As the disparity between men and women in the world of Hollywood begins to become more and more clear, Mark Wahlberg has opened up about the difference in pay between him and his female co-stars.

It would be fair to say that the last few months haven't been good for the film industry. In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, there have been several revelations about the Hollywood that has cast the industry in a very negative manner. Whether it's the allegations of sexual assault against stars such as Kevin Spacey and Ed Westwick, or the lack of protection for actresses such as Uma Thurman on the set of Kill Bill, Hollywood has been revealed to be more patriarchal and sexist than initially thought.

Now, however, Mark Wahlberg has described that pay gap between him and his All the Money in the World co-star Michelle Williams as "very awkward."

Last year, the actor filmed scenes alongside Williams and Kevin Spacey for the John Paul Getty biopic that was being directed by Ridley Scott. However, when a series of sexual harassment claims levied at Spacey came to light, he was quickly removed from the project and replaced by Christopher Plummer. This led to scenes from the film having to be reshot, with both Williams and Wahlberg agreeing to reshoot their scenes in November.

But, rather than pay the actors an equal amount for the reshooting, Wahlberg pocketed $1.5 million while Williams took home just 1% of her male counterparts earnings. Unsurprisingly, there was outrage at the disparity, with plenty of people calling on Wahlberg to donate his money to charity. The actor, 46, obliged, and gave his entire reshoot earnings to the Time's Up movement.

Reflecting on the events in a recent interview, Wahlberg claims that he was kept out of the loop in regards to the situation, saying that he only found out about the pay gap when the headlines broke.

"It didn't take much to make the decision [to donate the money]," Wahlberg told Entertainment Tonight. "It was just the right thing to do, you know? And Michelle is a fantastic actress."

He added: "It's not me who decides who gets paid what. Your value's based on what the marketplace dictates, and with that particular situation, it was very awkward."

"It was like, you know what, we'll donate that and they need the rest of the money that I got paid to do it too, because I – like everybody else – did the movie to make the movie with Ridley Scott.

"I took a substantial pay cut."

Fair play to Wahlberg for doing right and donating the cash to a movement which is trying to eradicate incidents such as this. Given that he's worth a reported $225 million, I'm sure he won't miss the money too much. All the Money in the World is out in cinemas now.

When you think of Hollywood’s richest stars, names like George Clooney, Margot Robbie, or Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson probably come to mind. Fame and fortune have long gone hand-in-hand in the entertainment industry, with leading roles often translating into big paydays – and even bigger followings.

But here’s the twist: the wealthiest actor in the world isn’t someone you regularly see on red carpets or starring in blockbuster films.

Her name? Jami Gertz. And her estimated net worth? Well, that sits at a jaw-dropping $3 billion, according to NME. Yes, billion.

You may recognize Gertz from 1980s cult classics like The Lost Boys or Sixteen Candles, or maybe her guest appearances on hit shows like Seinfeld, Modern Family, and This Is Us. But despite a long-running acting career, her enormous fortune isn’t solely the result of Hollywood paychecks.

That’s likely why many people online were stunned when Gertz’s name began trending recently. One viral post featuring a photo of the actor prompted confused reactions, with one person admitting: “I’m off to Google first cos this is giving I don’t know who this person is.”

Another asked the question on everyone’s minds: “How come I hardly see Jami Gertz in movies? Did she make it from acting, or does she have other incomes?”

Turns out, she definitely has other incomes.

Gertz has been married to billionaire businessman Tony Ressler since 1989, and together they’ve built an investment empire. Ressler, who Forbes estimates to be worth $10.8 billion, co-founded major firms like Ares Management, and the couple also own a controlling stake in the NBA team Atlanta Hawks, as well as a minority share in the Milwaukee Beavers.

Between savvy business decisions and investments in sports, the pair have quietly become one of the wealthiest power couples in America – without the constant media glare.

And while they’ve stepped back from the limelight in recent years (Gertz’s last big screen appearance was in 2022’s I Want You Back), their influence is far from fading. They're also deeply committed to philanthropy, with their Ressler-Gertz Foundation supporting initiatives in education, health, arts, and Jewish causes. Back in 2012, the Giving Back Fund even named them the most generous celebrity donors, following a $10 million donation.

So while Jami Gertz may not be dominating movie posters or breaking box office records, she’s quietly outpaced most of Hollywood in both wealth and impact.

And who knows? With a story like hers, maybe a biopic isn’t out of the question. Gertz could even star in it herself – and this time, the spotlight would be all hers.

Featured image credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

Ever since the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke towards the end of last year, Hollywood has been doing its best to reshape its image. The Time's Up movement has seen hundreds of celebrities voice their support for gender equality both in and out of the film industry, and the #MeToo campaign saw hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of people worldwide sharing their experiences with sexual assault or harassment.

