Bay 'Hollywood's highest-earner in 2009'

Michael Bay has been announced as the most successful star in Hollywood last year.

The director topped Vanity Fair's list of the 40 highest-earning individuals in entertainment for 2009.

Based on factors such as up-front fees, box office gross percentages and other estimated revenue streams, Bay took the title following the success of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

The filmmaker earned an estimated $125m (£79.3m), primarily thanks to the film's worldwide popularity at the box office. This figure was then topped up with his production work on Friday The 13th and The Unborn.

Runner-up was Steven Spielberg, who totalled around $85m (£53.9m) over 2009, which included $20m (£12.6) for his work on next year's The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn.

Three other directors rounded out the top five, with Roland Emmerich (2012), James Cameron (Avatar) and Todd Phillips (The Hangover) finishing third, fourth and fifth respectively.

The first actor to make the list was Harry Potter lead Daniel Radcliffe at number six with $41m (£26m), while co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint were placed at 14 and 15. Other notable stars to feature in the rest of the rundown included Tyler Perry (11), Angelina Jolie (32), Robert Pattinson (35) and Kristen Stewart (37).