TOP 5 HIGHEST PAID ACTORS

1. Johnny Depp - $75m

Johnny Depp has fallen in and out of favour with Hollywood throughout his career, due to his strong opinions but he has always been a firm favourite with viewers. From his role in cult teenage film Edward Scissorhands to his breakthrough role in “What's Eating Gilbert Grape? Depp has always gone for oddball characters.

After a short dry spell he burst back onto our screens with Pirates of the Caribbean which has become a hugely successful franchise, earning more than $2.7bn. His most recent role was playing the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland, directed by his long-time friend and collaborator Tim Burton, which made $1bn at the Box Office. He has secured his place in the top spot earning $75m between June 2009 and June 2010.

TOP 5 HIGHEST PAYING JOBS IN THE US

1. SURGEON

Highest salary: $181,850
Training time: 10 to 15 years

source : http://bit.ly/gTUhNk

While many medical professions are high on the pay scale, those who perform surgery are the highest paid -- specifically, surgeons who specialize in the treatment of illness or injury. As such, most surgeons opt to specialize in a specific area, like the heart or the brain.

Even for general surgeons, the very granular knowledge required to effectively perform an operation can only be obtained through additional formal training and many years of hands-on experience. Of course, a four-year degree is required to go down this path, and biology or other sciences are preferred because these provide access to basic knowledge that will be applied in medical school. After college, plan for four years of medical school -- the first two years will be in classrooms, and the last two will involve working with patients under the direction of physician educators. A residency is the next step, and this can last from three to seven years, depending on the candidate’s desire to specialize. A candidate must also pass a licensing examination.

While the profession can be lucrative, it is certainly not easy or cheap: More than 80% of medical-school graduates carry a debt.