£49m man Dwayne rocks to top of rich list

Wrestler-turnedactor takes over the number one spot for earnings from Robert Downey Jr

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is the world’s highest-paid actor, according to Forbes’ latest rich list.

The wrestler-turned-Hollywood star elbowed out Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr to reach the top spot, earning 64.5 million dollars (£48.8 million) from June 2015 to June 2016.

Johnson, 44, more than doubled his earnings from the previous year thanks to his fees for upcoming films Fast 8 and Baywatch and the recent action comedy Central Intelligence.

The amount of money Johnson can command has risen sharply after the strong box office performances of his recent films, including the 2015 disaster movie San Andreas, Forbes said.

Jackie Chan ranked second in the rich list with 61 million dollars (£46.2m) followed by Matt Damon, who earned 55 million dollars (£41.6m).

Tom Cruise was placed fourth with 53 million dollars (£40.1m) and Johnny Depp – who has been involved in a high-profile divorce from wife Amber Heard – ranked fifth with 48 million dollars (£36.4m).

Four Bollywood actors made the top 20, while the previous highest-earning actor, Downey Jr, finished ninth with 33 million dollars (£25m).

The five highest-paid actors each earned more than the world’s highestpaid actress, Jennifer Lawrence, who received 46 million dollars (£34.9m) over the same period.

Forbes said the listed earnings are calculated before management fees and taxes.

Pictures: PA/Getty. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, above, took number one spot, with, from top, Jackie Chan, Matt Damon and Tom Cruise, second, third and fourth, respectively.

Pictures: Getty. Top: Johnny Depp was ranked fifth. Above: Having previously been the highest earner, Robert Downey Jr was ranked ninth.