What if we told you that the voices behind Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell), the two leading ladies of Disney’s colossal Frozen franchise, are not just cartoon royalty but also some of the highest-paid actors in animation history?
The saga of Arendelle has become a global phenomenon, raking in over $2.7 billion at the worldwide box office across two movies (via GamesRadar), but the true value of stars Kristen Bell (Anna) and Idina Menzel (Elsa) lies in the fact that it’s simply impossible to imagine the films without them.
Recently, their contract details for the upcoming sequels have been reported, and the numbers are truly staggering. We’re diving into the reports to see how much of Disney’s treasury Menzel and Bell have unlocked so far.
Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel’s Frozen 2 Payout and the Total Estimated Earnings
While the exact payday for the original 2013 Frozen (which pulled in around $1.28 billion worldwide) was never made public, the success of the sequel guaranteed a massive jump for the returning cast. When Menzel and Bell reprised their roles for 2019’s Frozen 2 (which grossed an even higher $1.45 billion), they definitely secured a sweet deal.
According to an exclusive report from The Wrap, Bell, Menzel, and co-star Josh Gad (Olaf) each earned a whopping $15 million for Frozen 2. This included their upfront fees plus valuable back-end bonuses tied to the film’s immense financial performance.
Despite these huge checks, even the Frozen queens have admitted they aren’t seeing a cut of all the money. Menzel once joked on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live about the merchandising frenzy, saying,
It would be nice to make a dollar off every Elsa, and I know Kristen Bell would say the same thing, every dress during Halloween. I would just take Halloween day.
While they don’t get a piece of every doll, their value to the franchise is unquestionable.
The Record-Shattering $60 Million Deal for Frozen 3 & Frozen 4
Disney’s confidence in this franchise is best measured by the fact that they greenlit Frozen 3 and Frozen 4 simultaneously, and to ensure the sisters returned, they broke the bank.
The Wrap revealed that Bell and Menzel, along with Gad, have signed contracts worth over $60 million each to return for the two sequels. This historic package is reportedly one of the highest paydays ever secured for actors in animation history.
As revealed in The Wrap exclusive, the compensation covers both movies and is structured to include significant upfront fees (which an executive close to the deal described as close to $20 million per actor per film) and additional back-end participation based on the box office performance of both sequels.
As the source told The Wrap, this deal represents “a steep increase” from their Frozen 2 paydays, underscoring the stars’ critical role in the franchise’s continued dominance.
So, what do you think of this massive deal? Do Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel deserve this record-breaking pay? Let us know in the comments below!
In the meantime, you can stream Frozen and Frozen 2 right now on Disney+.
