[hypatia]

Wouldn't Robert Downey Jr. be a candidate for the lowest-paid Marvel star? He'd come off of a bad period of drug use and was on the brink of looking like he'd go full Johhny-Depp insane. The producers took a chance casting him in the starring role of Iron Man. He wasn't even the highest paid member on that cast, I know that much. The fact that Robert Downey Jr. came through like a champion and really turned his life around is in part what made Marvel the megapower that it is today.

But that would be the exception, due to his havinga very iffy recent history in his life and work. In general, I'm sure your point is a solid one.