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Superman might be invincible, but Henry Cavill’s paycheck? Not so much. Fans of the DCU’s Man of Steel have long debated if Cavill was seriously underpaid for donning that iconic cape. And yes, he probably was.
So, when you think Superman, you imagine sky-high paychecks, right? But Cavill’s earnings weren’t quite on the same planet as other big-name superheroes.
Sure, he pulled in millions by the end, but when you stack his numbers against his peers (or even other Supermen) it’s hard not to go, ‘that’s it?’ Let’s dive into the receipts and break down just how much Cavill made flying around in tights and why it pales in comparison to others.
Inside Henry Cavill’s earnings as Superman in the DCEU
Henry Cavillfirst suited up as Superman inMan of Steel(2013). When he landed the role, he wasn’t the big star he is today. In fact, he was a relative unknown to many moviegoers. So, when Cavill was offered $300,000 (as reported byThe Hollywood Reporter) for his first Superman movie, it seemed pretty reasonable—right?
Well, not exactly. Sure, $300,000 might sound like a lot, but compared to other major Hollywood paychecks, it’s pretty small change. On top of this upfront amount, Cavill’s contract included “back-end” bonuses, meaning he’d get a cut of the movie’s earnings if it did well.
Luckily for him,Man of Steelperformed well at the box office, making around $670 million globally (perBox Office Mojo). As a result, Cavill’s earnings from the movie went up to around $14 million (viaStyle Caster). Sounds a little better, but let’s keep it in perspective.
Fast forward a few years, and Cavill reprised his role inBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice(2016) and Zack Synder’sJustice League(2021). While the exact pay figures for these films are unclear, reports suggest that the 41-year-old made around $20 million for Joss Whedon’sJustice League(2017).
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And then there was Cavill’s cameo inBlack Adam(2022). He appeared for a few minutes as Superman, but guess what his paycheck was? Just $250,000 (perTHR). That’s not even a fraction of what A-list actors usually get for major cameos in superhero films.
Henry Cavill’s Superman pay falls short next to others’ big payouts
Now, let’s talk about the paychecks of other actors who have played Superman over the years. When you compare Henry Cavill’s salary to those who came before him, it becomes clear that he didn’t exactly get paid like a leading superhero.
TakeChristopher Reeve, for example. He played Superman in the 1970s and 1980s and earned more than Cavill for his first film. Reeve’s $250,000 paycheck (viaScreen Rant) forSuperman(1978) is equivalent to about $1.2 million today.
By the time he appeared inSuperman II(1980) andSuperman III(1983), his salary had jumped to $500,000 and $1 million, respectively. If you adjust for inflation, those numbers are even higher. So, while Reeve wasn’t a big name when he first started as Superman, he still earned a lot more, relatively speaking, than Cavill did.
Cavill ended up making $14 million forMan of Steel, thanks to its box office success. But that big payday only came after performance bonuses, which weren’t a sure thing during filming. Reeve made $2.75M for four Superman films—around $9.4M today with inflation. Cavill earned more, mainly fromMan of Steel’s box office success and cameos in other movies.
Cavill reportedly made $20M forJustice League—a solid figure, but far less than stars likeRobert Downey Jr., who earned more than $100M in Marvel for his role of Iron Man (viaMarca). HisBlack Adamcameo, however, brought in just $250K—a small amount for a major superhero appearance.
Then there’sTyler Hoechlin, who played Superman on the TV seriesSuperman & Lois. Hoechlin reportedly made between $100,000 and $200,000 per episode (perFiction Horizon). With multiple episodes each season, thisadds up to a pretty big paycheckfor the TV version of Superman.
For a full season, Hoechlin can make well over a million dollar. While TV salaries and film salaries work differently, it’s still interesting to note that Hoechlin, who plays the same character, is earning more for a television show than the British star did for a major movie appearance.
In general, superhero movie salaries for lead actors can vary a lot depending on the film and the actor’s star power. But Cavill’s paychecks for theMan of Steelfilms—especially in comparison to the pay of other actors who’ve played Superman—seem shockingly low.
Henry Cavill’s net worth in 2025
Despite some underwhelming paychecks for his superhero role, Henry Cavill’s overall net worth is nothing to scoff at. Cavill has built a successful career, especially in recent years.
Let’s start withThe Witcher.Cavill played Geralt of Rivia in the hit Netflix series. According toCosmopolitan, he earned $400,000 per episode in season one. By season two, his salary increased to $1 million per episode.
Since each season has around eight episodes, that means he made $8 million for season two alone. Cavill also made a splash in theMission: Impossiblefranchise, playing the villain August Walker inMission: Impossible – Fallout. While we don’t know his exact salary for this movie, we can assume it was pretty high given the film’s budget and his role as a major antagonist.
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As of 2025, Cavill’s estimated net worth is around $50 million. That’s quite impressive, especially considering how low his Superman salary was at the beginning. And the actor’s recent roles inThe WitcherandMission: Impossibleare definitely adding to that total.
But hey, it’s not just movies that are keeping him busy. Cavill is also known for his passion for gaming, particularly theWarhammerseries, and he’s even taken on executive producer roles in some of his recent projects. So, while his Superman salary might have been disappointing, Cavill is clearly making up for it in other ways.
Shreya Jha
Articles Published :1042
Meet Shreya, FandomWire’s go-to Pop-Culture Writer. She holds a master’s degree in Journalism and a pop culture obsession that rivals even the most die-hard ‘Star Wars’ and Marvel fans.Her articles have been published in Animated Times, Creator Mail, and The Luxxe Mag. When Shreya’s not busy dishing out hot takes, she is lost in the world of rom-coms.
