What actors earned playing taxi drivers, firefighters, spies, and other roles — and what people in those jobs actually make

Matthew WilsonJul 19, 2020, 20:31 IST

Will Ferrell as "Anchorman."DreamWorks

Actors regularly get paid far higher to play a profession than someone in that profession earns, from firefighters to doctors to retail clerks.
James Bond would make no more than $95,000 in real life, but Daniel Craig reportedly earned $25 million for "No Time to Die."
Miranda Priestly from "The Devil Wears Prada" would make an estimated $2 million a year, but Meryl Streep was reportedly paid more than double to play her.
Mickey Rourke earned less than his character in "The Wrestler" would have made as a professional wrestler.

Actors often earn far more to play someone working in a certain profession than those jobs make in a year ... or a lifetime.

Will Ferrell earned far more to play Ron Burgundy in "Anchorman" than Burgundy himself would have earned as a news anchor. Indiana Jones makes around $62,410 a year, but Harrison Ford earned $75 million to play him in the fourth movie in the franchise.

Here's how much people in 21 professions are paid compared to how much the actors who've portrayed them made for the role.

Travis Bickle in "Taxi Driver" would have made $35,930 a year as a taxi driver — around the same amount Robert De Niro earned to play him.

Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle. Columbia Pictures

James Bond's official title is Royal Navy Reserve Commander, a position that's paid between $81,319 and $94,161. Daniel Craig was paid much, much more.

Daniel Craig as James Bond. Universal Pictures

In the film "Flight," Denzel Washington's Whip Whitaker would have earned around $86,080 as an airline pilot.

Denzel Washington as Whip Whitaker. Universal

Reese Witherspoon's Elle Woods would have made around $120,000 a year working as a lawyer in the "Legally Blonde" franchise.

Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods. MGM

Indiana Jones would make around $62,410 a year as an archaeologist, but Harrison Ford earned $65 million to play him in just one movie.

Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones. Paramount

Miranda Priestly from "The Devil Wears Prada" would make an estimated $2 million a year — Meryl Streep was reportedly paid more than double to play her.

Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly. ScenesMustafaFavs/YouTube

On "Stranger Things," Winona Ryder's Joyce Byers would have earned $24,340 a year as a retail clerk.

Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers. Netflix

In "Big Little Lies," Zoe Kravitz's Bonnie Carlson would have earned around $80,000 a year as a yoga instructor in California.

Zoe Kravitz as Bonnie Carlson. HBO

Tina Fey's character on "30 Rock," Liz Lemon, would have earned a salary of over $1 million.

Tina Fey as Liz Lemon. NBC

As a top male model, Derek Zoolander would have earned between $265,000 and $1.5 million, but Ben Stiller still made more playing him.

Ben Stiller as Derek Zoolander in "Zoolander." Paramount

Will Ferrell's Ron Burgundy from "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" would make around $64,600.

Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy. DreamWorks

In "This Is Us," Sterling K. Brown's Randall Pearson would have earned at least $129,000 as a city councilman in Philadelphia. Brown earns nearly double that per episode.

Sterling K. Brown as Randall Pearson. Ron Batzdorff/NBC

In "This Is Us," Sterling K. Brown's Randall Pearson would have earned at least $129,000 as a city councilman in Philadelphia. Brown earns nearly double that per episode.

In "Bridget Jones's Diary," the titular character could likely make around $25,000 a year as a publishing assistant.

Renee Zellweger as Bridget Jones. Universal Studios and Studio Canal and Miramax Film Corp.

In the 1980s, Robin Ramzinski from "The Wrestler" could have made around $182,000 a year as a professional wrestler. Mickey Rourke earned less to play him.

Mickey Rourke as Robin Ramzinski. Protozoa Pictures

Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey would take home around $491,364 a year as chief of general surgery on "Grey's Anatomy" — Pompeo earns more than that per episode.

Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey. ABC

Steve Carell's Michael Scott would have earned around $131,490 a year as regional sales manager at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company on "The Office."