However, in light of this, several prominent Hollywood figures have found themselves under fire for their own inappropriate or aggressive behaviour.

Kevin Spacey was infamously outed as an alleged sexual predator, and the likes of Ed Westwick and James Franco were forced to face up to similar allegations. Most recently, Morgan Freeman has also come under fire for supposedly behaving in a lewd way on several occasions - and yet he still has many people in his corner defending him.

While it may seem sudden, though, Hollywood has had suspicions of abuse within its ranks for a long time. Just take a look at Woody Allen: people have been accusing him of assault for more than 25 years.

Despite the criminal allegations levelled against him, though, Allen seems to believe that he is a "poster boy" of good behaviour in the film industry.

In an interview with Argentinian news program Periodismo Para Todos, which came out on Monday, he is reported to have said:

"I’m a big advocate of the #MeToo movement. I feel when they find people who harass innocent women and men, it’s a good thing that they’re exposing them.

"But you know, I should be the poster boy for the #MeToo movement. Because I have worked in movies for 50 years. I’ve worked with hundreds of actresses and not a single one — big ones, famous ones, ones starting out — have ever ever suggested any kind of impropriety at all. I’ve always had a wonderful record with them."

He then went on to allude to the negative criticisms he has faced over his career.

"I think in any situation where anyone is accused of something unjustly, this is a sad thing," he said. "I think everybody would agree with that… Everyone wants justice to be done. If there is something like the #MeToo movement now, you root for them, you want them to bring to justice these terrible harassers, these people who do all these terrible things. And I think that’s a good thing."

He continued:

"What bothers me is that I get linked in with them. People who have been accused by 20 women, 50 women, 100 women of abuse and abuse and abuse– and I, who was only accused by one woman in a child custody case which was looked at and proven to be untrue, I get lumped in with these people."

This prompted the interviewer to ask him if there was any truth to the case against him, in which he was famously accused by his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, of sexual abuse. She was just seven years old at the time.

"Of course not, I mean this is just so crazy," Allen said. "This is something that has been thoroughly looked at 25 years ago by all the authorities and everybody came to the conclusion that it was untrue. And that was the end and I’ve gone on with my life. For it to come back now, it’s a terrible thing to accuse a person of. I’m a man with a family and my own children. So, of course, it’s upsetting."

Last month, Allen's son, Moses Farrow, defended his father in a blog post. He described his sister's story as "a discredited allegation", and accused his mother - Mia Farrow - of "brainwashing" her child.

Moses has made similar statements before and, when he published the same sentiments in a book in 2017, Mia said:  "Moses has cut off his entire family including his ex-wife, who was pregnant when he left. It’s heartbreaking and bewildering that he would make this up, perhaps to please Woody. We all miss and love him very much."

Dylan Farrow continues to maintain that her account is true.

Money and fame often go hand-in-hand.

One way to become famous is by succeeding in a career in media and entertainment - with some of the world's top actors amassing millions of fans across the globe.

But actors don't just gain fame through their performances, they're also earning substantial incomes (well, if you're talented enough). A well-known name can attract attention and consumers, which is highly valued by production companies and sponsors.

Yes, it goes without saying that wealth and stardom are often inextricably linked - and the richer the actor, the more popular they are.

However, although you've almost certainly heard of stars like Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and Margot Robbie - none of them boast a fortune quite like the richest actor on the planet.

Meet Jami Gertz, The Lost Boys star and the world's richest actor, boasting a staggering net worth of $3 billion as of 2023, according to NME.

But despite the huge net worth, you're probably wondering, "Who is Jami Gertz?"

In fact, after an image of the star went viral on social media recently, one person commented: "I’m off to Google first cos this is giving I don’t know who this person is."

Another added: "How come I hardly see Jami Gertz in movies? Did she make it from acting, or does she have other incomes?"

Well, Gertz made memorable appearances in movies like Twister and Sixteen Candles, as well as popular TV shows including Seinfeld, Modern Family, and This is Us.

And while she briefly returned to the screen in 2022 for the movie I Want You Back, she has largely stayed away from the spotlight in recent years, focusing instead on growing her vast fortune.

Alongside her husband, Tony Ressler, she owns a significant stake in the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and a minority ownership of the Milwaukee Beavers. And their savvy investments have clearly paid off.

In fact, Ressler himself is estimated to be worth around $10.8 billion, according to Forbes.

She and her husband have also been substantial donors to charity. In 2012, the Giving Back Fund recognized them as top philanthropists following their $10 million contribution to the Ressler-Gertz Foundation, supporting the arts, education, health, and Jewish causes, per Forbes.

Their philanthropic efforts show that it's not just about wealth accumulation; they're also committed to giving back. So, who else in Hollywood matches their charitable giving?

Maybe it's time Hollywood made a movie about them... Gertz could even play herself!

Featured image credit: David McNew / Getty