The Movies' Most Valuable Stars Named...

 

That puts Damon, 36, whose Bourne character is an assassin who has lost his memory, top of the Ultimate Star Payback, a Forbes list of 22 film heavyweights, ranked by the same financial formula. The first two Bourne movies grossed an estimated £425 million at the box office and in DVD sales, Forbes.com said. The third instalment, The Bourne Ultimatum, opened 27 July in the US and brought in £35.1 million at the box office - the biggest yet August film opening.

 

Brad Pitt took second place on the list. His current wife - Angelina Jolie - ranked one place away from his ex-wife Jennifer Aniston. You can find out which of the Pitt wives came out highest in our full chart gallery.

 

Russell Crowe is at the bottom of the list. His last three films, A Good Year, Cinderella Man and Master And Commander, averaged just five dollars (£2.50) in gross income for every dollar spent on the Oscar winner, Forbes said.

 

Forbes.com calculated the net revenue for a film by adding the worldwide box office and revenues from US DVD and video rentals and then subtracting its budget. The net revenue was divided by the actor's total compensation to derive gross income. The average gross income of an actor's last three films produced their box-office return.