Zoe Saldana becomes highest-grossing actor ever
Zoe Saldana has claimed the title of the highest-grossing actor in history, surpassing her Marvel Cinematic Universe colleague Scarlett Johansson. She reached this milestone as James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash crossed $1.23 billion at the global box office on January 12, pushing her career total past $16.8 billion.
Johansson, who briefly held the top spot after Jurassic World Rebirth debuted in July 2025, now sits in second place with roughly $16.4 billion, per data from The Numbers. The gap stands at about $423 million and figures to widen as Avatar: Fire and Ash continues its theatrical run.
Saldana's achievement rests on her roles across Hollywood's most profitable franchises. She stands alone as the only actor to star in four films each surpassing $2 billion: the Avatar series as Neytiri, Marvel's Avengers: Endgame and Infinity War as Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy saga, and the Star Trek reboot as Uhura.
The top five highest-grossing actors now include Samuel L. Jackson at $14.6 billion, Robert Downey Jr. at $14.3 billion, and Chris Pratt at $14.1 billion, all Marvel veterans. This record may not last forever, though. Johansson stars in The Batman Part II, slated for 2027, which could challenge the lead. Yet with Avatar 4 set for December 2029 and a fifth installment in development, Saldana's position looks secure for years.
Avatar: Fire and Ash, released December 19, 2025, earned about $342 million domestically and $888 million internationally. The film marks Cameron as the first director to deliver four consecutive movies topping $1 billion worldwide, following Titanic, Avatar, and Avatar: The Way of Water.
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