It's no secret that actors who carry a multi-million dollar price tag get away with it because they draw in huge numbers — and even bigger millions — at the box office. Not always, says Forbes. Just look at Drew Barrymore, named the number one most overpaid actor in Hollywood.

For every dollar Barrymore gets paid, her movie earns a mere forty cents, Forbes calculates, based on the past three non-animated films she has starred in. Her 2009 film, Everybody’s Fine, earned only $16 million globally, and her 2007 film, Lucky You, brought in only $8 million.

Eddie Murphy was also near the top of the list, though he at least turns a profit. Murphy, the star of such flops as Meet Dave and Imagine That, returns to $2.70 for every dollar. Rounding out the top five are Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon and Denzel Washington, each of whom have gotten big paydays recently for poorly received films.

2 Comments

  • A Grinshpan
    A Grinshpan on

    It's true: her last few films have sucked

  • antonioberryman
    antonioberryman on

    I didn't even know Drew Barrymore's been in movies lately. I've seen her in a bunch of cosmetic commercials though.

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