The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Matt Damon is Hollywood’s best investment, says Forbes. com.

For every dollar he was paid for his last three roles, Damon brought in $29 of gross income, the site calculated.

That put the 36-year-old “Bourne” star atop a Forbes list of 22 film heavyweights, ranked by the same financial formula.

The first two “Bourne” movies grossed an estimated $850 million at the box office and in DVD sales, Forbes said. The third installment, “The Bourne Ultimatum,” opened last weekend and raked in $70.2 million at the box office. It was the biggest August film opening ever.

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

Pitt’s ex-wife, Jennifer Aniston, is the most profitable actress with a gross income return of $17. Pitt’s current significant other, Angelina Jolie, ranked sixth with $15.

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

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 in gross income for every dollar spent on the Oscar winner, Forbes said.

Movies starring the two Toms - Hanks and Cruise - averaged $12 and $11 of gross income, respectively. Will Smith and Denzel Washington each brought in $10.

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

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