Matt Damon tops Hollywood value poll

Guardian Unlimited - UK - It's official: Matt Damon is twice as valuable as Tom Hanks, Russell Crowe is a dead loss, Adam Sandler is enough to make you weep, and Jennifer Aniston is surprisingly profitable.

After decades spent grappling with how to evaluate the tricky business of an actor's artistic prowess, Hollywood studios now have a handy tool to determine whether to hire a star.

According to the Ultimate Star Payback list, published by the business magazine Forbes yesterday, Damon offers the best box-office return on his salary. For every $1 Damon received in salary his films brought in $29 at the box office. Using the same method, the most profitable woman among Hollywood's A-list actors turns out to be Jennifer Aniston, proving that the critics know nothing when it comes to making money.