscar winner, Viola Davis, made her first appearance on the top 10 list.
The How To Get Away with Murder star — who will soon star in Netflix’s adaptation of the August Wilson play Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom — came in 10th at $15.5 million.
Even the venerable Meryl Streep (fifth place) made most of her income in the past year from either film for streaming services or television roles.
In total, the top 10 paid actresses in the world in 2020 earned $254 million in the 12 months leading up to June, Forbes said. That was down 20 percent from last year.
The top 10 highest paid actors made nearly double as much — almost $550 million — in the same period. Last month’s list for the men was topped by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at $87.5 million.
Here is the full list:
1. Sofia Vergara ($43 million)
1. Sofia Vergara ($43 million)
2. Angelina Jolie ($35.5 million)
3. Gal Gadot ($31.5 million)
4. Melissa McCarthy ($25 million)
5. Meryl Streep ($24 million)
6. Emily Blunt ($22.5 million)
7. Nicole Kidman ($22 million)
8. Ellen Pompeo ($19 million)
9. Elisabeth Moss ($16 million)
10. Viola Davis ($15.5 million)
