2012-07-04

Tom Cruise is once again the highest paid actor in the world, according to Forbes magazine's annual list. The announcement, brought forward to capitalise on the Top Gun star's imminent divorce – Forbes usually publishes its list in August – offers convincing evidence that Cruise remains Hollywood's most bankable actor at the age of 50. According to Forbes, he earned an estimated $75m (£48m) over the last 12 months, thanks largely to the $700m success of the action blockbuster Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol earlier this year. Cruise topped the list despite a disappointing return of just $47m so far for another film he appeared in this year, the musical Rock of Ages. Last year's highest paid actor, Leonardo DiCaprio, came second place this time around, and has to suffer the indignity of tying with Adam Sandler. Both stars made $37m over the last 12 months, during which DiCaprio starred in the poorly received Clint Eastwood biopic J Edgar and Sandler appeared in Razzie winner Jack and Jill. A surprise new entry at No 4 is former professional wrestler turned actor Dwayne Johnson, who made an estimated $36m over the last 12 months following turns in Fast and Furious Five and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. The top five is rounded out by Ben Stiller, whose voice work in the animated sequel Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted helped the film to return $426m worldwide last month. Stiller earned an estimated $33m in the last year. The 2011 Forbes list was an all-American affair, but two British actors make it into the top 10 this time around. In (shared) sixth place is Sacha Baron Cohen, whose turn as a corrupt autocrat in comedy The Dictator helped him to estimated earnings of $30m in the last 12 months. Fellow Englishman Robert Pattinson crept into joint 10th spot with $26.5m, almost all of which came from his role as a sparkly skinned vampire in the Twilight Saga films. The top 10 for 2012 also includes 2010's highest paid star, Johnny Depp, who shares sixth place with Baron Cohen on $30m, and Will Smith, also with $30m. New entrant Mark Wahlberg makes ninth, with $27m, and Taylor Lautner, who ties with co-star Pattinson in joint 10th on $26.5m.