Michael Bay was the most successful man in Hollywood in 2009, according to Vanity Fair.
The magazine has counted down a list of the 40 highest-earning individuals in Hollywood for 2009, based on factors including up-front fees, box office gross percentages and other estimated revenue streams.
And by the mag’s rankings, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” director Michael Bay was No. 1, earning an estimated $125 million, mostly for his work on that film – which included a percentage of the film’s box office, DVD revenue and toy sales. He also earned additional millions from production work on “Friday The 13th,” “The Unborn,” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”
At No. 2 is Steven Spielberg, who took home a total of $85 million – including $20 million from his production and direction of the 2011-due “The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn.”
In fact, directors rounded out the entire top five, with Roland Emmerich (“2012”), James Cameron (“Avatar”) and Todd Phillips (“The Hangover”) coming in third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
The first actor to make the list was “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe at No. 6 — who earned $41 million — with the lion’s share of that from the upcoming final “Potter” films. His co-stars, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, landed impressively at Nos. 14 and 15 for their fees for the films alone.
Other stars who made the cut ranged from Tyler Perry (No. 11), to Brad Pitt (No. 40) and Angelina Jolie (No. 32), and to “Twilight Saga” stars Robert Pattinson (No. 35) and Kristen Stewart (No. 37).
Brad, who landed at the bottom of the list, earned an estimated $13.5 million in 2009.
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