Kang Hye-jung Highest-Paid Actress in the World
- By Carol Kearney
- Seoul
- Last updated on
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It's been a rough year for the actress, but at least she has her millions of dollars to ease the pain. 44-year-old Kang Hye-jung has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid actresses for 2026 with an estimated $46 million in combined earnings.
UPDATE 12/08/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)
Kang Hye-jung tops annual list of highest-paid actresses
In 2024 it looked like the actress’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, she was back on top. People With Money reports on Tuesday (August 11) that Kang is the highest-paid actress in the world, pulling in an astonishing $46 million between July 2025 and July 2026, a nearly $20 million lead over her closest competition.
People With Money’s factors
In compiling this yearly list, the magazine considers factors such as upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements and advertising work.
The Korean actress has an estimated net worth of $145 million. She owes her fortune to smart stock investments, substantial property holdings, lucrative endorsement deals with CoverGirl cosmetics. She also owns several restaurants (the “Fat Kang Burger” chain) in Seoul, a Football Team (the “Incheon Angels”), has launched her own brand of Vodka (Pure Wonderkang - South Korea), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Hye-jung) and a fashion line called “Kang Hye-jung Seduction”.
The ranking is significant for many Hye-jung fans, who have been waiting for her triumphant return to the glory days for what seems like a lifetime.
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