MUMBAI – Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan are among world’s 100highest-paid entertainers, according to a Forbes list topped by Americanboxer Floyd Mayweather.
Akshay is ranked 76th on the Forbes list of the World’s Highest PaidCelebrities 2018, while Salman is on the 82nd spot.
Forbes said the world’s 100 top-earning entertainers pulled in a combined$6.3 billion pretax over the past 12 months, up 22 per cent from last yearand 11 superstars crossed the $100 million thresholds, more than double thenumber from the last two years combined.
Akshay, 50, had earnings of 40.5 million dollars.
Forbes said “one of Bollywood’s leading men has transitioned tosocially-conscious roles,” citing his films such as “Toilet: Ek Prem Katha”that focussed on government campaigns to improve sanitation, and “Padman”,about a man hoping to provide inexpensive sanitary pads to ruralcommunities.
He also mints millions from profits and endorsing about 20 brands, it said.
Salman, 52, had earnings of $37.7 million.
Forbes said he remains one of India’s top earners and the “Bollywoodmainstay” continues to produce and star in hits such as “Tiger Zinda Hai,”cashing in on backend profits.
The list has been topped by Mayweather with earnings of 285 milliondollars. Among the other highest-paid entertainers are actor George Clooney(second), reality TV star and businessperson Kylie Jenner (third), soccerstar Cristiano Ronaldo (10), pop star Katy Perry (19), tennis icon RogerFederer (23), singer Beyonce (35), author J K Rowling (42) and golfer TigerWoods (66).