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Dubai: Dwayne Johnson has been named Hollywood’s highest paid actor, and he credits social media for his popularity.

Johnson has earned more money from acting in a single year than anyone in the history of the Forbes Celebrity 100 list. To be exact, the actor has earned $124 million (Dh455 million). 

The 2018 list records earnings from June 2017 to June 2018.

Reportedly, Johnson who is often referred to as ‘The Rock’, managed to nearly double his earnings in 2018 of $65 million (Dh238 million) he earned in the previous year.

His massive presence is not limited to the big screen but also reaches the online realm. He has almost 3 million followers on Twitter, 110 million on Instagram and 58 million ‘likes’ on his official Facebook page.

Apparently upon hearing the news, the wrestler turned actor chose to recall and remind his social media followers of his humble beginnings. He @TheRock tweeted: “Wow unexpected news. I don’t have a Harvard MBA, but my business philosophy has been sharpened over time and through failure. I have one boss I serve and connect with - the world and the people in it. I’m the dude who started w/ $7bucks. I’m awestruck ($124M) grateful and hungry.”

He also posted a similar comment on his Instagram page @therock that included: “I work extremely hard but never anticipated (in my wildest dreams) I’d become the highest paid actor in Forbes’ history… My goal when I was wrestling in flea markets for $40bucks per match (well before the bright lights of the @wwe) is still the exact same goal I have today - always put my audience first.”

He also sat down with the business magazine that granted him the title. In the interview, he said: “Social media has become the most critical element of marketing a movie for me.

“I have established a social media equity with an audience around the world that there’s a value in what I’m delivering to them,” he added.

Sharing the interview’s video, he tweeted: “I want to make it a point to be kind and nice. I don’t know if I’m ‘important” these days, but I can tell you that being nice and kind to people is literally the easiest thing to do.”

His fans took the opportunity to praise and congratulate the actor.

Tweep @Justin_tense86 wrote: “Now he’s the real definition of self-made. Great with people, kids, charity, amazing actor! Is there something this man @TheRock can’t do?”

Most of his well-wishers thought that he is a “hard worker”.

Twitter user Charles black @Guwzsproducer posted: “He deserves it. I’ve watched him for about 20 years entertaining me since WWF. He has only worked harder and only got better.”

Tweep @rickperry3 wrote: “You’re one of the best examples of hard work paying off. It’s something young people need to see. Yes, there is some luck involved, but generally, you get what you put in.”