Simon Cowell And Howard Stern Tie For Forbes' Highest-Paid TV Personalities
The brutally honest Brit topped Forbes' list of Highest-Paid TV Personalities, earning an estimated $95 million between June 2012 and June 2013.
Cowell's reign as the most respected judge on "American Idol" ended in 2010. Although he continues to appear on-screen in "The X Factor," Forbes reports that a majority of his income comes from ownership stakes in "The X Factor," which airs in 41 countries, and "Got Talent," the biggest-selling TV franchise in the world.
Cowell shares the top spot with another TV personality known for speaking his mind. Howard Stern earned $95 million in the last year, thanks to his show on Sirius Satellite Radio and earnings as a host on Cowell's "America's Got Talent."
Former titan of daytime television, Oprah Winfrey, fell from the number one spot to fourth place this year. Her 25-year syndicated talk show went off the air in 2011, but the OWN network this year started turning a profit.
New to the list: Judy Sheindlin replaced Jennifer Lopez. Her long-running court drama regularly tops the list of most watched syndicated daytime television.
Here's Forbes' top 10 list of Highest-Paid TV Personalities:
1. Simon Cowell — $95 million
2. Howard Stern — $95 million
3. Glen Beck — $90 million
4. Oprah Winfrey — $77 million
5. Dr. Phil McGraw — $72 million
6. Rush Limbaugh — $66 million
7. Donald Trump — $63 million
8. Ryan Seacrest — $61 million
9. Ellen DeGeneres — $56 million
10. Judy Sheindlin — $47 million