Scarlett Johansson Earned an Estimated $35 Million for Avengers: Endgame
Scarlett Johansson has come a long way since earning $400,000 for her first Marvel movie, Iron Man 2. After a decade playing Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, her salary reached its apex with 2019‘s Avengers: Endgame—an estimated $35 million.
Let‘s analyze how Johansson’s paychecks progressed over her MCU tenure, her overall earnings from the franchise, and how her salary stacks up against her superhero co-stars.
Her Epic Growth from MCU Supporting Player to $15 Million Leading Lady
It may be hard to believe, but Johansson earned just $400,000 for her first appearance as Black Widow in 2010‘s Iron Man 2, according to The Hollywood Reporter‘s aptly titled article "Marvel Stars: What They Earn". At the time, she had not yet proven herself as a box office draw.
Her pay jumped to a respectable $6 million for 2012‘s mega-hit The Avengers. But this was still a fraction of Robert Downey Jr.’s $50 million paycheck for playing Iron Man.
By 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, however, Johansson was finally in the big leagues, earning an eight-figure $20 million paycheck equal to Chris Hemsworth’s as Thor. Her global fame and critically-acclaimed performances justified this over 3,000% salary increase from her Iron Man 2 days.
For 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War, Johansson reached her career high (so far), earning $15 million upfront. She nabbed the same massive payday for Endgame a year later.
So in just 8 years, Johansson‘s salary catapulted from less than half a million to $15 million per film – a 3,600% increase! This astonishing progress demonstrates her rapid rise from ensemble player to A-list star who commands top dollar.
Johansson’s Salary for MCU Films:
| Film | Salary |
|---|---|
| Iron Man 2 | $400,000 |
| The Avengers | $6 million |
| Age of Ultron | $20 million |
| Infinity War | $15 million |
| Endgame | $15 million |
Her Total MCU Earnings Exceed $100 Million
In total, Johansson has earned over $100 million for the MCU films when accounting for her reported salaries and estimated backend bonuses.
Here‘s a breakdown of her estimated earnings for each Marvel movie:
- Iron Man 2 – $400,000
- The Avengers – $6 million
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier – $10 million (estimated)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron – $20 million
- Captain America: Civil War – $10 million (estimated)
- Avengers: Infinity War – $15 million
- Avengers: Endgame – $35 million (estimated including backend points)
- Black Widow – $15 million
That‘s over nine figures earned for the MCU films alone, which doesn‘t even include income from merchandise and promotions. And she pocketed the majority of this massive payday in her last few Marvel outings, catapulting her into an elite group of actors who command $15 million+ per film.
Her MCU Salary in the Context of Her Overall Net Worth
To put these sky-high superhero paychecks into perspective, Scarlett Johansson‘s current net worth sits around $165 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
So her estimated MCU earnings represent about 60% of her entire net worth. These hit Marvel films transformed her into one of Hollywood‘s wealthiest actresses.
For comparison, here‘s what she earned for several other top films:
- Lost in Translation (2003) – $300,000
- The Prestige (2006) – $1 million
- Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) – $7 million
- Lucy (2014) – $17.5 million
- Marriage Story (2019) – $15 million
It’s crystal clear the MCU has been Johansson’s most lucrative arena by far, with her Avengers paydays dwarfing even top salaries for awards-season dramas. Who knew suiting up as a super-spy would be so much more bankable than acclaimed collaborations with auteurs like Woody Allen?
Her Salary Stacks Up Strongly Against Fellow MCU Stars
While Robert Downey Jr. ultimately reigns supreme in terms of Marvel salaries, Scarlett Johansson holds her own against her Avengers co-stars:
- Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) – $75 million for Endgame (with backend points)
- Chris Hemsworth (Thor) – $15 million for Endgame
- Mark Ruffalo (Hulk) – $15 million estimated for Endgame
- Chris Evans (Captain America) – $15-20 million estimated for Endgame
So Johansson finds herself right alongside Hemsworth, Evans, and Ruffalo as the highest paid Avengers headliners.
Meanwhile, newer ensemble members made far less for Endgame:
- Brie Larson (Captain Marvel) – $5 million
- Karen Gillan (Nebula) – $2-3 million estimated
- Paul Rudd (Ant-Man) – $2-3 million estimated
This demonstrates Johansson‘s seniority and pay grade among the star-studded Marvel stable. While Downey Jr.‘s backend points put him in a league of his own, Johansson firmly occupies the next tier as a top-dollar Avenger.
