Damon makes a killing with 'Bourne' movies

Bourne trilogy film star Matt Damon has been named Hollywood’s best investment, bringing in $29 (€21) of gross income for every dollar he was paid for his last three roles.

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 €625 at the box office and in DVD sales, Forbes.com said. The third instalment, 'The Bourne Ultimatum', opened last weekend and brought in €52m at the box office – the biggest yet August film opening.

Brad Pitt took second place on the list, with a gross income return of $24 (€17) for each dollar of his pay, and Vince Vaughn tied with Johnny Depp for third with $21 (€15).

Pitt’s ex-wife Jennifer Aniston is the most profitable actress with a gross income return of $17 (€12). Pitt’s partner, Angelina Jolie, ranked sixth with $15 €11).

“The biggest stars in Hollywood are not the actors that deliver the biggest returns,” Forbes senior editor Michael Ozanian said.

Russell Crowe is at the bottom of the list. His last three films, 'A Good Year', 'Cinderella Man' and 'Master And Commander', averaged just $5 (€3.60) in gross income for every dollar spent on the Oscar winner, Forbes said.

Movies starring the two Toms – Hanks and Cruise – averaged $12 (€8.69) and $11 (€8) dollars of gross income respectively. Will Smith and Denzel Washington each brought in $10 (€7.24).

On the comedic front, Adam Sandler brought in $9 (€6.50) per dollar earned, and Will Ferrell and Jim Carrey brought in $8 (€5.80) each.

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.