Henry Cavill’s salary as Superman was way lower than expected, but his role still made him a fan favorite, leaving a big mark in the DCEU!

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.

Henry Cavill in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures)

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 Cavill in Man of Steel (Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Henry Cavill first suited up as Superman in Man 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 by The 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 Steel performed well at the box office, making around $670 million globally (per Box Office Mojo). As a result, Cavill’s earnings from the movie went up to around $14 million (via Style Caster). Sounds a little better, but let’s keep it in perspective.

Fast forward a few years, and Cavill reprised his role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Zack Synder’s Justice 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’s Justice League (2017).

And then there was Cavill’s cameo in Black Adam (2022). He appeared for a few minutes as Superman, but guess what his paycheck was? Just $250,000 (per THR). 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.

Take Christopher 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 (via Screen Rant) for Superman (1978) is equivalent to about $1.2 million today.

Christopher Reeve in Superman (Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures)

By the time he appeared in Superman II (1980) and Superman 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 for Man 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 from Man of Steel’s box office success and cameos in other movies.

Cavill reportedly made $20M for Justice League—a solid figure, but far less than stars like Robert Downey Jr., who earned more than $100M in Marvel for his role of Iron Man (via Marca). His Black Adam cameo, however, brought in just $250K—a small amount for a major superhero appearance.

Then there’s Tyler Hoechlin, who played Superman on the TV series Superman & Lois. Hoechlin reportedly made between $100,000 and $200,000 per episode (per Fiction Horizon). With multiple episodes each season, this adds up to a pretty big paycheck for 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 the Man of Steel films—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.

Henry Cavill in Mission: Impossible – Fallout (Credits: Paramount Pictures)

Let’s start with The Witcher. Cavill played Geralt of Rivia in the hit Netflix series. According to Cosmopolitan, 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 the Mission: Impossible franchise, playing the villain August Walker in Mission: 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.

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 in The Witcher and Mission: Impossible are 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 the Warhammer series, 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.