2026 has already shown itself to be advantageous.Zoe Saldana. The Oscar-winning actress has been officially recognized as the top-earning actor in history.
Zoe Saldana reached this achievement following her most recent role in James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Zoe Saldana Achieves the Title of Top-Earning Actor
Over the course of her professional journey, Zoe has appeared in three of the most successful movies ever made. The list features 2009’s Avatar and its 2022 follow-up, The Way Of Water; these films rank 1st and 3rd, respectively, along with 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, which took the 2nd position.
Zoe is the first performer to be featured in four films that have earned over $2 billion worldwide, such as 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War. In addition to her roles in the Avatar series and her appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Gamora, the actress also appeared in the Star Trek trilogy, where she played the character Nyota Uhura. It goes without saying that this trilogy was also a major success, earning more than $1 billion globally.
Zoe Saldana Shares Her Appreciation
On Tuesday night, the Hollywood star posted a video on social platforms, thanking all those who contributed to this achievement.
I simply want to convey my deepest appreciation for the remarkable journey that has brought me to this moment, becoming the top-earning film actor of all time,” she stated, continuing, “This success is entirely due to the amazing series and the talented people I’ve been privileged to work with, to every director who had confidence in me.
Zoe then expressed her gratitude to J.J. Abrams, the director of Star Trek, Joe and Anthony Russo, the directors of the Avengers, James Gunn, the filmmaker behind Guardians, and, most importantly, James Cameron from Avatar, saying, “for having faith in my abilities, for recognizing qualities in me that I haven’t always recognized in myself, and for pushing me to consistently perform at my best. Your trust, your support, and your creativity – they have not only influenced these movies but also helped shape me as an artist.”
The talented performer ended the video by expressing her gratitude to her fans. “Your consistent support, enthusiasm, and dedication are the real basis of this achievement,” she said, adding, “None of this would be possible without you constantly being there with open hearts and excitement. This success is shared by everyone, and I’m truly thankful and deeply honored. And may the next record holder be another woman!”
According to Variety, by 2024 Zoe Saldana had earned over $14 billion worldwide at the box office, placing her third on the list of top-grossing actors. She was surpassed by MCU actors Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson.
Nevertheless, Zoe climbed to the no. 1 position following the launch of Avatar: Fire and Ash, which has generated $1.23 billion worldwide to date. As per a calculation from The Numbers, due to the triumph of Avatar: Fire and Ash, Zoe’s movies have accumulated a total of $15.47 billion.
Zoe Saldana is also anticipated to reprise her role in Avatar 4, scheduled for release in December 2029, and Avatar 5, which is set to come out in December 2031, thereby enhancing her prospects of remaining at the top of the list of top-earning actors ever.