How Much The Avengers Cast Was Paid (From 2012 To Endgame)

The Avengers brought Marvel Studios’ super-team together for the first time, and kick-started a series of MCU films boasting a roster of A-List actors, who were paid handsomely for their time operating as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. From 2012 to 2019, Marvel Studios released four epic Avengers films, with Avengers: Endgame concluding the story of the original Avengers team, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, the Hulk, and Hawkeye. Even so, the MCU’s Phase 6 will deliver Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, two projects expected to close the Multiverse Saga with a bang.

After saving the world from Loki in 2012’s The Avengers, the six heroes returned in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War before 2018’s release of Avengers: Infinity War, which saw the Avengers take on their biggest challenge ever as Thanos waged war on the universe. Infinity War was Marvel Studios’ most successful film, surpassed by Avengers: Endgame, which became the highest grossing film of all time prior to Avatar’s 2021 re-release. The franchise’s success granted its actors sizable salaries. Here’s the breakdown of how much the core cast of The Avengers were paid during their MCU careers.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man Was The Longest-Running MCU Hero

Robert Downey Jr. Played Tony Stark/Iron Man In The MCU

Robert Downey Jr.’s first appearance as Tony Stark in 2008’s Iron Man, the MCU’s first film, made the actor $500,000, which increased to $10 million dollars upfront (and eventually amounted to $50 million due to the film’s success) for his appearance in The Avengers four years later.

Age of Ultron marked a pay increase for Downey Jr., earning $80 million, and his salary for Infinity War reportedly surpassed $75 million. Downey Jr.’s career as Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, came to an end in Avengers: Endgame, which saw him granted a base salary of $20 million, though this increased to approximately $75 million as he received 8% of the profits.

Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU Pay Explained

While the numbers for Robert Downey Jr.’s time in the MCU are certainly high, it’s worth keeping in mind that Iron Man was essentially the figurehead of the MCU, and played a focal role in every Avengers movie from 2012 to 2019’s Endgame. Without Tony Stark, it’s hard to imagine the franchise would’ve ever reached the heights it saw a decade down the line, meaning the draw of the character was worth the paycheck.

On a similar note, a not inconsiderable portion of the money the actor received from the movies is down to Endgame‘s success based on his percentage takings of the profits. With this in mind, it’s only natural that Robert Downey Jr’s pay for Avengers: Endgame is considerable, as the film is one of the most successful releases in movie history, let alone in the superhero genre.

Scarlett Johansson Was One Of The MCU’s Biggest Stars

Scarlett Johansson Played Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow In The MCU

Scarlett Johansson’s debut appearance as Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. Black Widow, in 2010’s Iron Man 2 earned her $400,000, but The Avengers marked a significant salary increase, as Johansson made somewhere in the low seven figures.

The actress saw her stock rise in Avengers: Age of Ultron, with her salary increasing to $20 million. Johansson then earned $15 million upfront for Infinity War and Endgame, though was reported to have made around $35 million in total from the final Avengers entry once bonuses factored in.

Scarlett Johansson’s MCU Pay Explained

Scarlet Johansson’s star power pre-dates the MCU by some time, meaning that her MCU salary makes sense as a reflection of this, and the integral role Black Widow played as the MCU’s first major female superhero. This persisted past Avengers: Endgame into Natasha Romanoff’s final movie, Black Widow, which reportedly also earned Johansson an upfront $20 million.

Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney for their release strategy of Black Widow, supposedly resulting in a drastic increase in pay.

Chris Evans Led The Avengers As Captain America

Chris Evans Played Steve Rogers/Captain America In The MCU

Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, debuted in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, earning the actor $300,000. A year later, The Avengers earned Evans around $3 million. Evans raked in even more for Age of Ultron, as his salary increased to a healthy $15 million.

2018’s Infinity War saw Evans retain his $15 million earnings, though he was upgraded to $20 million for being a major part of Avengers: Endgame. Similarly to Iron Man and Black Widow (aside from her Phase 4 solo film), Avengers: Endgame marked the end of the road for Evans’ iteration of Captain America, and the MCU is still reeling from his departure.

Chris Evans’ MCU Pay Explained

Chris Evans was one of the two biggest heroes in the Infinity Saga era of the MCU, meaning a paycheck that reflected this is par for the course. The fact that Evans’ career as an MCU hero was also set to conclude with Avengers: Endgame makes this also all the more of a requirement, based on his bright but comparatively shorter tenure in the franchise.

Since the Captain America mantle will be continued on after Steve Rogers’ retirement via Sam Wilson taking up the role, Evans’ considerable pay is all the more pertinent.

Chris Hemsworth Is The Only Avenger To Get 4 Solo Movies

Chris Hemsworth Played Thor Odinson In The MCU

2012’s The Avengers marked the second appearance of Chris Hemsworth as Thor following his debut solo film, Thor, a year earlier, which earned the Australian actor $150,000. The Avengers brought a significant upgrade for Hemsworth, who took home around $3 million. Avengers: Age of Ultron saw Hemsworth’s salary increase to roughly $5 million.

