Mahershala Ali | Actor | $8 Million

We first met Mahershala Ali on the television series Crossing Jordan, which aired from 2001 to 2002. His performance as Dr. Trey Sanders received much acclaim, leading to bigger roles in other shows. Before he started landing roles, Ali earned his master’s degree from NYU’s graduate acting program. He also apprenticed with the California Shakespeare Theater. He also performed as a rapper formerly. However, he is much successful in the field of acting. His other TV credits other than Crossing Jordan are but not limited to the following Threat Matrix, which he did from 2003-2004, The 4400 from 2004-2007, Treme in 2011, and in House of Cards since 2013.

Since then, he has starred in a number of blockbusters—including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Hunger Games films. But it’s his emotional performance in Moonlight that won him his Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His self-reward? A $2-million property in Los Angeles!