Meet the Youngest Actor Ever to Make Forbes’ Highest-Paid Actors List

Hollywood’s top earners in 2025 show that both veteran stars and new talent are shaping the industry, and Millie Bobby Brown stands out as the youngest actress to reach the upper tier of pay.

At just 22, Brown earned $26 million last year, thanks to her work on Stranger Things and Netflix’s The Electric State. According to Forbes, she is the first actor of her generation to break into the highest-paid list, a milestone that shows how streaming-native stars are redefining Hollywood success.

While streaming platforms continue to rise, traditional big names remain strong. Scarlett Johansson led all actresses with $43 million, starring in Jurassic World: Rebirth, making her directorial debut with Eleanor The Great, and returning to Wes Anderson’s ensemble in The Phoenician Scheme. Johansson’s deals included $20 million up front plus a share of the profits, proving that franchise films still reward established stars.

Reese Witherspoon earned $26 million in 2025, balancing her roles as an actress and producer. The 49-year-old starred in Apple TV’s The Morning Show and the romantic comedy You’re Cordially Invited for Amazon Prime Video, while continuing to produce projects through Hello Sunshine. Jennifer Aniston brought in $20 million, benefiting from residuals from Friends, her work on The Morning Show, endorsements, and her haircare brand, LolaVie.

Cameron Diaz made a high-profile return from retirement with a two-picture Netflix deal reportedly worth $45 million. Her first comeback movie, Back In Action, co-starring Jamie Foxx, attracted 46.8 million views in its first three days on the platform, making it the seventh-most-watched Netflix film ever. Diaz will soon reprise her role as Princess Fiona in Shrek 5, proving that established stars can still return to the top with the right project.

Streaming deals have become a reliable safety net for actors, especially as studios face challenges like AI, consolidation, and declining theater ticket sales. While star power alone no longer guarantees box office success, examples include Dwayne Johnson’s The Smashing Machine, Julia Roberts in After The Hunt, and Glen Powell in The Running Man—platforms like Netflix provide security with guaranteed pay and back-end deals. Adam Sandler, the year’s highest-paid actor with $48 million, continues to thrive under his long-term Netflix contract with hits like Happy Gilmore 2 and Jay Kelly, the latter earning him awards recognition.

Other streaming stars followed this trend. Denzel Washington earned $38 million for Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest, Daniel Craig took in $27 million for Netflix’s Knives Out sequels, and Mark Wahlberg pulled in $44 million for projects on Apple TV and Prime Video. These deals show that actors with a strong streaming presence can command paychecks as high as traditional Hollywood A-listers.

Millie Bobby Brown’s rise highlights a new wave in Hollywood. As a fully streaming-native star, she has built her career almost entirely on Netflix, starting with Stranger Things and moving into films like The Electric State. Her success proves that young actors no longer need decades of experience or blockbuster franchises to reach the top of the pay scale. In the words of one Hollywood agent, “We’ll keep asking for more! They’ll keep asking us for less. But in a negotiation, I like our chances.”

Brown’s presence on the list also signals a generational shift. While veterans like Johansson, Witherspoon, Aniston, and Diaz continue to command huge salaries, the emergence of young streaming stars shows that Hollywood is adapting. Big names remain important for franchises and high-profile projects, but platforms like Netflix are creating a new pathway to success for younger talent.

The 2025 earnings reveal a mix of old and new. Established stars still earn through films, production, and endorsements, but the fastest-growing path for the next generation is through streaming projects. Millie Bobby Brown’s position as the youngest actress on Forbes’ highest-paid list underscores this trend and makes her one of the most exciting talents to watch in Hollywood’s evolving landscape.

What do you think about Millie Bobby Brown becoming the youngest actress ever to make Forbes’ highest-paid list? Do you think streaming-native stars will continue to challenge traditional Hollywood veterans? Share your thoughts in the comments.