Forbes: Highest-paid actors of 2011

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Forbes: Highest-paid actors of 2011

Forbes picks their list of highest-paid actors of 2011.

No. 1: Leonardo DiCaprio, $77 million. The actor led the pack of gentlemen with roles in "Inception" and "Shutter Island," both high-grossing films. His next project? "J. Edgar," directed by Clint Eastwood.

No 2. Johnny Depp, $50 million. Depp was bumped to the number two spot by DiCaprio, but don't cry for him. With films like "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," "Rango" and "Alice in Wonderland" (and even missteps like "The Tourist"), Depp is doing OK for himself. He has four film projects in the works, including a film treatment of his TV show "21 Jump Street."

No. 3. Adam Sandler, $40 million. The "Saturday Night Live" alum has become a box office sure thing with his string of sophomoric comedies. While many of his films are panned by critics and probably won't win an Oscar anytime soon, when it comes to ticket sales, Sandler is the golden boy.

No. 4. Will Smith, $36 million. Lately, we've been hearing more about Smith's kids, Jaden and Willow, as they begin their entertainment careers, but the rapper-turned-actor is still a box office draw. While he's mainly known for his action blockbusters like "Independence Day" he's also been exploring other genres, such as his lead role in "Seven Pounds," a thought-provoking drama.

No. 5. Tom Hanks, $35 million. While his latest film, "Larry Crowne" was a box office flop, the veteran actor has plenty of hits under his belt, and his involvement with the "Toy Story" series continues to be a very successful project.

No. 6. Ben Stiller, $34 million. The comedic actor is fortunate to be tied to two successful movie franchises: "Meet the Parents" and "Night at the Museum."

No. 7. Robert Downey Jr., $31 million. Like many in Hollywood, the actor struggled with his personal demons for years, but he appears to have his addiction issues under control now. That has led to his involvement in hits like "Iron Man" and "Sherlock Holmes."

No. 8. Mark Wahlberg, $28 million. Who knew that troubled teen who first entered show biz as bad boy rapper "Marky Mark" would become a well-respected actor? Not only did he receive acclaim for his role in the Oscar-nominated film, "The Fighter," but he also produces several popular TV shows, including "Entourage" which is loosely based upon his own life.

No. 9. Tim Allen, $22 million. Allen may seem like a surprise entry on the Forbes list. Like Tom Hanks, Allen's involvement doing voice work in the "Toy Story" series has proven to be profitable. He also continues to receive earnings for his long running TV series, "Home Improvement."

No. 10. Tom Cruise, $22 million. Cruise continues to rake in residuals from previous blockbuster hits like "Jerry McGuire" while still acting in big screen thrillers like the "Mission Impossible" series.

No. 11. Jim Carrey, $20 million. The quirky comedic actor earns his spot on the list by cashing in on family-friendly hits like "Mr. Popper's Penguins" which allow him to take on riskier roles that give him room to flex his acting muscle.

No. 12. Daniel Craig, $20 million. 2011 has been a good year for Craig, with "Cowboys & Aliens" scoring big at the box office and the highly anticipated English remake of "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" coming this winter.

No. 13. Robert Pattinson, $20 million. The actor has cashed in at the box office with the popular 'Twilight' series.

No. 14. Brad Pitt, $20 million. Pitt has matured as an actor over the years, starring in the critically acclaimed "Tree of Life" recently. But he also still has blockbuster movie appeal, and is starring in a zombie movie to be released in 2012.

No. 15. Matt Damon, $18 million. The actor's role in the Oscar-nominated film "True Grit" was a boon for the actor's career, with several projects currently in the works.

1/15

No. 1: Leonardo DiCaprio, $77 million. The actor led the pack of gentlemen with roles in "Inception" and "Shutter Island," both high-grossing films. His next project? "J. Edgar," directed by Clint Eastwood.

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