Go–to action hero Dwayne Johnson has topped this year’s Forbes Highest–Paid Actors list. 

He’s not only toppled last year’s leader Robert Downey Jr, he’s looking down at his Furious franchise co–star Vin Diesel, who sits back at number 7 on the list. The pair have a famously cold relationship.

Forbes put Johnson’s earnings over the last year at $US64.5 million. ($A84.6 million) He more than doubled his 2015 earnings, raking it in from up–front fees for movies including Central Intelligence and Fast 8.

Jackie Chan is the world’s second highest paid actor. Photo: Getty

The second, third and fourth highest earners were also action heroes – Jackie Chan ($US61 million or $A80 million), who hasn’t done much in the United States lately but who has several Chinese films in post–production, Jason Bourne star Matt Damon, and Tom Cruise.  While the Bourne franchise hasn’t done his wallet any harm, Damon’s $US55 million ($A72 million) was helped along by massive box–office takings for The Martian.

Tom Cruise, whose second Jack Reacher film is on its way, is on $53 million ($A70 million)

Johnny Depp is at Number 5 with earnings of $US48 million ($A63 million), but that tally doesn’t take into account his $US7 million ($A9.1 million) divorce settlement from Amber Heard.

All in the top five earn more than Hollywood’s highest paid actress, Jennifer Lawrence, who this week topped the female list at $46m.  She is one of a handful of women starting to speak out about inequality in the movie world, successfully fighting for a bigger pay–check.

Ben Affleck ($US43m), Bollywood’s Shah Rukh Khan and Robert Downey Jr (both $US33m), Brad Pitt and another Indian star Akshay Kumar (both $US31.5m) round out the top 10 men.

The youngest actor on the list is 37 year old Chris Pratt, at Number 16.

Missing the $15m cutoff this year were Liam Neeson, Seth Rogen, Chris Hemsworth, and Channing Tatum.