Voices Worth Millions
Voice acting doesn’t always get the spotlight, but the paychecks can be jaw-dropping. From cartoon icons to blockbuster stars, these performers turned their voices into fortunes. Let’s meet the richest voices in the business.
And there is no more iconic a voice to start with than...
Mel Blanc
Known as the “Man of a Thousand Voices,” Mel Blanc gave us Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig. While his salaries weren’t on today’s scale, by the 1960s he was earning more than many live-action stars. His trailblazing career set the standard for big voice paychecks.
Gene Hester, Wikimedia Commons
Seth MacFarlane
Peter Griffin, Stewie, Brian… Seth MacFarlane voices half of Family Guy. In 2008 he signed a $100 million deal, followed by an even bigger $200 million extension. His fortune? Roughly $300 million. Not bad for fart jokes and talking dogs.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Tom Hanks
Woody in Pixar’s Toy Story became one of Tom Hanks’ most enduring roles. He reportedly earned $15–20 million per sequel, plus merchandising bonuses. The cowboy doll helped push Hanks’ fortune to around $400 million. Sometimes the toys really do make the man.
Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, Wikimedia Commons
Dan Castellaneta
Homer Simpson’s “D’oh!” is priceless—but Castellaneta’s paychecks are very real. Starting at $30,000 per episode, he eventually reached $400,000 before settling closer to $300,000. Over decades of work, that’s well over $100 million in Simpsons paydays.
Fox Broadcasting Company, Wikimedia Commons
Mike Myers
Mike Myers turned a grumpy green ogre into a gold mine. He earned about $10 million for the first Shrek and $15 million for each sequel. Add royalties, and his Shrek work alone brought in more than $40 million.
Caroline Bonarde Ucci at https://www.flickr.com/photos/caroline_bonarde/, Wikimedia Commons
Ellen DeGeneres
Voicing Dory in Finding Nemo and Finding Dory was iconic, even if the actual paycheck wasn’t her biggest. Ellen’s true fortune—estimated near $450 million—comes from TV and business. But her quirky fish helped her stay one of entertainment’s most bankable voices.
Nancy Cartwright
“Eat my shorts!” isn’t just a catchphrase—it’s a fortune. Cartwright’s Bart Simpson voice took her from $30,000 an episode to $400,000, later reduced to $300,000. Across decades, she’s earned more than $100 million. The Simpsons turned out to be a millionaire’s gig.
North Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, Wikimedia Commons
Vin Diesel
Vin Diesel only says three words—“I am Groot”—but Marvel made sure he was paid well. Across Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers films, he’s earned more than $50 million. His net worth now sits around $225 million. Not bad for a talking tree.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Julie Kavner
Julie Kavner has voiced Marge Simpson since 1989. She once earned $400,000 per episode before settling closer to $300,000. With hundreds of episodes behind her, her Simpsons work pushed her net worth near $85 million. Marge’s raspy “Hmmmm” paid handsomely.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
Tom Kenny
SpongeBob’s laugh has been paying Tom Kenny’s bills since 1999. With reports of $50,000 per episode, he’s made millions across the series, movies, and spin-offs. His net worth is around $16 million. Not bad for a sponge living in a pineapple under the sea.
Ewen Roberts from San Diego, CA, United States, Wikimedia Commons
Trey Parker
Cartman’s crude insults and Randy Marsh’s antics made Trey Parker a billionaire. Beyond voicing countless South Park characters, he co-created the show and cut billion-dollar deals. His net worth now exceeds $1 billion. Turns out shock humor can buy a lot of respect.
Peabody Awards, Wikimedia Commons
Matt Stone
Matt Stone voices Kyle and Kenny while co-running South Park. With Parker, he signed a $1.5 billion streaming deal, securing his place among the richest entertainers alive. His net worth sits around $1.2 billion. For a kid from Colorado, that’s one wild payday.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
James Earl Jones
The voice of Darth Vader became one of cinema’s most valuable assets. While his early paychecks were modest, royalties and licensing boosted his fortune to around $40 million.
Photo by Stuart Crawford, Wikimedia Commons
Mila Kunis
Since season two, Mila Kunis has voiced Meg Griffin on Family Guy. While it’s not her biggest paycheck, her long run added millions to her fortune. Combined with her Hollywood career, she’s worth about $75 million. Meg might be ignored, but Kunis sure isn’t.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Mark Hamill
Luke Skywalker made him a household name, but the Joker made him a legend in voice acting. Hamill’s laugh earned him millions across Batman series, games, and films. With a net worth around $18 million, his voice work rivals his on-screen fame.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Hank Azaria
From Moe Szyslak to Chief Wiggum, Hank Azaria’s Simpsons portfolio is stacked. His per-episode salary peaked at $400,000 before dipping closer to $300,000. Across decades, that’s a fortune worth nearly $90 million. Azaria’s many voices made him one of TV’s richest.
