Tom Cruise Named Highest Paid Actor in Hollywood

The 50-year-old actor topped Forbes' annual list of the 100 highest paid actors

The media buzz surrounding Tom Cruise has been given a fresh jolt.

On the heels of his wife's tabloid-grabbing divorce filing last week, Cruise was given the birthday gift of being named the highest paid actor in Hollywood.

Forbes magazine released its annual list of the 100 highest paid actors Tuesday, Cruise's 50th birthday, awarding him the top spot by a comfortable margin.

According to the report, the "Risky Business" star pulled in $75 million between May 2011 and May 2012, the bulk of his earnings coming from his role in "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” which made $700 million worldwide.

Cruise’s massive income is likely to play a role in his impending divorce proceedings, as Katie Holmes is seeking sole custody of their 6-year-old daughter Suri. Although the couple had a prenuptial agreement that covers alimony, child support is very rarely included in prenups, divorce attorney Jeff Landers told Forbes.

Cruise holds a comfortable lead on the Forbes list, topping Leonardo DiCaprio and Adam Sandler, who occupied the lists' second and third places, by $38 million.

Dwayne Johnson, who wrestled as "The Rock" before turning to acting, was fourth on the list with his estimated income of $36 million, followed by Ben Stiller who collected $33 million last year.

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