Margot Robbie Earned $50 Million for Barbie, Sequel Talks Stall

Margot Robbie’s turn as Barbie turned out to be extraordinarily lucrative. The 2023 film became the highest-grossing film in Warner Bros. history after grossing $1.4 billion worldwide, and new reporting reveals just how much Robbie personally profited from the phenomenon.

Robbie’s Reported Earnings

Variety reported that Robbie made roughly $50 million from starring in and producing Barbie. Director Greta Gerwig also profited handsomely, with sources telling Variety she earned “tens of millions of dollars” from the film. Meanwhile, Ryan Gosling is reportedly seeking $20 million to reprise his role as Ken in any follow-up.

Sequel Negotiations Hit a Wall

Despite the film’s massive success, a follow-up remains uncertain. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has been unable to secure agreement from the core Barbie team — including Robbie, Gosling, Gerwig, and her co-writer husband Noah Baumbach — for a sequel, largely due to compensation disagreements. The creative team has turned down more than six sequel offers in the three years since the original debuted.

Still, the latest proposal reportedly stands out. Variety noted the newest offer from the studio was the highest it has ever made, with one insider describing it as “life-changing money.” Another source, however, downplayed the figure, noting the payout per individual team member isn’t as historic once split apart.

Notably, Gerwig and Baumbach reportedly already have a concept for a sequel in mind, though they’re keeping details under wraps and won’t begin writing until a contract is finalized. Back in 2024, Gerwig spoke about her creative instincts driving the first film, saying she leaned into personal nostalgia and asked herself what story truly resonated with her.

Whether that same spark can be recaptured — and whether pay talks can be resolved — remains to be seen.