Forbes has released their annual list of the highest-paid actresses and actors, confirming what we've all suspected -- if you want to get super rich, it's a good idea to play a Marvel character...or get some high-end beauty endorsements. The list of best-paid actors was released a couple weeks ago, and the list of actresses just hit the web today. The major takeaway? In Hollywood, the wage gap is most definitely real.

Collectively, the full list of the world's 18 highest paid actresses earned a combined $281 million -- $660 million less than the combined total for the 34 highest paid actors ($941 million). 21 actors banked more than $20 million, while only 4 actresses reached that number. Jennifer Lawrence topped the list as the #1 highest paid actress of 2015 with $52 milllon, earning $28 million less than her male counterpart, Robert Downey Jr., who took home $80 million. Scarlett Johannson ranked #2, taking home $14.5 million less than Jackie Chan. And so the trend goes all the way down the list, with each female placeholder earning less than the males. Or look at it this way, if the lists were combined, only two women would make it in the top 10. Check out the lists below and compare for yourself.

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Image via 20th Century Fox

Highest Paid Actresses:

  1. Jennifer Lawrence: $52 million
  2. Scarlett Johansson: $35 million
  3. Melissa McCarthy: $23 million
  4. Bingbing Fan: $21 million
  5. Jennifer Aniston: $16 million
  6. Julia Roberts: $16 million
  7. Angelina Jolie: $15 million
  8. Reese Witherspoon: $15 million
  9. Anne Hathaway: $12 million
  10. Kristen Stewart: $12 million

The problem isn't just that they're being paid less per film, there also aren't nearly as many leading roles for women. A recent study confirmed that Hollywood has a significant diversity problem, with the majority of roles available -- in front of and behind the camera -- are going to white men. You may notice a pretty overwhelming majority of white faces in the Forbes highest-paid lists (especially on the actress side).

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Image via Marvel

Highest Paid Actors

  1. Robert Downey Jr.: $80 million
  2. Jackie Chan: $50 million
  3. Vin Diesel: $47 million
  4. Bradley Cooper: $41.5 million
  5. Adam Sandler: $41 million
  6. Tom Cruise: $40 million
  7. Amitabh Bachchan: $33.5 million
  8. Salman Khan: $33.5 million
  9. Akshay Kumar: $32.5 million
  10. Mark Wahlberg: $32 million

Highest Paid Actresses:

  1. Jennifer Lawrence: $52 million
  2. Scarlett Johansson: $35 million
  3. Melissa McCarthy: $23 million
  4. Bingbing Fan: $21 million
  5. Jennifer Aniston: $16 million
  6. Julia Roberts: $16 million
  7. Angelina Jolie: $15 million
  8. Reese Witherspoon: $15 million
  9. Anne Hathaway: $12 million
  10. Kristen Stewart: $12 million

The problem isn't just that they're being paid less per film, there also aren't nearly as many leading roles for women. A recent study confirmed that Hollywood has a significant diversity problem, with the majority of roles available -- in front of and behind the camera -- are going to white men. You may notice notice a startling lack of racial diversity in the Forbes highest-paid lists.

robert-downey-jr-fantastic-beasts-3
Image via Marvel

Highest Paid Actors

  1. Robert Downey Jr.: $80 million
  2. Jackie Chan: $50 million
  3. Vin Diesel: $47 million
  4. Bradley Cooper: $41.5 million
  5. Adam Sandler: $41 million
  6. Tom Cruise: $40 million
  7. Amitabh Bachchan: $33.5 million
  8. Salman Khan: $33.5 million
  9. Akshay Kumar: $32.5 million
  10. Mark Wahlberg: $32 million

However, the list isn't entirely composed of American A-listers, which doesn't come as a huge surprise if you've been paying attention to the major studio's efforts to make internationally appealing films. If you needed a reason for the studios' recent interest in international interest, look no further. The list of best-paid actors is populated with overseas talent. Perhaps most surprising is the wonderful Jackie Chan in the #2 spot. He's always been a megastar in his home country, but his latest film Dragon Blade (which arrives in American theaters next month) was a massive success, grossing more than $120 million in China.

You may not have heard of some of the other top ranking actors --Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar -- but they are huge earners in India. Chinese actress Bing Bing Fan (best known to American audiences for X-Men: Days of Future Past) ranks #4 on the women's list. There are a few other notable factors. Franchises are, of course, a big boost. Lawrence has Hunger Games and X-Men; Downey Jr and Johannson have Avengers, Diesel has Fast and Furious, Cruise has Mission Impossible, etc. Endorsements are also a key player with Jennifer Aniston and Julia Roberts' various endorsements allowing them to place in the top ten despite any major film releases this year. Finally, actor-producers are making bank. Melissa McCarthy, Bradley Cooper, Reese Witherspoon, Vin Diesel, and Chan all produce as well as act.

What your major takeaway from the lists? Anybody you were surprised to see make the rank? Surprised not to see? Sound off in the comments below.

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Image via Lionsgate Pictures