The two highest paid personalities on American television are both judges on talent shows, proving that it pays to pass judgement on others’ talents. The X Factor’s Simon Cowell and America’s Got Talent’s Howard Stern topped Forbes’ newest list of celebrities who get paid millions.
The magazine reports that Cowell earned $95 million between June 2012 and June 2013. Cowell has been away from American Idol since 2010, but he’s still on TV thanks to The X Factor, which also airs on Fox. The show has had a rough start in the U.S. with two different judge’s panels through its first two seasons and a third new panel is coming in for season three.
Cowell’s X Factor now airs in 41 different countries around the world and he’s also behind the Got Talent franchise. Coincidentally, the next man on the list judges the American edition.
Stern also earned $95 million during the same time period. He’s reportedly paid $15 million to be on the show, but he’s still bringing in money from his XM satellite radio show.
The highest-ranking woman on the list is Oprah Winfrey, who made $77 million, since many Harpo productions - like Dr. Phil and The Dr. OZ Show - are still on air. She also does major interviews for her OWN network, including an upcoming one with Lindsay Lohan.
The only other women on the list are Ellen DeGeneres and Judge Judy Sheindlin.
Here’s the Top 10:
Simon Cowell - $95 million
Howard Stern - $95 million
Glenn Beck - $90 million
Oprah Winfrey - $77 million
Dr. Phil McGraw - $72 million
Rush Limbaugh - $66 million
Donald Trump - $63 million
Ryan Seacrest - $61 million
Ellen DeGeneres - $56 million
Judy Sheindlin - $47 million
image: Fox