Tom Hanks Made Less Than $50,000 on the First 'Toy Story': Here’s What He Walked Away With by the End

Published 06/19/2026, 2:54 AM CDT

via Imago

Tom Hanks, who voiced Woody in Toy Story, earned a modest salary of no more than $50,000 for his first film in the franchise. However, over the past three decades, he has gone on to earn millions more through sequels and other Toy Story projects. Much of that massive earnings is because of the franchise's phenomenal success.

As the films became box office gold, so did the salaries of their star-studded voice cast. So, here is a closer look at how much Hanks has earned throughout the Toy Story franchise.

How much has Tom Hanks earned from the Toy Story franchise

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Tom Hanks, whose voice has become synonymous with Woody in the Toy Story franchise, reportedly earned the standard voice-acting salary of around $50,000 for the first film in 1995. As the franchise exploded into a global phenomenon, so did his paycheck. Hanks reportedly earned $5 million for Toy Story 2 and $15 million for Toy Story 3, as per Celebrity Net Worth.

His salary for Toy Story 4 has never been publicly disclosed, as per Celebrity Net Worth. However, considering his previous pay and the franchise's continued box-office success, it might be safe to assume that he earned somewhere between $15 million and $20 million for the fourth installment. If he earns a similar paycheck for Toy Story 5, Hanks' total earnings from the franchise alone could comfortably exceed $30 million.

Not to mention that this estimate also excludes any royalties he may have received over the years, meaning his actual earnings could be much higher. Much of that financial success can be traced back to the original film's breakout popularity, which convinced Pixar and Disney to turn Toy Story into a theatrical franchise. The studios also shifted their marketing strategy for the sequel.

While Disney initially preferred to keep its voice actors out of the spotlight, Toy Story 2 featured Hanks' name in its posters. Apart from Toy Story, Hanks has continued to lend his voice to several successful animated films, such as The Polar Express.

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Now, Hanks was not the only star to benefit from the franchise's success. 

How much did Tim Allen earn from Toy Story franchise?

Much like Tom Hanks, Tim Allen has also been part of the Toy Story franchise from the first movie. Allen, who voiced Buzz Lightyear, reportedly earned around $50,000 for the first film before seeing his salary climb into the millions as the franchise grew. He made $5 Million from his work in Toy Story 2.

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Much like Hanks, he also had his name on the poster. While his earnings for Toy Story movies 3, 4, and 5 are not known, he may have added millions to his net worth, which is $100 million as per Celebrity Net Worth. Hanks and Allen's success with Toy Story also played a role in elevating both the commercial value and public recognition of celebrity voice performances. 

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Did Tom Hanks' salary for Toy Story surprise you? Let us know in the comments.

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Pritha Debroy

831 articles

Pritha Debroy is an Entertainment writer at NetflixJunkie who can seamlessly switch between breaking down an NBA play and obsessing over the latest K-drama twist. She has written over 3,400 NBA and NFL articles, but her true joy lies in diving into Netflix’s trendiest shows—unpacking themes, stories, and yes, the occasional celebrity chaos. When she is not writing, you’ll find her devouring thrillers (anything by Freida McFadden is an instant yes), revisiting comfort classics like 10 Things I Hate About You and 27 Dresses, or hunting for her next binge-worthy series.

Edited By: Aliza Siddiqui

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