Indian movie superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar have all landed places among the top 100 in FORBES’ 2017 list of the world’s highest-paid entertainers. The Celebrity 100 measures earnings from June 1, 2016 to June 1, 2017, before taxes and management fees. All three have appeared on the list in past years as well.
According to the newly published rankings, the Indian actors’ respective rankings are:
| Overall Rank | Name | 12-Month Earnings |
| 65 | Shah Rukh Khan | $38 million |
| 71 | Salman Khan | $37 million |
| 80 | Akshay Kumar | $35.5 million |
The Forbes list of the ‘World’s Highest-Paid Celebrities of 2017’ has been topped by American rapper and entrepreneur Sean Combs, known by his more famous stage name ‘Diddy,’ with earnings of $130 million.
SRK, 51, ranks 65th on the list, with earnings of $38 million, and is tied with singer and actress Jennifer Lopez. “King Khan continues to bank big from starring roles in Bollywood movies. He also cashes in on endorsement deals for dozens of brands most Americans have likely never heard of,” Forbes said.
Salman is on the 71st spot with $37 million in earnings, tied with English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. Forbes said Salman continues to produce and star in films, which earn well at the box office. Akshay, 49, is ranked 80th on the list with earnings of $35.5 million, tied with musician Bon Jovi. “Kumar, a king of the Bollywood box office for over a quarter of a century, mints millions through both starring and ensemble roles,” Forbes said.
American musicians Diddy and Beyoncé topped the list with respective earnings of $130 million and $105 million. British author J.K. Rowling ranked third with $95 million in income.
Chinese actor Jackie Chan was the highest paid Asian celebrity, ranking No. 39 with $49 million in earnings last year. Nearly all of the top 50 on the celebrity list were North Americans or Brits, with only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (No. 5), Argentina’s Lionel Messi (No. 14), Switzerland’s Roger Federer (No. 23) and Chan cracking the top ranks of the predominantly native English-speaking celebrity elite.
Shah Rukh Khan’s ranking represented a jump of 21 places over last year, when he ranked No. 76 on the list with $33 million in pay. Akshay Kumar popped up 14 spots from last year’s No. 94 ranking and $33 million in income.
In 2015 Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan were the highest ranking Indians at No. 71 and No. 72, with $33.5 million each in earnings. Akshay Kumar was close behind at No. 76, with $32.5 million, and cricket star Mahendra Singh Dhoni landed at No. 82, with $31 million. Next year’s list looks to be the first time that Bollywood star Aamir Khan will join the ranks of the Celebrity 100. With his film Dangal now ensconced as the highest-grossing Indian movie in history, his profit-sharing from that film alone should exceed $40 million, which would likely place him first among Indian celebrities on the 2018 list.
Forbes said together, the world’s 100 highest-paid celebrities banked a cumulative $5.15 billion during the June 2016 to June 2017 scoring period.