Age: 60
Net worth: $400 million
Profession: Actor
Country: Australia
Born in New York but raised in Australia, Mel Gibson got his start acting when he attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney.
After graduating in 1977, Gibson landed his first film role in "Summer City," a job that only paid him $400. He went on to act in a number of Australian plays and movies, including the "Mad Max" trilogy, before making a name for himself in the states.
A versatile actor, Gibson early on starred in films including "Hamlet" and the "Lethal Weapon" series, in which he received a $30 million paycheck for the fourth film.
In 1989, he expanded his résumé to include producer and director when he cofounded Icon Productions. He produced, directed, and acted in "Braveheart," which landed him two Academy Awards, for best picture and best director.
Gibson's biggest financial hit to date is "The Passion of the Christ," the 2004 religious epic he produced and directed. Though the film stirred some controversy, it only cost about $30 million to make and raked in nearly $612 million worldwide.
17. Johnny Depp
Age: 53
Net worth: $440 million
Profession: Actor
Country: US
Although he wanted to pursue music as a teen, Johnny Depp's early efforts in Los Angeles in the 1980s didn't catch fire, so Depp tried his hand at acting. He landed his first big role in "A Nightmare on Elm Street" in 1984 and went on to star in the TV series "21 Jump Street" in 1987.
Depp's career skyrocketed from there as he became one of Hollywood's biggest names and befriended directors like Tim Burton.
In 2003, Depp transformed into Captain Jack Sparrow for "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of Black Pearl," which grossed $654 million worldwide and earned him an Oscar nod.
The "Pirates" franchise is Depp's most financially successful project to date, with the series' second installment, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," grossing more than $1 billion worldwide.
Depp's music dreams live on as well. He currently performs with his band, Hollywood Vampires, alongside rocker Alice Cooper.
He has also made headlines recently for darker reasons: In May, Amber Heard, then Depp's wife, spoke out against the actor, alleging domestic abuse and filing for divorce.