Hollywood
Jennifer Lawrence named the most bankable star of 2014
MUMBAI: Jennifer Lawrence’ blockbuster films The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and X-Men: Days of Future Past have made a total of $1.4 billion in the box office.
The success of these films has made the 24 year old actress the most bankable box office star of 2014, according to Forbes magazine.
Lawrence was listed ahead of Chris Pratt and Scarlett Johansson on Forbes’ annual list, which assigns rankings based on the year’s most successful films and the actors who starred in them.
Pratt came in second with a combined $1.2bn, thanks to the financial success of comic-book fantasy Guardians of the Galaxy and The Lego Movie, in which he provided the lead voice role.
Johansson made it to the third spot with a total of $1.18bn after appearing in superhero sequel Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Lucy and Under the Skin.
Here is the list of top 10 highest-grossing actors of 2014:
1. Jennifer Lawrence: $1.4bn (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – part one, X-Men: Days of Future Past)
2. Chris Pratt: $1.2bn (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Lego Movie)
3. Scarlett Johansson: $1.18bn (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Lucy, Under the Skin)
4. Mark Wahlberg: $1bn (Transformers: Age of Extinction)
5. Chris Evans: $800m (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Snowpiercer)
6. Emma Stone: $764m (The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Magic in the Moonlight, Birdman)
7. Angelina Jolie: $758m (Maleficent)
8. James McAvoy: $747m (Days of Future Past, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby)
9. Michael Fassbender: $746m (Days of Future Past)
10. Hugh Jackman: $746m (Days of Future Past)
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
