Actor Robert Downey Jr has topped Forbes' rich list. Photo / Getty Images
Actor Robert Downey Jr has topped Forbes' rich list. Photo / Getty Images
Robert Downey Jr has topped the Forbes list of highest-paid actors in the world with a cool US$80 million (NZ$137.79 million) in earnings, but Aussies Chris Hemsworth, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe have all made it in to the top 30.
It's Downey Jr's third year at the top, helpedalong by his role as Iron Man in the high-grossing comic book movies such as Avengers: Age of Ultron and the upcoming Captain America: Civil War.
Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark/Iron Man.
Martial arts star Jackie Chan is a surprising second with US$50 million after the magazine's annual who's who of wealthy actors expanded to include those working outside the US movie industry.
Fast and Furious' Vin Diesel at No.3 with US$47 million.
The first Australian showing in the list is Hemsworth, who pulled in US$27 million to land himself a spot at number 15. His running role as Thor in the Marvel movies and his return to his role as Eric the Huntsman in forthcoming Snow White spin-off The Huntsman, have kept him in the top 20 highest earning actors.
Actor Chris Hemsworth as Thor.
Fellow Aussie actor, and Marvel mate, Hugh Jackman is at No. 21 with US$23 million. Jackman starred in Chappie and will appear in upcoming film Pan, and also launched his own coffee line this year.
Russell Crowe is at No. 24 with US$18 million after his biblical epic Noah grossed US$362 million at the box office.
The top ten includes Hollywood's heavy hitters Bradley Cooper (even though he was in the widely panned film Aloha) who runs a production company with Hangover director Todd Phillips.
Comedian Adam Sandler edged ahead of Tom Cruise on the list at five and six.
And for the first time, the rich list includes actors who work outside the US film industry, with Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar placing in the top 10.
At No.10 is Mark Wahlberg thanks to his comedy Ted 2 which grossed US$168 million. He also topped up his earnings from films The Gambler and Transformers: Age of Extinction and from his prodcution company which was behind the Entourage movie.
The world's highest paid actors according to Forbes:
1. Robert Downey Jr - US$80 million 2. Jackie Chan - US$50 milion 3. Vin Diesel - US$47 million 4. Bradley Cooper - US$41.5 million 5. Adam Sandler - US$41 million 6. Tom Cruise - US$40 million 7. Amitabh Bachchan - US$33.5 million 7. Salman Khan - US$33.5 million 9. Akshay Kumar - US$ 32.5 million 10. Mark Wahlberg - US$32 million 11. Dwayne Johnson - US$31.5 million 12. Johnny Depp - US$30 milion 13. Leonardo DiCaprio - US$29 million 13. Channing Tatum - US$29 million 15. Chris Hemsworth - US$27 million 15. Daniel Craig - US$27 million 17. Matthew McConaughey - US$26.5 million 18. Shah Rukh Khan - US$26 million 18. Will Smith - US$26 million 20. Matt Damon - US$25 million 21. Hugh Jackman - US$23 million 22. Ben Affleck - US$19.5 million 22. Liam Neeson - US$19.5 million 24. Chow Yun-fat - US$18 million 24. Russell Crowe US$18 million 26. Seth Rogen - US$17 million 27. George Clooney - US$16.5 million 28. Brad Pitt - US$16 million 28. Jonah Hill - US$16 million 30. Will Ferrell - US$15 million
