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Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt? This was the ‘Team Edward or Team Jacob’ debate that gripped viewers who watchedInterview with the Vampire. While the two stars have never had any public fallout, there has always been an understated sense of rivalry between the two. In an interview with Premiere magazine, Brad Pitt even confessed as much, alluding to a professional competition that was surprisingly healthy.
Now, a few decades later, both of them are Hollywood’s megastars, but one is clearly wealthier than the other. While Pitt has not only shied away from making both box office hits and indie darlings, Cruise has been on a roll with his heartstopping, stunt-heavy Mission: Impossible franchise, which has been crossing one milestone after another.
Did Tom Cruise Outearn Brad Pitt In Hollywood?
Tom Cruiseand Brad Pitt may both be Hollywood royalty, but when you zoom in on their financial empires in 2025, Cruise is clearly ahead. With an estimated net worth of $891 million, Cruise is the third-richest actor in the world,according to Esquire, and it’s no mystery why. His strategy is simple but wildly effective: dominate global box offices with mega-franchises like Mission: Impossible and Top Gun, negotiate backend points, and rake in tens of millions per film.
In 2025, Cruise returned to the big screen withMission: Impossible – Final Reckoningand made $565.7 million at the box office. Beyond that, Cruise is already deep indevelopment on a space filmwith director Doug Liman. This literal outer-space project could mark the first film ever shot aboard the International Space Station.
He’s also eyeing a sequel toEdge of Tomorrowand is reportedly in talks for anew original action franchisethat could be his next long-term play. At 62, Cruise is showing zero signs of slowing down, and every move still feels like a power play.
He’s not known for diversifying too much. Cruise doesn’t have a lifestyle brand or a tequila line, but his movies are consistently successful, so he doesn’t need to. He also owns luxe properties in Beverly Hills, Florida, and Colorado, adding to his fortune with high-value real estate.
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Brad Pitt, with an impressive $594.23 million net worth, takes a more balanced approach. While his acting gigs still command millions, it’s his production company, Plan B, that’s kept his bank account growing steadily. Producing Oscar-winning films like12 Years a SlaveandMoonlightestablished Pitt as a powerful player behind the scenes.
He also secured $45 million upfront for aFormula 1 projecttitled F1, demonstrating that he remains a major on-screen draw. Unlike Cruise, Pitt leans into prestige storytelling and producing over big-budget action, and while that builds legacy and respect, it brings in a different scale of money.
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The nearly $200 million gap between them highlights the difference between consistent box office dominance and a hybrid career that combines acting and producing. Cruise’s laser focus on blockbusters and global appeal has simply translated to bigger checks, more backend, and ultimately, a higher seat at the Hollywood money table. Pitt’s wealth is nothing to scoff at, but in the financial scoreboard of 2025, Cruise is just playing a different game.
Did Brad Pitt Taunt Tom Cruise For HisValkyrieFilm?
In 2009,Brad Pittallegedly made some eyebrow-raising and weird comments about Tom Cruise’s film,Valkyrie. The 2008 film, helmed by Bryan Singer, was about a German Soldier who tries to assassinate Hitler before he brings down Germany. Interestingly, Pitt would go on to play a similar character in Quentin Tarantino’sInglourious Basterds.
In aninterview with the German magazine Stern, Pitt allegedly said aboutValkyrie:
“It was a ridiculous movie. The Second World War could still deliver more stories and films, but I believe that Quentin put a cover on that pot. With Basterds, everything that can be said about this genre has been said. The film destroys every symbol. The work is done, end of story.”
However, theFight Clubstar’s representative shot down rumors of any enmity between the actor and Tom Cruise. He said that Pitt hadn’t even seen Valkyrie and his comments were misinterpreted. Since then, there have been no reports or speculation about any rivalry between the two megastars.
