Oprah Tops Forbes' 21 Highest Paid Celebrity List

Oprah Tops Forbes’ 21 Highest Paid Celebrity List

Rucuss staffAugust 28, 2012

Oprah Winfrey is the highest paid celebrity after grossing $165 million in the past year.

It is the fourth straight title for Winfrey who beat out directors Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg for the top spot. The media mogul landed the coveted title in the new Forbes poll.

Winfrey’s annual earnings from May 2011 to May 2012 edged out filmmaker Bay, who was second with $160 million, thanks to the success of the latest Transformers movie, Dark of the Moon, which grossed more than $1.1 billion worldwide.

Spielberg was third with $130 million, while Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer was fourth with $115 million. Rapper/producer Dr. Dre was fifth with $110 million, thanks to the success of his Beats By Dre headphones. HTC paid $300 million for a 51% stake in the company last August, which he co-founded with Interscope Chief Jimmy Iovine in 2006.

The magazine explained they took into account endorsements, profits, upfront pay and advertising work when compiling the list of 21 wealthiest celebrities. The complete list of this year’s 21 highest paid celebs is as follows:

1) Oprah Winfrey – $165 Million; 2) Michael Bay – $160 Million; 3) Steven Spielberg – $130 Million; 4) Jerry Bruckheimer – $115 Million; 5) Dr. Dre – $110 Million; 6) Tyler Perry – $105 Million; 7) Howard Stern – $95 Million; 8) James Patterson – $94 Million; 9) George Lucas – $90 Million; 10) Simon Cowell – $90 Million; 11T) Sir Elton John – $80 Million; 11T) Glenn Beck – $80 Million; 13) Tom Cruise – $75 Million; 14) Dick Wolf – $70 Million; 15) Rush Limbaugh – $69 Million; 16) Manny Pacquiao – $67 Million; 17) Dr. Phil – $64 Million; 18) Donald Trump – $63 Million; 19) Tom Cruise – $59 Million; 20T) Britney Spears – $58 Million; 20T) Tiger Woods – $58 Million