Jackie Chan ranked world's 2nd best paid actor by Forbes, 3 Asian actors in top 10

LOS ANGELES - Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was named the world's highest paid actor by Forbes on Thursday (Aug 25), raking in US$64.5 million (S$87.2 million) and snatching the title held for three consecutive years by Robert Downey Jr.

The 44-year-old former wrestler more than doubled his earnings from last year thanks to his role in the action comedy Central Intelligence, the eighth instalment of the Fast & Furious racing franchise and the forthcoming Baywatch.

Johnson was ranked number 11 last year, earning some US$31 million (S$41.9 million) in the 12 months from June 2014 to June 2015.

The actor, who stars in the HBO series Ballers, took to Twitter to express his delight at his new title.

"Want to say two things about this," he tweeted. "I started w/$7 bucks. If I can overcome, so can you. Waffle House on me!!"

Jackie Chan came in second on the Forbes list with US$61 million (S$82.46 million) dollars followed by Matt Damon US$55 million (S$74.35 million), Tom Cruise US$53 million (S$71.65 million) and Johnny Depp US$48 million (S$64.89 million).

Topping Forbes' list released earlier this week for highest-paid actresses was Jennifer Lawrence, who earned US$46 million (S$62.18 million) - nearly US$20 million (S$27.04 million) less than her male counterpart.

The disparity is sure to stoke an ongoing debate in Hollywood about the industry's gender pay gap.

Lawrence wrote a blunt essay on the issue last year after a leak of stolen e-mails from Sony Pictures showed she was paid less than her male co-stars in the hit movie American Hustle.

The world's 10 highest-paid actors made a combined US$456.5 million (S$616.42 million), according to Forbes, compared to the US$205 (S$277.12 million) earned by the top 10 actresses.

Rounding out the top 10 list for actors are:

6. Ben Affleck US$43 million (S$58.13 million)

7. Vin Diesel US$35 million (S$47.31 million)

8. Shah Rukh Khan US$33 million (S$44.61 million)

9. Robert Downey Jr US$33 million (S$44.61 million)

10. Akshay Kumar US$31.5 million (S$42.58 million)