Steve Carell as Michael Scott. Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

In "The Heat," Melissa McCarthy's Shannon Mullins would have earned around $63,380 as a detective.

Melissa McCarthy as Shannon Mullins. Fox

In "Santa Clarita Diet," Drew Barrymore's Sheila Hammond would have earned around $50,300 as a realtor. Barrymore earned nearly seven times that per episode.

Drew Barrymore as Shelia Hammond. Netflix

In "Gravity," Sandra Bullock's Dr. Ryan Stone would have earned around $65,140 a year as an astronaut.

Sandra Bullock as Dr. Ryan Stone. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

In "Ladder 49," Joaquin Phoenix's Jack Morrison would have earned around $49,620 a year as a firefighter.

Joaquin Phoenix as Jack Morrison. Buena Vista Pictures

In "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," Brad Pitt's Cliff Booth would have earned anywhere from $62,000 to $250,000 as a stunt double. Unsurprisingly, Pitt earned much more for the role.

Brad Pitt as Cliff Booth. Sony

In "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," Brad Pitt's Cliff Booth would have earned anywhere from $62,000 to $250,000 as a stunt double. Unsurprisingly, Pitt earned much more for the role.

18 celebrity couples who've collaborated together on movies, TV shows, and more

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

What actors earned playing taxi drivers, firefighters, spies, and other roles — and what people in those jobs actually make

Travis Bickle in "Taxi Driver" would have made $35,930 a year as a taxi driver — around the same amount Robert De Niro earned to play him.

James Bond's official title is Royal Navy Reserve Commander, a position that's paid between $81,319 and $94,161. Daniel Craig was paid much, much more.

In the film "Flight," Denzel Washington's Whip Whitaker would have earned around $86,080 as an airline pilot.

Reese Witherspoon's Elle Woods would have made around $120,000 a year working as a lawyer in the "Legally Blonde" franchise.

Indiana Jones would make around $62,410 a year as an archaeologist, but Harrison Ford earned $65 million to play him in just one movie.

Miranda Priestly from "The Devil Wears Prada" would make an estimated $2 million a year — Meryl Streep was reportedly paid more than double to play her.

On "Stranger Things," Winona Ryder's Joyce Byers would have earned $24,340 a year as a retail clerk.

In "Big Little Lies," Zoe Kravitz's Bonnie Carlson would have earned around $80,000 a year as a yoga instructor in California.

Tina Fey's character on "30 Rock," Liz Lemon, would have earned a salary of over $1 million.

As a top male model, Derek Zoolander would have earned between $265,000 and $1.5 million, but Ben Stiller still made more playing him.

Will Ferrell's Ron Burgundy from "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" would make around $64,600.

In "This Is Us," Sterling K. Brown's Randall Pearson would have earned at least $129,000 as a city councilman in Philadelphia. Brown earns nearly double that per episode.

In "Bridget Jones's Diary," the titular character could likely make around $25,000 a year as a publishing assistant.

In the 1980s, Robin Ramzinski from "The Wrestler" could have made around $182,000 a year as a professional wrestler. Mickey Rourke earned less to play him.

Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey would take home around $491,364 a year as chief of general surgery on "Grey's Anatomy" — Pompeo earns more than that per episode.

Steve Carell's Michael Scott would have earned around $131,490 a year as regional sales manager at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company on "The Office."

In "The Heat," Melissa McCarthy's Shannon Mullins would have earned around $63,380 as a detective.

In "Santa Clarita Diet," Drew Barrymore's Sheila Hammond would have earned around $50,300 as a realtor. Barrymore earned nearly seven times that per episode.

In "Gravity," Sandra Bullock's Dr. Ryan Stone would have earned around $65,140 a year as an astronaut.

In "Ladder 49," Joaquin Phoenix's Jack Morrison would have earned around $49,620 a year as a firefighter.

In "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," Brad Pitt's Cliff Booth would have earned anywhere from $62,000 to $250,000 as a stunt double. Unsurprisingly, Pitt earned much more for the role.