Hollywood's Richest Men: Robert Downey Jr. Tops Forbes' Highest-Earning Actors List In 2014

Forbes announced the top five highest-paid actors in Hollywood for 2014, and it is clear that it pays to play a superhero. Two of the men on the list have earned much of their fortune in big action flicks "Iron Man" and "Thor."

The list is based on earnings between June 2013 and June 2014. Forbes spoke with lawyers, agents, producers, and others with enough insight to help them compile their earnings for each actor. Take a look at the top 5 paid actors to date.

5. Chris Hemsworth

Thanks to his role as Thor in the film of the same name, Hemsworth has earned himself quite a few millions--$37 to be exact. The 30-year-old actor is set to make even more money in upcoming years, after the "Thor" sequel, “The Dark World,” earned a whopping $200 million more than the first film. Considering a third movie is in the works, Hemsworth will certainly be able to demand a higher salary, given the franchise’s success.

4. Leonardo DiCaprio

DiCaprio is still raking in millions, after starting his career as a child actor. The 39-year-old star earned an estimated $39 million between June 2013 and June 2014. This is not surprising, given he starred in “The Great Gatsby” and “The Wolf of Wall Street,” which earned $743 globally.

3. Bradley Cooper

Cooper pulled in a cool $46 million this past year, thanks to "The Hangover Part III" and "American Hustle." “The Hangover Part III” earned $11.2 million in North America and $249.8 million elsewhere, for a total box office gross of $362 million. “American Hustle” grossed more than $251 million worldwide and received widespread critical acclaim. Cooper’s acting chops earned him a nomination at the Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Cooper is set to play a superhero in the upcoming Marcel film “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

2. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

Perhaps the most surprising name on this list is Dwayne Johnson, who is taking on the role of Hercules for his latest film, set for release this week. The former WWE wrestler comes in second with an estimated $52 million. The earnings are mostly due to his role as a federal agent in the “Fast and Furious” franchise. He also earned money from his roles in “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” last year, and “Pain & Gain,” co-starring Mark Wahlberg.

1. Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr. came out on top this year, thanks to his pivotal role as Iron Man in the Marvel films. In addition to “Iron Man,” Downey Jr. also has a huge role in the “Avengers” series and has secured his place in the upcoming franchise films, meaning he can demand an even higher salary in the future. Not that he needs to, however. In the past year, he earned an estimated $75 million. He reportedly earned the same amount last year.