Robert Downey Jr. is highest paid actor, yet again!
Forbes named Robert Downey Jr. as the world's top grossing actor for the third consecutive year. Downey Jr., the star of "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" earned a staggering $80 million in the last year. 2nd in the list was the Hong Kong action hero Jackie Chan, who starred in "Dragon Blade" with $50 million.
Robert Downey Jr. began his acting career in 1970's with Pound-a movie made by his father, at the age of 5. Aged 8, Jr. was introduced to marijuana by his father and hence began his long and arduous tryst with substance abuse. He entered rehab for the first time in 1988. In 1996, Downey Jr. was arrested for carrying a weapon and substances.
After his arrest in 1996 Robert Downey Jr. was released on a $100,000 bond. 3 weeks from that incident, a very drunk Downey Jr. walked into his neighbour's house, disrobed and fell asleep in an 11 year old's bed. On 20 July 1996, Downey escaped from the rehab facility. He was later sentenced to 36 months in prison for missing drug tests in 1999.
Downey Jr.'s breakthrough role came with Less Than Zero, in which he played a drug-addled youth whose life was spinning out of control. Downey aged 26, bagged his biggest role as Charlie Chaplin in the film Chaplin for which he got an Oscar nomination. He won a Golden Globe for Ally McBeal but was later kicked off from the show due to substance abuse.
While dealing with his substance abuse problems, Downey Jr. also suffered from depression due to his failing marriage with Deborah Falconer. In 2005, he married Susan, whom he credits for saving him.
Downey Jr. made his comeback with The Singing Detective (2003), Gothika, Eros and A Scanner Darkly (2005). However, it was not until 2008 when Downey screen tested for Iron Man that he finally rose from the ashes. Initially there was resistance to cast him as he was uninsurable but later he proved everyone wrong when the movie grossed over $585 million.
Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar made their way in the top 10 highest grossing actors in the world list. Bachchan and Salman were tied at the 7th place with $33.5 million while Akshay was 9th with $32.5 million. Forbes said that Indians were the largest number of listees outside the US and had a combined income of $140.5 million.
Interestingly, Bachchan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar are paid more than Johnny Depp, Dwayne Johnson, Chris Pratt and Oscar winner Ben Affleck.