How Does Johansson‘s Salary Compare to Chris Hemsworth‘s Marvel Paychecks?
As fellow OG Avengers, how do Scarlett Johansson and Chris Hemsworth’s Marvel earnings stack up?
For 2011’s Thor, Hemsworth made just $150,000, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Like Johansson, he had not yet proven his star power.
His salary rose to $5 million for 2013’s Thor: The Dark World – a healthy raise but still no Avengers-level paycheck.
By 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, Hemsworth finally cracked eight figures, earning $10 million upfront. His total for Ragnarok with backend bonuses was reportedly around $15 million.
Like Johansson, Hemsworth then earned $15 million each for Infinity War and Endgame, pushing his total Endgame earnings over $35 million (including points).
Hemsworth also recently earned $20 million for Thor: Love and Thunder. When accounting for his backend bonuses, his total Thor series earnings likely land between $100-150 million.
So Hemsworth and Johansson have enjoyed parallel Marvel journeys – from fledgling supporting players to elite $15 million stars who earn nine figures from their superhero alter egos.
Why Scarlett Johansson More Than Deserves Her Marvel Mega-Paydays
To cynics, salaries over $10 million for playing make-believe may seem ridiculous. But Johansson has earned every dime through:
1. Consistent Box Office Success
The MCU transformed Johansson from an arthouse darling into one of Hollywood‘s most consistent box office powerhouses. Her sci-fi action flicks gross over a billion while more serious films struggle to break even. Audiences globally connect with her witty, badass Black Widow.
2. Critical Acclaim
Remarkably, Johansson earned dual Oscar nominations for Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit during her superhero peak. This rare achievement proves her indomitable acting talent, tones of range, and still-rising star power.
3. Longevity
She portrayed the intelligent, enigmatic Black Widow for over 10 years and 8 films, demanding pay parity with male colleagues like Renner and Evans. Her long-running contributions should be rewarded.
4. Promoting Diversity
As one of the only early female leads in the sausage-fest Avengers lineup, Johansson‘s presence provided balance and promoted on-screen diversity. She‘s a role model for female fans.
5. Grueling Promotional Efforts
Johansson tirelessly traveled the globe for worldwide press tours, talk show appearances, and conventions. She fulfilled her Marvel PR duties for months at a time.
6. Pay Equality
Johansson bravely fought to reduce Hollywood’s gender pay gap. She had every right to earn as much as her male Marvel co-stars and demanded fair compensation.
For these reasons and more, she has earned every cent of her $15 million+ per picture superhero paycheck. While no longer appearing in Marvel films, her Black Widow legacy will live on.
How Do Scarlett Johansson’s Top Marvel Paydays Compare to Her Co-Stars?
To provide helpful context on Marvel‘s salary hierarchy, let‘s see how Johansson‘s biggest MCU paychecks compare to her co-stars‘ top earnings:
| Actor | Character | Top Marvel Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Downey Jr. | Iron Man | $75 million for Endgame |
| Chris Hemsworth | Thor | $20 million for Love and Thunder |
| Scarlett Johansson | Black Widow | $15 million for Endgame |
| Chris Pratt | Star-Lord | $10 million for Infinity War |
| Chadwick Boseman | Black Panther | $2 million for Black Panther |
This table illustrates where Johansson ranks among the MCU‘s A-list stars. While Downey Jr. and Hemsworth outearned her due to backend points, she firmly occupies the next tier down alongside Pratt and is leaps and bounds above newcomers like Boseman.
Her $15 million place in the Marvel movie star hierarchy demonstrates her ascent to the upper echelon after a decade as Black Widow.
Conclusion: Johansson Earned Around $35 Million for Avengers: Endgame
After analyzing the numbers, Scarlett Johansson likely earned an estimated $35 million for suiting up one last time in 2019‘s Avengers: Endgame. Between her reported $15 million salary and projected backend bonuses, this was her biggest Marvel payday yet.
She has come an almost unbelievable distance from her $400,000 check for Iron Man 2 just nine years prior. Johansson worked her way up through eight Marvel films over a decade to ultimately command one of the biggest superhero salaries ever.
While Robert Downey Jr. ultimately leads the pack, especially when factoring in backend points, Johansson sits comfortably alongside Chris Hemsworth and the Chris Evans/Ruffalo/Hemsworth trio as the top paid Avengers headliners.
Considering her critically-hailed performances, consistent box office draw, grueling promotional work, and fight for pay equality, Johansson has earned every penny. Her journey embodies how one supporting MCU role can turn an established star into a $15 million box office juggernaut.