Robert Downey Jr. tops Forbes' list of highest-paid actors

His success largely stems from his roles in Marvel's "Iron Man" and "Avengers" films. The films so far have collectively earned a whopping $4 billion worldwide. An "Avengers" sequel is set for next spring. (Via Paramount Pictures / "Iron Man 2")

As a writer for Forbes puts it: "Downey reigns ... because at this point, it would be incredibly difficult for Marvel to continue making Iron Man and Avengers films without him."

And it's a good time to be a superhero. Downey Jr.'s co-star Chris Hemsworth, who played Thor in the "Avengers" series, came in at No. 5 with $37 million. (Via Walt Disney Studios / "The Avengers")

Forbes determines the salaries based on how much each celeb earned for "entertainment-related work" between June 2013 and June 2014.

At No. 4 is Leonardo DiCaprio, who once topped the list in 2011. He starred in the box office hits "The Great Gatsby" and "The Wolf of Wall Street." (Via Warner Bros. / "The Great Gatsby")

At No. 3 is Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper with $46 million for his roles in "American Hustle" and "Silver Linings Playbook." (Via The Weinstein Company / "Silver Linings Playbook")

And at No. 2 with $52 million is Dwayne Johnson, who recently ventured into television. "The Rock" is producing and starring in the upcoming HBO comedy "Ballers." (Via Eva Rinaldi / CC BY SA 2.0)

As for Hollywood's highest-paid women, that list has yet to be released. But if last year's list was any indication, the Los Angeles Times points to a stark pay gap in Hollywood salaries.

Angelina Jolie took the top spot last year, earning a $33 million salary — more than $40 million less than Downey Jr. last year. (Via JJ Georges / CC BY SA 3.0)

To check out who else made the the top-10 list, head over to Forbes.