Robert Downey Jr. has managed to earn the most this year according to Forbes and more than doubled Will Smith's income, becoming Hollywood's highest paid actor.

With that said, it was only a few years ago that Will Smith topped the Hollywood ranks earning over $80 million a year from successful movies like 'I am Legend' and 'The Pursuit of Happyness'.

Thanks to the 'Iron Man' franchise, Downey Jr. has managed to score an impressive salary that even out-rivals big stars like Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt, neither of which even entered the top 10.

The Top 10 Hollywood earners this year are:

1. Robert Downey Jr.: $75 million
2. Dwayne Johnson: $52 million
3. Bradley Cooper: $42 million
4. Leonardo DiCaprio: $39 million
5. Chris Hemsworth: $37 million
6. Liam Neeson: $36 million
7. Ben Affleck: $35 million
7. Christian Bale: $35 million
8. Will Smith: $32 million
8. Mark Wahlberg: $32 million

Lucrative sequels and franchises keep a select few near the top of the Hollywood rich list, but beyond that, award recognition and critical praise can significantly boost incomes for certain above-the-line talent. Thanks to shared profits on box office success, actors can earn millions more beyond their fixed salary from receipts and even physical sales. (although this is likely to disappear in the digital era)