Guess who Hollywood's highest paid star is (+photos)

Robert Downey Jr. is the highest earning actor in Hollywood. Photo / Supplied

It pays to be a superhero. Literally.

For the second year in a row, Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr has topped Forbes' list of highest paid actors, with his Avengers co-star, Australia's Chris Hemsworth, also making the top five.

Downey Jr came in at No. 1 again with estimated earnings of US$75 million from June 2013 to June 2014.

In second place was wrestler turned movie-star Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, who came with US$52 million, mostly thanks to franchises such as Fast and Furious.

Johnson just completed filming big action flick San Andreas in Australia and will next be seen in Hercules this month - his first big starring role.

He was followed by Hangover star Bradley Cooper with US$46 million, who will also next appear in a superhero flick, voicing Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Forbes said Cooper's result was "thanks to his smart mix of blockbusters and prestige films" such as American Hustle.

The Great Gatsby and Wolf of Wall Street star Leonardo DiCaprio took US$39 million to make No. 4, while Hemsworth, who starred in last year's sequel Thor: The Dark World, came close behind in fifth with US$37 million.

Forbes says the Thor sequel outperformed the first movie by US$200 million so you can expect Hemsworth's pay packet to continue to grow for Thor 3.

In between playing the Norse god, Hemsworth has been pursuing more dramatic fare, last year starring in Rush by director Ron Howard - who he's currently filming whaling tale In The Heart Of The Sea with.

Image 1 of 10: 1. Robert Downey Jr tops the highest paid list at $75 million. Photo / Getty Images

- AAP