For the third time in a row, "Iron Man" star, Robert Downey, Jr., has emerged as the world's highest-paid actor.
In an annual list released by Forbes Magazine, Downey, Jr., 50, reportedly earned $80 million from June 2014 to June 2015, thanks to his participation in "Avengers: Age of Ultron," a billion-dollar box-office hit.
Chinese superstar Jackie Chan, 61, on the other hand, emerged second on the list with earnings of $50 million in the past year. In third place is Vin Diesel, whose "Fast and Furious" role earned him $47 million. The actor is followed by Bradley Cooper, Adam Sandler and Tom Cruise, according to Reuters.
In the next three top spots, Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar became part of the Top 10 list for the first time, according to Mail Online. Rounding up the top spots are Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio.
"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," said Forbes in its analysis.
Meanwhile, could Downey, Jr. be set for another shot at the number one spot in the top earners list in the coming years? Rumors about the production of "Iron Man 4" continue, even if no confirmation from the studio has been announced.
In an interview with David Letterman last year, Downey, Jr. said that "There are no plans for an Iron Man 4," when pressed by the question. Letterman asked the actor several times just to be sure after the actor, just a few days earlier from the said interview, said that there would be an Iron Man 4, which the actor affirmed, "There's no script for 'Ironman 4'."
Contrary to what the actor said, "Iron Man 4" is reportedly on the works and rumors say that Downey, Jr. will be replaced in the fourth installment with a much younger actor for the role of Tony Sparks. According to BamSmackPow, teenage actor Ty Simpkins was said to be eyed for the role, for a "hypothetical" "Iron Man 4" slated in 2019. However, there has been no update to this since. Meanwhile, the young star was last seen in the summer movie hit "Jurassic World."
To date, Downey, Jr.'s next project is "Captain America: Civil War," as Forbes has mentioned. The movie is slated to hit theaters in May 2016.
