Zoe Saldana’s Salary in MCU vs ‘Avatar’: Is Zoe Saldana Underpaid in $29.5 Billion Marvel Franchise?

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 marks the final escapade for the original lineup of the titular team, and many of the cast members have ventured beyond the three mainline films. The Guardians‘ journey commenced in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, where these diverse space adventurers came together to form the MCU’s most unconventional team of heroes. It features Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana in the lead roles alongside a stellar cast.

Zoe Saldana as Gamora

Apart from leading their own series, they also collaborated with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to vanquish Thanos and his formidable army in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Additionally, Thor joined forces with them for some thrilling exploits in Thor: Love and Thunder.

How Much Did Zoe Saldana Make In The MCU

In 2023, Zoe Saldana’s net worth is approximated to be $40 million. Given her prominent roles in three of the most commercially successful movies of all time—Avatar, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame—one might expect her net worth to be considerably higher in theory!

Zoe Saldana as Gamora

According to The Things, Zoe Saldana reportedly received approximately $100,000 for her role in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film. As her appearances continued in the MCU and possible back-end deals came into play, it’s reasonable to assume that her earnings would have seen significant growth. Taking into account the salary increments throughout her MCU journey, it’s estimated that Saldana might have earned around $10 to $15 million for her seven portrayals of Gamora in the franchise.

Back in 2009, Zoe Saldana earned $4 million for her starring role in James Cameron’s Avatar. The movie went on to achieve unparalleled success, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time.

How Does Zoe Saldana’s Salary Fare Against Other MCU Stars

According to Us Magazine, Chris Pratt reportedly received around $1.5 million for his role in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie. Later on, he was said to have earned $5 million for portraying Star-Lord in Avengers: Infinity War. Given Pratt’s seven appearances as the beloved character in the MCU, it is likely that he received salary increases over the course of his tenure in the role.

Cast of Guardians of the Galaxy

For his initial depiction of Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy, Dave Bautista earned $1.4 million, followed by $3 million for his role in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and a combined $4 million for Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Considering Bautista’s three other MCU appearances, it’s reasonable to estimate his entire tenure as Drax would accumulate to around $15 to $20 million by the time Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 concludes.

According to Forbes, Bradley Cooper was able to negotiate approximately 1% of the back end of Avengers: Endgame, resulting in an estimated $7 million for his role as Rocket Raccoon in the film. It can be speculated that Cooper’s cumulative earnings for his seven appearances in the MCU would amount to approximately $20 to $30 million.

Vin Diesel’s exact salary for voicing Groot remains somewhat ambiguous, with writer-director James Gunn refuting reports of him earning $13 million per portrayal of the talking tree. Nevertheless, a reasonable estimate for Diesel’s salary would likely fall within the range of $13 to $15 million.