The Thor actor later took home $15 million a piece for Infinity War and Endgame. In the MCU’s Phase 4, Hemsworth became the only original Avenger to get four solo movies, with Thor: Love and Thunder reportedly granting the star around $20 million.

Chris Hemsworth’s MCU Pay Explained

While the Thor actor’s overall MCU pay is lower than the likes of Robert Downey Jr., his integral role as the God of Thunder lends itself to some earnings that are still decidedly substantial. Indeed, Hemsworth’s lower initial movie paycheck reflects how the character and actor were initially regarded as less focal than Iron Man or Captain America, but that this arguably changed over time, resulting in some considerably higher later results.

The fact that Thor could still appear in upcoming Avengers movies also suggests he may even end up with the highest overall MCU salary of all time, due to his character persisting as a Marvel hero after Avengers: Endgame. Whatever the case, it’s safe to say Thor’s MCU journey isn’t over yet, and could reach new heights in the franchise’s future.

Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye Was Perhaps The Most Wasted Avenger

Jeremy Renner Played Clint Barton/Hawkeye In The MCU

After making a brief appearance in 2011’s Thor, Jeremy Renner had a starring role in The Avengers as Clint Barton, a.k.a. Hawkeye, a role which earned him $3 million. For Avengers: Age of Ultron, Renner earned roughly $6 million. Though Renner was missing from Avengers: Infinity War’s cast, it could be assumed the actor was paid well for his role in Captain America: Civil War, and his next appearance in Avengers: Endgame secured him a $15 million paycheck.

While Barton had often been regarded as the most wasted Avenger, Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye series on Disney+ put Renner front-and-center as Hawkeye, and reportedly earned the actor around $15 million. If he returns for another season, it is very likely he could get the same payday as season one.

Jeremy Renner’s MCU Pay Explained

Much like the MCU’s Hawkeye, Jeremy Renner’s popularity is often underestimated, despite having an extensive and successful acting career before and during his MCU tenure. The actor’s genuine value is perhaps best reflected in these sizable paychecks, which evidently prove Marvel Studios considered Clint Barton as valuable as his Avengers compatriots. Hopefully, future MCU installments will allow the character to demonstrate his impact, especially with his storyline seeing him take on mentoring Kate Bishop, who is set to become a Young Avenger.

Mark Ruffalo Replaced Edward Norton As Bruce Banner In The Avengers

Mark Ruffalo Played Bruce Banner/The Hulk In The MCU

After Edward Norton played Bruce Banner in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, Mark Ruffalo took over the role from 2012’s The Avengers onwards. For his MCU debut in Marvel Studios’ first crossover film, Mark Ruffalo took home $3 million, which was also his salary for Age of Ultron three years later.

Avengers: Infinity War saw Ruffalo double his earnings, as he was paid $6 million for the film. While Ruffalo’s salary for Avengers: Endgame has not been publicized, it’s likely he also earned close to $15 million. Ruffalo continues to portray Bruce Banner, a.k.a. the Hulk, in the MCU, with his most recent appearance being in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law on Disney+.

Mark Ruffalo’s MCU Pay Explained

Having played the Hulk in all his iterations for 7 years by the point of Avengers: Endgame means Mark Ruffalo similarly has a tenure in the MCU that would warrant a considerable paycheck as exchange. However, the MCU Hulk is known for not featuring in his own solo movie – initially as a result of studio complications, but seemingly now also as a result of it being awkward to suddenly add one – meaning his Avengers features and popularity can’t be made into solo film success as some other characters can, which may explain some of the lower paychecks along the way.

Samuel L. Jackson Brought The Avengers Together

Samuel L. Jackson Played Nick Fury In The MCU

Samuel L. Jackson’s Avengers appearances have mostly been limited to cameos, but for 2012’s The Avengers, according to THR, he made around $6m including bonuses. His biggest payday came in the post-Avengers: Endgame MCU where reports suggest he received $20 million to play character in the series Secret Invasion.

The exact details of how much Samuel L. Jackson gets paid in his MCU appearances is unknown, but at least $2 – $3 million per appearance has been speculated, which means that his more substantial roles in The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Captain Marvel most likely netted him a bit more.

Samuel L. Jackson’s MCU Pay Explained

Samuel L. Jackson has had a long run as Nick Fury in the MCU, dating all the way back to a post-credits scene in Iron Man. The character has been a near constant since, putting the team back together in The Avengers, and working behind the scenes after the fall of SHIELD. He is incredibly important to the MCU and Samuel L. Jackson’s pay for his appearances reflects that, receiving a substantial check even for small parts. Jackson is also an incredibly beloved actor, which he can use as leverage during negotiations.

Who Was The Highest-Paid Avengers Actor?

Taking home a whopping $360 million over the course of his career in the MCU, Robert Downey Jr. is by far the most well-paid member of the original Avengers in the franchise. Notably, around a third of Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU fortune is made up of box office percentage earnings stipulated in his contract. While this might seem like an extraordinary amount of money, Downey Jr. has nothing on Tony Stark himself, who at the time of Avengers: Endgame was worth over $12 billion. The MCU will continue to grow in Downey Jr.’s absence, so one of Marvel’s newer stars could soon surpass the legendary Iron Man actor.

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