Forbes: Eddie Murphy Gives Weakest Return on Investment at Box Office

Murphy

Eddie Murphy may be an A-list star, but the actor and comedian isn't the best investment at the box office these days. 

Forbes has declared Murphy the "most overpaid actor in Hollywood," using a calculation of salary versus box office draw. According to the formula, Murphy brings in just $2.30 for every dollar he's paid. Compare that to Denzel Washington  and Adam Sandler, who bring in $6.20 for every dollar.

The ratio of salary to returns is particularly small because of Murphy's high salary demands coupled with a string of flops, including Imagine That, A Thousand Words and Meet Dave. The star came second on the list last year, but knocked Drew Barrymore out of first place in 2012. 

Actresses Sandra Bullock, Katherine Heigl and Reese Witherspoon rounded out the top five, making Murphy the only male and only person of color on the list. 

Still, despite his high ranking on the low list this year, Hollywood is said to continue to bank on Murphy because the comedian's hits tend to be massive, and one strong film could turn the tide even after several bombs.  

Murphy has several films in development, including a biopic on Marion Barry and a sequel to the 1980s comedy Twins, so we may find him ranked on a more positive list by this time next year. 

Culled from BET