Oprah, $einfeld Tops in TV Land

Fri., Sep. 28, 2007 6:33 PM PDT by Natalie Finn

Although it seems as if the real money is in compiling lists these days, you're probably not doing too badly if you host your own chat fest, competition or cooking show, or if you regularly pass judgment on others in front of the cameras. Or, as in Jerry Seinfeld's case, if you haven't had a hit sitcom in nine years.

Seinfeld, whose eponymous NBC series went off the air in 1998, is the second-highest earner in TV land, having banked $60 million between June 2006 and July 2007, according to Forbes' TV 20, which ranked television personalities' tube-fueled income during that time period.

While the 53-year-old comedian and his cynical sidekicks didn't care too deeply for anything during their Emmy-winning run, they've gotta love syndication. You can still watch Seinfeld every day, multiple times, on broadcast and basic cable networks, and the DVDs were instant bestsellers.

But Seinfeld, who used the time off to get back in the standup game and make lots of American Express commercials, is once again polishing his acting-like-himself chops. His upcoming Bee Movie is generating major buzz (pun so intended), and he'll return to what remains of Must See TV next month when he guest stars as himself on 30 Rock.

However, you would need more than four of Seinfeld's paychecks to equal one of Oprah Winfrey's.

The multimedia maven, who also made Forbes' list of the 400 richest Americans—which only included billionaires this year—pulled in $260 million during the aforementioned months, thanks to her ever-popular syndicated talk show; O magazine; her successful outing as a Broadway producer with The Color Purple; and Harpo Productions, which also has stakes in Rachael Ray's and Dr. Phil McGraw's chat fests (both of them fellow list-residers, as well).

Simon Cowell tongue-lashed his way to third place this year with $45 million. In addition to the big payday he gets for sitting in judgment on American Idol, thereby making a British judge a requirement for every competition show, he also produces America's Got Talent and American Inventor.

And although Cowell usually wins the nightly snark battle, at least his American Idol sparring partner and fellow busy bee Ryan Seacrest is cashing in on the experience. In addition to pulling duty as emcee of the ratings powerhouse, anchoring E! News, hosting KIIS-FM's morning block and prowling the red carpet at award shows, Seacrest has also thrown his hat into the production racket.

All of which netted him about $14 million. (E! Online is a division of E! Networks.)

Meanwhile, Winfrey's mock-feud partner turned chum David Letterman shows up in fourth with $40 million, and everyone's mock-feud partner, Donald Trump, rounds out the top five with $32 million. (And his apprentices are only making $250,000? Hmmph!)

Talk show hosts—both daytime and late night—and other personalities of the anchoring/helming/presiding milieu made a particularly strong showing. In addition to Rae (13th place, $16 million) and McGraw (7th place, $30 million), Jay Leno, Katie Couric, Regis Philbin, "Judge" Judy Sheindlin, Tyra Banks, Ellen DeGeneres, Matt Lauer, Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer and Meredith Vieira all made $10 million or more.

In some cases, lots more.

Aside from Seinfeld, only two other top moneymakers are, or were, stars of scripted series.

George Lopez (ninth place, $26 million), whose eponymous sitcom was canceled by ABC earlier this year after six seasons, has a lucrative syndication deal that is going to keep him in the black for years to come, as well as a still-stellar standup career.

Clocking in at number 10 is 24's Kiefer Sutherland, the highest-paid dramatic actor on TV. Last year Sutherland won an Emmy and renegotiated his contract en route to earning $22 million. Heading into its seventh season this winter, 24 is still going strong, even though its star has hit a bump in the road (and thankfully nothing else).

For the complete list, go to forbes.com and tune in Saturday to the E! special Forbes TV 20: Famous, Fabulous and Filthy Rich at 5 p.m. ET/PT.