Top 20 Richest Black Movie Actors and Actresses in 2025

They didn’t just act. They architected empires.

They didn’t just perform. They perfected the hustle.

These are not your everyday stars—these are black cinematic titans who turned the spotlight into gold.

Today, we countdown from #20 to #1 the Top 20 Richest Black Movie Actors and Actresses who didn’t just get a seat at the table—they bought the whole damn table, chairs, building, and branded the neighborhood too.

Let’s roll the credits backward.

20. Angela Bassett – $25 Million

The Queen Mother of Wakanda. The Pulse of Power.

Angela Bassett doesn’t act. She commands. Her performance in What’s Love Got to Do with It didn’t just win hearts—it made her a legend. From Black Panther to 911, Angela has been the thunder in the storm and the grace in the chaos. She earns her millions with fire, dignity, and voice modulation that could break glass.

19. Forest Whitaker – $30 Million

The Silent Assassin. The Emotional Architect.

Whitaker doesn’t need words to speak. His eyes do the heavy lifting. From The Last King of Scotland to The Butler, his artistry has earned both awards and wealth. At $30 million, he’s not just in the room—he's often the soul of the script.

18. Raven-Symoné – $40 Million

Disney Royalty with a Genius Portfolio.

While other child stars fizzled, Raven invested. From The Cosby Show to That’s So Raven, she turned child-like charm into adult revenue. And she wasn’t just acting—she was stacking. Licensing, production, music. She cashed in before the rest caught on.

17. Gabrielle Union – $40 Million

The Smile With Strategy.

Gabrielle Union didn’t just “Bring It On”—she brought the boardroom too. From rom-coms to social activism, Gabby’s $40 million empire is built on storytelling, elegance, and a sharp mind for brand partnerships. Being Mary Jane wasn’t just a character. It was a message: smart, Black, and bankable.

16. Kerry Washington – $50 Million

Olivia Pope. Crisis Manager. Wealth Manager.

Kerry didn’t just fix Washington’s fictional problems—she fixed her financial reality too. Scandal turned her into a household name, and her roles in Django Unchained and Little Fires Everywhere expanded her portfolio. With production deals and endorsements, she’s mastered the business of emotion.

15. Whoopi Goldberg – $60 Million

The EGOT Empress.

If there’s an award, Whoopi has it. From The Color Purple to Sister Act and Ghost, she conquered genres like a chess master. Add in The View and her long-standing Broadway ties, and that $60 million feels like modesty.

14. Queen Latifah – $70 Million

From Mic to Money. From Bars to Billions in Potential.

Dana Owens—aka Queen Latifah—didn’t wait for Hollywood. She owned it. Rap star, talk show host, actress, producer. From Set It Off to The Equalizer, she moves like royalty in any medium. And the bank agrees.

13. Halle Berry – $100 Million

First Black Woman to Win Best Actress. Still Winning.

Halle didn’t just break glass ceilings—she broke charts. From Monster’s Ball to X-Men, her beauty and grit translated to cash. She's not just an icon. She’s an industry. With $100 million, Halle doesn’t ask for a role—she produces them.

12. Martin Lawrence – $110 Million

The King of ‘90s Comedy Turned Franchise Legend.

"Martin!" was more than a show—it was a cultural shift. Add Bad Boys and stand-up tours, and Martin laughed his way to $110 million. A comedian, writer, and executive producer—Martin wrote his own paycheck, literally.

11. LL Cool J – $121 Million

From Lip Licking to Network Lockdown.

Mr. Ladies Love Cool James made hip hop hot—and Hollywood richer. With NCIS: Los Angeles, he locked down network cash for over a decade. Throw in film roles and tech investments, and he’s not just a rapper-turned-actor. He’s a blueprint.

10. Jamie Foxx – $150 Million

The Triple Threat That Quadrupled His Worth.

Jamie sings, jokes, acts, and invests like a Wall Street wolf with perfect pitch. Ray brought him an Oscar, but his stand-up and Django Unchained brought the bag. At $150 million, Jamie isn’t versatile. He’s volcanic.

9. Ice Cube – $160 Million

From N.W.A to N.B.A Checks (And Everything In Between).

If you’re not scared of Ice Cube, you should be. The man wrote F** Tha Police* and then negotiated deals in Hollywood boardrooms. Friday, Barbershop, Are We There Yet?—he’s made family films that made family fortunes. Cube went from gangsta rap to generational wealth.

8. Kevin Hart – $200 Million

Short in Height. Tall in Hustle.

Kevin Hart wakes up richer than most comedians dream. His relentless touring, movie deals, and production company, HartBeat, turned punchlines into stock portfolios. At $200 million, he is the Kevin Durant of comedy—everywhere, always delivering.

7. Eddie Murphy – $200 Million

The Comedy King With a Billion-Dollar Legacy.

Murphy made $70 million before age 30. Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, The Nutty Professor—he’s not just iconic; he’s foundational. With Netflix deals and returns to stand-up, Eddie's still cashing in with a megawatt smile and timeless swag.

6. Morgan Freeman – $250 Million

The Voice of God. The Wisdom of a Billionaire.

You don’t question Morgan Freeman. You obey. From Shawshank to Million Dollar Baby, he’s narrated our dreams and defined our heroes. At $250 million, Morgan doesn’t audition—he accepts offers.

5. Samuel L. Jackson – $250 Million

Bad Mother**er, Certified.

With over 150 films and the highest box office gross of any actor in history, Sam Jackson is not just an actor—he’s a genre. Marvel, Tarantino, cult classics—he owns them all. His bank account screams “I said what I said.”

4. Denzel Washington – $280 Million

Acting Royalty. Cinematic Samurai.

Denzel’s gravitas is a currency. Oscars? Got ‘em. Cultural clout? Untouchable. Whether it’s Training Day or The Equalizer, his performances command attention and premium checks. At $280 million, Denzel remains the gold standard.

3. Will Smith – $350 Million

The Fresh Prince Turned Hollywood Pharaoh.

Big Willie from West Philly became a global sensation. Independence Day, Men in Black, Ali, Bad Boys—the list is a box office curriculum. Even with setbacks, his bounce-back game is richer than most career peaks.

2. Tyler Perry – $1 Billion

The Billionaire Behind the Curtain.

From homelessness to history-making, Tyler Perry turned Madea into millions—and then into billions. He owns his studio, his scripts, his sets, and his destiny. He didn’t ask Hollywood for a seat—he built his own kingdom and crowned himself King. At $1 billion, Perry is the most powerful Black filmmaker alive.

1. Oprah Winfrey – $3.5 Billion

The Network. The Net Worth. The Name.

Oprah didn’t just break barriers—she broadcasted through them. As a movie actress (The Color Purple, Selma), producer, and entrepreneur, her Harpo Studios empire is part of the Black wealth gospel. At $3.5 billion, she isn’t in the room—she built the network the room airs on.

🎬 Final Curtain Call: Wealth With a Purpose

These 20 Black movie actors and actresses are more than entertainers.

They are economists of identity, investors in legacy, and visionaries of Black excellence.

Their net worth isn’t just monetary—it’s symbolic.

Of battles fought. Of stories owned.

Of worlds changed.