According to a new article from Vanity Fair, JJ Abrams entered the top 10 of Hollywood earners thanks to the success of Star Trek and payment for his next film Morning Glory. Oddly the total doesn't include Fringe so I think his 2009 earnings estimate of $36 million might actually be too low.
Here is Abrams breakdown:
Estimated 2009 earnings: $36 million
- $31 million: Star Trek (back end for producing and directing, based on worldwide gross of $385 million, and share of DVD)
- $5 million: Morning Glory (fee for producing upcoming comedy starring Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton)
The Top 10:
1) Michael Bay - $125 million (for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen)
2) Steven Spielberg - $85 million ($15 of which from TF2)
3) Roland Emmerich - $70 million (for 2012)
4) James Cameron - $50 million (more coming for 2010 Avatar grosses and DVD sales)
5) Todd Phillips - $44 million (for The Hangover and Due Date)
6) Daniel Radcliff - $41 million (for Harry Potter Deathly Hallows films)
7) Ben Stiller - $40 million (various movies)
8) Tom Hanks - $36 million (Angels & Demons, Toy Story 3, etc)
9) JJ Abrams - $36 million (Star Trek, Morning Glory)
10) Jerry Bruckheimer - $35.5 million (The Sorcerer's Apprentice, etc)