Despite playing the role of the same superhero, Henry Cavill and Tyler Hoechlin’s salaries reveal stark differences.

Henry Cavill and Tyler Hoechlin may both have played Superman, but the compensation for their roles is quite different. British actor Henry Cavill first stepped into the role of Superman in 2013’s Man of Steel, introducing him as Clark Kent in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). He portrayed Superman for almost a decade, becoming a well-known face for the iconic superhero. Tyler Hoechlin, on the other hand, plays Superman in Superman & Lois, a TV series that premiered in 2021.

Henry Cavill as Superman | Credits: Warner Bros.

Although Hoechlin’s portrayal of Superman brought the character to life on the small screen in a family-focused superhero series, Cavill’s portrayal made him a mainstay of DC’s blockbuster flicks. In reality, though, Cavill’s pay for Man of Steel pales in comparison to Hoechlin’s Superman and Lois pay.

Henry Cavill had a modest start as a superhero compared to others

Cavill was not yet well-known when he was cast as Superman. His portrayal of Charles Brandon in the television series The Tudors had brought him considerable acclaim, but he was not yet starring in any big-budget films.

This is similar to how many actors entering superhero franchises begin, they are often known for supporting roles or smaller projects, like Jason Momoa’s role as Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones before playing Aquaman or Gal Gadot’s role in Fast and Furious before Wonder Woman.

As a result, Cavill was given a starting salary that reflects a typical new superhero lead which is very modest when compared to other Superman salaries.

Henry Cavill as Clark Kent | Credits: Warner Bros.

For Man of Steel, Cavill’s pay was around $300,000 according to ScreenRant. This was in line with the usual pay for actors new to leading roles in superhero films. While his base salary wasn’t especially high by Hollywood standards, many actors in blockbuster films include bonus clauses in their contracts that allow them to earn a percentage of box office profits or other perks based on the movie’s success.

It’s unclear if Cavill’s contract for Man of Steel included such clauses, but the overall financial impact of his role likely grew as he continued playing Superman in several DCEU films, including Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League.

Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman earnings soared above Henry Cavill’s

Tyler Hoechlin‘s portrayal of Superman differs from Cavill’s in tone and format. As the star of Superman & Lois, Hoechlin plays a family-oriented Superman, dealing with the complexities of family life alongside superhero duties. Given the weekly nature of TV shows, actors are often paid per episode rather than per season, which can lead to a higher total pay over a season.

Tyler Hoechlin as Superman in Superman and Lois | Credits: The CW

According to Citimuzik reports, Hoechlin receives between $100,000 and $200,000 for each Superman & Lois episode. This equates to a possible pay in the millions per season, which is a significant amount for a series, given that there are approximately 15 episodes per season. Henry Cavill received far less for his Superman role than this.

Henry Cavill’s rise beyond Superman

Henry Cavill started his acting journey with his first film role in Laguna (2001), followed by The Count of Monte Cristo in 2002. Early in his career, The Count of Monte Cristo was a success, earning over $75 million at the box office. Initially, Cavill found roles in British television, including The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, but his career took off with his role in the TV series The Tudors in 2007. Cavill acknowledged how The Tudors boosted his popularity, especially in the U.S., giving him greater visibility after the show ended in 2010. His fame skyrocketed in 2013 as he became the Man of Steel.

Henry Cavill in The Witcher | Credits: Netflix

Beyond Superman, Cavill took on other major roles, including The Witcher on Netflix. According to Yahoo, for the first season, he earned $400,000 per episode, which increased to $1 million per episode for the second season, totaling roughly $8 million. For his cameo as Superman in Black Adam, Cavill reportedly received $250,000.

Henry Cavill’s Superman salary compared to Superman Legend like Christopher Reeve was nominal

Despite receiving $300,000 for his performance in Man of Steel (2013), Henry Cavill’s pay was only around 2% of what Marlon Brando received in 1978 for playing Superman’s father, Jor-El, in the first Superman film. Brando’s $3.7 million salary would be worth a whopping $17.8 million now, or over $13 million in 2013.

Christopher Reeve as Superman | Credits: Warner Bros.

Cavill’s first salary is also a tiny fraction of what Christopher Reeve, the original Superman, was paid, although Reeve was a relatively unknown actor in 1978. Even though Cavill was more well-known when he played Superman, his $300,000 in 2013, according to ScreenRant would have been equivalent to about $84,000 in 1978 when adjusted for inflation. This amount is far less than what Reeve made.

Despite the pay disparity, Man of Steel did quite well at the box office, taking in $668 million worldwide, more than twice the $300.5 million earned by Superman (1978). When inflation is taken into account, the original Superman’s revenues now approach $1 billion, a milestone that Man of Steel and the majority of DCEU films, aside from Aquaman, haven’t attained.