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson voiced Ash in Sing and played an AI in Her. While her main wealth comes from Marvel films, her voice work has added millions. With a net worth near $165 million, her speaking voice is nearly as valuable as her screen presence.
Harry Shearer
Mr. Burns, Smithers, Ned Flanders—Harry Shearer is The Simpsons’ one-man ensemble. His paychecks followed the same arc as his castmates, peaking at $400,000 per episode. Today his net worth sits around $85 million. That’s a lot of Springfield real estate for one voice actor.
Bradley Cooper
Rocket Raccoon is one of Marvel’s funniest—and most lucrative—characters. Cooper reportedly earned $6 million for Avengers: Endgame, with more across the Guardians trilogy. His overall fortune sits around $120 million. Not bad for playing a wisecracking raccoon with a machine gun.
Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy, Wikimedia Commons
Yeardley Smith
Lisa Simpson may not be the loudest character, but her paychecks are booming. Smith matched her co-stars at $300,000–$400,000 per episode, earning more than $100 million over the years. Quiet in Springfield, but definitely not quiet at the bank.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Antonio Banderas
Puss in Boots was so popular he got his own franchise. Antonio Banderas has voiced the charming feline since 2004, adding millions to his $50 million fortune. That smooth-talking cat turned out to be one of his most profitable roles.
Pedro J Pacheco, Wikimedia Commons
Mike Judge
Mike Judge voices Beavis, Butt-Head, and Hank Hill. Between creator royalties and his voice work, he’s built a fortune of about $75 million. His crude teenage duo and Texan dad voice prove that even silly characters can make serious money.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Clancy Brown
Clancy Brown voices Mr. Krabs—and like his character, he loves money. His work on SpongeBob, combined with a long live-action career, helped him build a net worth around $5 million. For a crab obsessed with cash, that’s perfectly fitting.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Eddie Murphy
Donkey stole the show in Shrek, and Murphy’s paychecks showed it. He reportedly earned $3 million for the first film and up to $10 million for sequels, totaling over $20 million. That’s one seriously wealthy sidekick.
David Shankbone, Wikimedia Commons
H. Jon Benjamin
With his dry, unmistakable voice, H. Jon Benjamin made Archer and Bob’s Burgers instant hits. While his exact per-episode salary isn’t public, his net worth is about $5 million. He’s proof that a unique voice can become a career.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Cameron Diaz
Princess Fiona was a royal payday. Diaz reportedly earned $10 million for Shrek 2, rivaling her live-action paychecks. Combined with other films, she’s worth about $140 million. Fiona’s happily-ever-after turned into Diaz’s happily-ever-after bank account.
Caroline Bonarde Ucci, Wikimedia Commons
Kevin Conroy
For over 30 years, Kevin Conroy was the Batman. His steady roles in animation and games built him a net worth of around $10 million. Fans consider his Dark Knight the definitive one—a priceless legacy in more ways than one.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Mike Henry
Mike Henry voiced Cleveland Brown on Family Guy and The Cleveland Show. He stepped away in 2020, but not before earning millions. His overall net worth sits near $12 million. Cleveland’s mellow voice was more valuable than fans might think.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Jim Cummings
Jim Cummings has voiced Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Darkwing Duck, and hundreds more. His net worth sits around $10 million, built over decades of steady work. He’s one of Disney’s most trusted voices, capable of cuddly warmth or villainous menace.
Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, Wikimedia Commons
Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt voiced Emmet in The Lego Movie and Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The latter grossed more than $1 billion, giving Pratt a big bump. With a net worth around $80 million, his voice is as bankable as his charm.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Pamela Adlon
Pamela Adlon’s Bobby Hill in King of the Hill earned her an Emmy and years of steady income. Her net worth is about $16 million, bolstered by her work on Better Things. “That’s my purse!” came with a nice paycheck.
Frank Welker
Frank Welker might be Hollywood’s busiest voice actor, with more than 800 credits. From Scooby-Doo to Megatron, he’s been everywhere. His steady annual income peaked near $17 million, and his net worth sits between $15 and $20 million. That’s consistency paying off.
Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, Wikimedia Commons
Idris Elba
Idris Elba brought his commanding voice to Shere Khan in The Jungle Book, Chief Bogo in Zootopia, and Knuckles in Sonic 2. His voice gigs added millions to his $40 million fortune. Whether live-action or animated, Elba’s voice carries serious weight.
Harald Krichel, Wikimedia Commons
Tim Allen
Buzz Lightyear netted Tim Allen millions. He reportedly earned $5 million for the first Toy Story, with sequels boosting his totals significantly. His net worth is around $100 million. To infinity—and the bank—he went.
Mark Ridley, Wikimedia Commons
Peter Cullen
Peter Cullen has voiced Optimus Prime since the 1980s. From cartoons to blockbuster films, he’s the definitive Autobot leader. His long run brought him a net worth around $6 million. Sometimes one legendary role is all it takes to cement a career.
Ryan Crierie, Wikimedia Commons
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