What TV host reigns supreme in income? Forbes looked at earnings from TV shows, book sales as well as interviews with agents, managers, producers and lawyers.
10. Heidi Klum – $21 million
The model hosts Lifetime’s “Project Runway.
9. Michael Strahan – $21.5 million
The former NFL star jumped from co-hosting “Live” with Kelly Ripa to ABC’s “Good Morning America.” He also works as an analyst on “Fox NFL Sunday.”
8. Sean Hannity – $36 million
The Fox News host has emerged as the network’s top-rated primetime star.
7. Bill O’Reilly – $37 million
Even though he was fired by Fox News earlier this year, the veteran host earned plenty from his network gig as well as his series of best-selling books.
6. Steve Harvey – $42.5 million
The comedian earns big from his daytime talk show as well as his hosting gigs on shows like “Family Feud” and “Funderdome.”
5. Simon Cowell, $43.5 million
The music mogul reps acts like Fifth Harmony and also still hosts “America’s Got Talent” — as well as “X Factor” in the U.K.
4. Judy Sheindlin – $47 million
Judge Judy not only earns from her own longtime syndicated courtroom show but also from producing other legal series like “Hot Bench.”
3. Ryan Seacrest – $58 million
Even in a year in which “American Idol” was off the air, the hardest-working man in showbiz joined Kelly Ripa on her daytime show, launched a men’s fashion line, hosted hit radio shows, produced eight TV show and hosted gigs from the Rio Olympics to New Year’s Eve.
2. Ellen DeGeneres – $77 million
The comedian not only gets a huge take from her hit daytime show but she alseo executive produces shows like “Little Big Shots,” developed the mobile game Heads Up, and earns money from an endorsement deal with CoverGirl.
1. Phil McGraw – $79 million
The top-rated daytime host takes a cut of advertising revenues, and also earns money from product endorsements.