TOM CRUiSE HIGHEST PAID ACTOR

1. Tom Cruise, $75 million (£47.9 million)
2. Leonardo DiCaprio, $37 million (£23.6 million)
3. Adam Sandler, $37 million (£23.6 million)
4. Dwayne Johnson, $36 million (£23 million)
5. Ben Stiller, $33 million (£21 million)
6. Sacha Baron Cohen, $30 million (£19 million)
7. Johnny Depp, $30 million (£19 million)
8. Will Smith, $30 million (£19 million)
9. Mark Wahlberg, $27 million (£17.2 million)
10. Taylor Lautner, $26.5 million (£16.9 million)
11. Robert Pattinson, $26.5 million (£16.9 million)

Tom Cruise has been named the highest-paid actor in the USA, earning $75 million (£47.9 million) between May 2011 and May 2012.

The high earnings come at a precarious time for Cruise.

In the state of New York, for example, a figure of 17% of a couple's income is set aside for child support during divorce proceedings, with each person paying a proportionate amount, meaning that Holmes and their daughter Suri could be in the frame for a potential $9 million (£5.7 million), according to Forbes.

The actor, who has just split from his wife Katie Holmes, beat his nearest two rivals by a huge $38 million (£24.2 million).

Leonardo DiCaprio and Adam Sandler were easily beaten into second and third place, having earned the substantially smaller figure of $37 million (£23.6 million) each in the same period.

Though Cruise's last film 'Rock of Ages' proved a box office flop, it's thought he made a substantial amount from 'Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol' which earned more than $700 million (£450 million), with Cruise in for a share of the profits as well as his fee.

Business magazine Forbes published the list of earners, using figures including pay upfront, share of profits, endorsements and advertising work.

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