Marvelous payday! Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr named highest-paid actor for the THIRD year after pocketing $80 million

Robert Downey Jr is once again the highest-paid actor in the world.

The Iron Man star, 50, claimed the top spot in Forbes' annual rich actors ranking for the third year in a row, thanks to his $80 million payday from blockbusters like Avengers: Age of Ultron.

And for the first time, three Bollywood stars made the top ten rich list, after Forbes looked beyond Hollywood to the increasingly important international film market.

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Richest actor: Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr has been named the world's highest-paid actor for the third time in a row. The Avengers star pocketed $80 million from his Marvel films

Richest actor: Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr has been named the world's highest-paid actor for the third time in a row. The Avengers star pocketed $80 million from his Marvel films

Marvelous payday: Downey Jr's star turn as Iron Man has made him a fortune

Marvelous payday: Downey Jr's star turn as Iron Man has made him a fortune

Downey Jr's sky-high earnings were thanks to a rich profit-share deal that gave him a chunk of Avengers: Age of Ultron's $1.39 billion box office. 

He also got a reported $40 million to reprise his Iron Man role in upcoming film Captain America: Civil War. 

Chinese megastar Jackie Chan was second on the list, pocketing $50 million in the last 12 months thanks to his lucrative franchises, merchandise and his chain of cinemas.

Megastar: Chinese actor Jackie Chan walks the red carpet at his action week gala in Shanghai in June

Megastar: Chinese actor Jackie Chan walks the red carpet at his action week gala in Shanghai in June

Action star Vin Diesel raced to No. 3 with $47 million, after Fast & Furious 7 zoomed past a billion dollars at the global box office.

Rounding out the top five were Bradley Cooper and Adam Sandler - both surprisingly earning more than Tom Cruise.

Cooper's $41.5 million haul from mega-hits American Sniper and Guardians Of The Galaxy put him at No. 4, while comedy star Sandler's four-film Netflix deal helped him collect $41 million despite his latest film Pixels being declared a flop.

Comedian: Adam Sandler earned $41 million despite a string of flops at the box office. Above, the comedy star promotes new film Pixels in New York last month

Comedian: Adam Sandler earned $41 million despite a string of flops at the box office. Above, the comedy star promotes new film Pixels in New York last month

Full speed ahead: Fast and Furious 7 raced to over $1 billion at the box office, making star Vin Diesel No.3 on Forbes' richest actor's list

Full speed ahead: Fast and Furious 7 raced to over $1 billion at the box office, making star Vin Diesel No.3 on Forbes' richest actor's list


Tom Cruise, who is riding high again at the box office with Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation, was No. 6 with $40 million.

For the first time, Forbes looked beyond the Hollywood bubble and found that Indian stars also earned massive paychecks. 

Bollywood actors made up the next three spots in the top ten, with Amitabh Bachchan at No 7 with $33.5 million, Salman Khan at No. 8 with $33.5 million and Akshay Kumar at No. 9 with $32.5 million.

International appeal: Three Bollywood stars, including Salman Khan made the Top Ten rich actors list. Above, Khan promotes new Hindi film Hero in Mumbai 

International appeal: Three Bollywood stars, including Salman Khan made the Top Ten rich actors list. Above, Khan promotes new Hindi film Hero in Mumbai 

Ted 2 actor and Entourage producer Mark Wahlberg was No. 10 on the list, taking home $32 million in the past year.

Hardworking San Andreas star Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson was No. 11 with $31.5 million, and Johnny Depp made $30 million for the No 12 spot. Leonardo DiCaprio was No. 13 with $29 million.

'From Hollywood to Hong Kong and Bollywood, the ranking examines international stars’ earnings for the first truly global dollar tally of film’s flushest stars,' writes Forbes' of the new rankings.

'Though we have long looked at foreign actors starring in the US films - Irishman Liam Neeson, Brit Daniel Craig and Australian Hugh Jackman have all made the Highest-Paid Actors list previously - we have never examined those working solely in international movie industries.'

No 6: Mission Impossible- Rogue Nation star Tom Cruise, seen greeting fans in Tokyo this week, made less than  Adam Sandler last year

No 6: Mission Impossible- Rogue Nation star Tom Cruise, seen greeting fans in Tokyo this week, made less than Adam Sandler last year

The international nature of the list points to the growing importance of the international marketplace - especially Asia - for Hollywood studios.

James Bond star Daniel Craig was the highest ranking Brit on the Forbes list, tying with the highest-ranking Aussie, Thor actor Chris Hemsworth at No 15. 

Both actors made $27 million last year. 

No 15: Skyfall star Daniel Craig was the highest-paid British actor on the list, taking home $27 million

No 15: Skyfall star Daniel Craig was the highest-paid British actor on the list, taking home $27 million

 

 

 

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