Robert Downey Jr. got off to a rocky start in Hollywood. Following moderate success in Saturday Night Live and movies such as Weird Science in the 1980s and his 1992 Academy Award-nominated turn in Chaplin, he became addicted to illegal substances. After a stint in prison, his acting career was in a slump.

His luck changed when he was offered the lead role in 2008's Iron Man. He's since raked in a fortune from the iconic role, with Forbes reporting that he earned an eye-watering $75 million (£59m) for his appearance in 2019's Avengers: End Game. Since leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he's starred in the family flick Dolittle and appeared in Christopher Nolan’s hit blockbuster Oppenheimer, picking up the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his efforts. He's set to return to the Marvel universe in a new role that will undoubtedly boost his bank balance further.

While most of his $300 million (£238m) net worth comes from movies, he’s also lined his pockets as a brand ambassador for the Chinese phone company OnePlus.

The richest actors and actresses in the world today