Forbes names stars who get money for nothing

We know how much you enjoy Forbesmagazine's various lists of which Hollywood stars get the most money and how much revenue they deliver in return. The most fascinating of those charts – that detailing the most overpaid stars – emerged this week and, as ever, there are some diverting surprises.

Will Ferrell, star of recent flops such as Land of the Lostand Semi-Pro, tops the list. Forbes reckons that Ferrell earns investors just $3.35 for every dollar he is paid. No 2 is Eddie Murphy. The top five is completed by Denzel Washington, Seth Rogen and Tom Cruise.

The most surprising entry is, perhaps, Matt Damon at No 7. It wasn't so long ago that boffins decided old squarehead was the most lucrative star in Hollywood. The former Bourne's decision to accept less successful projects such as Invictusand The Informant! rapidly inverted that trajectory.

Vince Vaughn, who follows at No 8, was also once considered extraordinarily good value for money. It seems as if Vaughn's Fred Clausand Four Christmasesdid little to spread good cheer about the place.

The only woman to make the list was (shame!) lovable veteran Drew Barrymore, at No 6. Does Ms B really get paid that much?

The irony in all this is that the current No 1 at the US box office is an animated film called Megamind featuring the voice of, yes, Will Ferrell.