Emma Stone Named World’s Highest-Paid Actress by Forbes
Forbes has named Emma Stone the world’s highest-paid actress for the period between June 1, 2016 and June 1, 2017. The actress, best known for her roles in films such as Easy A, The Help, The Amazing Spider-Man and most recently La La Land, reportedly earned $28 million over that 12-month span. Her haul reflects the box-office success of La La Land, paired with the profile boost from winning the Oscar for Best Actress at the 89th Academy Awards.
Across the top ten highest-paid female actors for that period, the combined earnings totalled $172.5 million. While this is a sizable amount, it represents a 16% decrease from 2016’s combined total of $200 million, suggesting that, even with more public discussion about pay equity and more prominent roles for women in major films, industry-wide earnings for top actresses fluctuated and have room for improvement.
Top 10 Highest-Paid Actresses (June 1, 2016 – June 1, 2017)
- Emma Stone – $28 million
- Jennifer Aniston – $25.5 million
- Jennifer Lawrence – $24 million
- Melissa McCarthy – $18 million
- Mila Kunis – $15.5 million
- Emma Watson – $14 million
- Charlize Theron – $14 million
- Cate Blanchett – $12 million
- Julia Roberts – $12 million
- Amy Adams – $11.5 million
One notable newcomer to this year’s list was Emma Watson. Her inclusion at $14 million is largely attributed to the strong box-office performance of Disney’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, which crossed the billion-dollar mark worldwide and was released during the measurement window.
Emma Stone’s rise to the top of this list has both immediate and long-term implications. Earning the top spot on Forbes’ ranking is likely to increase her market value and bargaining power for future roles, endorsements and production opportunities. It also positions her alongside established A-list actresses—names like Julia Roberts and Cate Blanchett—among Hollywood’s highest-profile women. For studios and casting directors, that ranking signals where audience demand and star power are concentrated.
At the same time, the overall decline in total earnings for the top ten highlights that headline conversations about pay equity have not yet fully translated into sustained, uniform financial gains across the industry. While an individual’s earnings can spike in a year of major releases and awards recognition, the year-to-year totals show variability that reflects release schedules, backend deals, endorsements and other income sources.
What This Means for Hollywood
The Forbes list offers a snapshot of which actresses commanded the largest incomes during a specific 12-month period. It reflects not only box-office grosses but also salary negotiations, profit participation, endorsements and production deals. For performers, awards and high-profile projects can dramatically boost visibility and negotiating power. For the industry, the list is a reminder that progress toward broader pay parity and consistent top-tier compensation for women still requires systemic change.
Emma Stone’s achievement underscores how a breakout project—with critical acclaim, awards recognition and box-office success—can elevate an actor’s standing. As studios continue to invest in films that feature women in leading roles and as conversations around equitable pay grow louder, future rankings may better reflect the momentum toward greater financial parity in Hollywood.
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