TopBillingHollywood's highest-paid actor and actress, every year since 1916About the data

War and the Big Lists · 1940s

1941

James Cagney

Top-earning actor

James Cagney

$362,500

SEC salary reportReported

About $7.9 million in 2025 dollars

Warner Bros.' tough guy topped the performers, just ahead of Clark Gable ($357,500).

The pictures that paid

Bette Davis

Top-earning actress

Bette Davis

$271,083

SEC salary reportReported

About $5.9 million in 2025 dollars

Warner Bros.' biggest female star, in her Little Foxes year.

The pictures that paid

Box office champions of 1941

By U.S. theatrical rentals, the studios' share of ticket sales

  1. 1

    Sergeant York

    $6.1 million

  2. 2

    Honky Tonk

    $2.9 million

  3. 3

    Louisiana Purchase

    $2.8 million

Neither top earner was in one of the year's three biggest films.

Sources