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This article was first published 12 years ago

Meet the World's Highest Paid Celebrities

Last updated on: August 28, 2012 17:07 IST

Image: Simon Cowell

The newest Forbes magazine poll listing the highest paid celebrities in the world is out.

Here's looking at names that feature in the top 10.

10. Simon Cowell

The American Idol and The X-Factor creator Simon Cowell may be in a slump at the moment with both his breakout shows witnessing a drop in ratings but the reality TV guru wedged his way in the top 10 with $90 million in earnings in the last year.

9. George Lucas

Image: George Lucas
Photographs: Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images

Star Wars creator George Lucas also made a cool $90 million the previous year.

A major part of his earnings reportedly are pumped into his special effects company that catered to films like The Avengers.

8. James Patterson

Image: James Patterson
Photographs: Janette Pellegrini/Getty Images for Disney Publishing

American novelist James Patterson has made a fortune with his popular thriller novels about psychologist Alex Cross.

The author made $94 million in the previous year.

7. Howard Stern

Image: Howard Stern
Photographs: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

American radio personality and television host Howard Stern is at number seven with $95 million in earnings from last year alone.

The star has begun his new stint as a judge on America's Got Talent that will fetch his $15 million a year.

6. Tyler Perry

Image: Tyler Perry
Photographs: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET

Filmmaker, actor and writer Tyler Perry has made quite a profit with his low-budget yet well-received films over the years.

The star made an impressive $105 million in the past year and takes up the sixth spot on the list.

5. Dr Dre

Image: Dr Dre
Photographs: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Coachella

One of the most successful record producers of his time, rapper and entreprenuer Dr Dre pocketed $110 million in the last year.

Apart from his chartbuster songs, his line of headphones have set the cash registers ringing too.

Tags: Dr Dre

4. Jerry Bruckheimer

Image: Jerry Bruckheimer
Photographs: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer made a fortune with his film Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides that made over a billion dollars at the box office worldwide.

He stands tall at number four with $115 million in earnings.

3. Steven Spielberg

Image: Steven Spielberg
Photographs: Rob Kim/Getty Images

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg takes up the third spot with $130 million in earnings.

While Spielberg's Dreamworks forayed into television with four shows, his movies The Adventures Of Tintin and War Horse were nominated for Oscars last year.

2. Michael Bay

Image: Michael Bay
Photographs: Reuters/Lucas Jackson

Director Michael Bay scored second place with $160 million, thanks to the success of the latest Transformers movie which grossed more than $1.1 billion worldwide.

1. Oprah Winfrey

Image: Oprah Winfrey
Photographs: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Television mogul Oprah Winfrey has beaten directors Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg to be named the world's highest paid celebrity after banking a whopping $165 million in the past year.
 
The 58-year-old has come out on top in the poll, just days after being listed as the 11th most powerful woman in the world in another survey from the same publication.