Returning to New Zealand to star as Gandalf in the Hobbit trilogy has made Sir Ian McKellen one of the highest paid actors of pensionable age.
The 73-year-old earned £6.3 million (NZ$12.3 million) in the last year, the Daily Mail reports.
It is a hefty pay packet for
Sir Ian, who recently revealed he doubted returning to the role of Gandalf for the Lord of the Rings prequels because it meant long periods away from home.
The Oscar-nominated actor's post-tax earnings were almost £4.7 million (NZ$9.2 million) for the period between April 2011 and March 2012, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.
Despite the doubt about leaving home for long stints, Sir Ian said the attraction of New Zealand helped convince him to return as Gandalf in The Hobbit.
