Girl Power! Who Is the Best-Paid Actress on TV?

Tina Fey, maybe? Sofia Vergara, perhaps? What about Kim Kardashian? Find out which female small-screen star is making the most

By Peter Gicas Jul 18, 2012 2:56 PMTags
Tina Fey, Kim Kardashian, Sofia VergaraTheo Wargo/WireImage, ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/GettyImages, Mike Marsland/WireImage

When it comes to television, there's certainly no shortage of gals to keep us entertained.

But who among them is earning more than all her small-screen sisters?

None other than Sofia Vergara!

The Modern Family star is believed to have pulled in a whopping $19 million over the past year, according to Forbes, which just released its list of 2012's highest-paid TV actresses.

That might at first come as a bit of surprise, until you consider that, in addition to her hit ABC sitcom, Vergara has also appeared in three films over the last 12 months in addition to scoring several lucrative endorsement deals in both English and Spanish. What's more, she also runs a media company she cofounded in 1996.

Right on Vergara's sexy heels, though, is Kim Kardashian. Between May 2011 and May 2012, the magazine estimates the E! star pocketed $18 million, thanks to the success of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, a new fragrance and her clothing line with sisters Kourtney and Khloé, who landed in the No. 5 spot with $11 million in total earnings.

Rounding out the top 10?

Eva Longoria ($15 million), Bethenny Frankel ($12 million), Tina Fey ($11 million), Mariska Hargitay ($10 million) as well as Zooey Deschanel, Felicity Huffman and Ellen Pompeo ($9 million each).