Hollywood hasn’t been the kindest place for Black people and people of colour. From casting them in lesser, often stereotypical roles to offering them less pay, the long fight toward equality is gradually bearing fruit.
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Angela Basset has been in the industry for three decades now and still going strong. She has seen it all, and her efforts finally paid off. In 2021, she became the highest-paid black actress in television history.
Basset, who stars in Fox’s flagship drama 9-1-1, negotiated for her pay and secured $450,000 per episode. The drama television series runs for six seasons with 96 episodes, so you can calculate how much she is taking to the bank.
Apart from her starring role, Basset was part of the development team and is also one of the series’ executive producers.
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How Much Has Angela Basset Been Paid in Other Movies?
For an actress of her calibre, she has raked in a tidy sum as she has been cast in major movies over the years. When she took part in her breakout role in What’s Love Got To Do With It, Celebrity Networth reports that she cashed in $250,000.
Her rate card has steadily gone up since then, as the same website indicates that she banked $2.5 million from Waiting To Exhale and $3.5 million from Supernova and The Score. Keep in mind that this was in 1995, so things have only gotten better for her.
Let’s not forget that Angela Basset, the highest-paid black actress, was part of Marvel’s Black Panther. Although the details of her pay from this film are unclear, sources indicate that she bagged around $350,000.
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What Is Angela Basset’s Net Worth in 2023?
Angela Basset has cashed in big from her career as one of the highest-paid actresses. As of 2023, she is worth a whopping $30 million. She has played in major movies and reenacted major characters in her career including the likes of the late Tina Turner, Rosa Parks, and Betty Shabazz.
Apart from acting, Angela Basset is also a director, producer, and activist, which significantly contributes to her already ballooning net worth. Moreover, her awards add to her net worth and her business ventures which include Vance, her production company.
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Who Are the Other Big Earners in Hollywood?
As the involvement of black actresses continues to rise, the amount of money they rake in will only increase. So who are the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood?
1. Kerry Washington
She was the only black woman to feature in the 2018 highest-paid actresses. According to Business Insider, she earned $1.1 million from her role in Little Fires Everywhere. In her role in Scandal, she reportedly took home $250,000 per episode. Kerry Washington’s net worth, as of 2023, is estimated to be $50 million.
2. Taraji Henson
Taraji has acted in many movies, but her role in Empire takes prominence. Despite her many acting roles, Tyler Perri’s Studios is the first one to pay her a significant amount, $500,000 per episode. Her overall net worth stands at $25 million.
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3. Mary J Blige
The songstress rose to fame because of her music. That said, she morphed into an actress and has secured a number of roles. Her most significant role was in Power Book II, for which she was paid about $400,000 for every episode. Mary J Blige’s net worth is estimated to be $20 million
4. Viola Davis
Viola Davis is a fan favourite. She has been in the scene for the longest time, but it seems as though she just got her recognition very recently. She has risen to become one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood. She reportedly makes $250,000 per episode on How To Get Away With Murder. Viola Davis’s net worth is estimated to be $25 million.
5. Trace Ellis Ross
Known for her role in Blackish, she’s now one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood. She reportedly earned $200,000 per episode from the show. She arrived at this figure after finding out that she made less than her counterparts.
Acting is no doubt one of the highest-paying careers in the world, well, if you can get to the top. Angela Basset is undoubtedly a demonstration of that and the other high-earning black actresses. This signifies that things are improving for black actresses and women of colour.
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