15 Best-Paid Celebrities Of 2009

Forbes has once again surveyed the celebrities, categorizing the results and presenting them in a list of best or worst group.


Forbes new list of celebrities is dedicated to the 15 best-paid celebrities today. The result comes with a conclusion that the younger stars may be the most beautiful and talked-about people in Hollywood – but they are not the richest.

The latest 15 best-paid celebrities of 2009, earning $1.6 billion between June 2008 and June 2009, have one thing in common – they are oldies. Except for 28 year-old Beyoncé who ranks 7th on the survey, all of the other best-paid celebrities on the list are over 40.

The way Forbes sees it, these oldsters have "used their time wisely to build up mini empires that can withstand setbacks like global recessions."

Who do you think tops the survey?

As expected, it's the Queen of Talk herself, Oprah Winfrey. Between June 2008 and June 2009, Forbes estimates that Oprah Winfrey has earned $275 million. Her earnings have been contributed by her own TV show plus a successful magazine and her own radio station on XM satellite radio. She is also working on her own television network in a partnership with Discovery Networks.

Star Wars creator George Lucas ranks 2nd with an estimated earnings of $170 million. Having a favorable deal with toy maker Hasbro and a profit coming from his old movies, the success of the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull film which he wrote and produced with Steven Spielberg also adds to his earnings.

Steven Spielberg, meanwhile, is following George Lucas on the list. The profits they earned from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull film has earned $787 million at the worldwide box office. The film that Paramount studios has distributed helps not only George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, but also its lead actor Harrison Ford. Harrison Ford comes in 15th on the list with $65 million.

Madonna, the Queen of Pop, is 4th on the list with $110 million. The Hard Candy tour of this 51 year-old performer is 2008's top grossing, bringing in $280 million from 58 shows in 17 countries.

Another performer makes it to the top five – Canadian singer Celine Dion. The second highest grossing tour of 2008 after Madonna, her Taking Chances tour helps her earn $100 million.

The 15 Best-Paid Celebrities of 2009 (with their age and their earnings):

1. Oprah Winfrey, 55
- $275 million
2. George Lucas, 65
- $170 million
3. Steven Spielberg, 62
- $150 million
4. Madonna, 51
- $110 million
5. Celine Dion, 41
- $100 million
6. Jerry Bruckheimer, 63
- $100 million
7. Beyoncé, 28
- $87 million
8. Jerry Seinfeld,55
- $85 million
9. Phil McGraw, 59
- $80 million
10. Tyler Perry, 40
- $75 million
11. Dick Wolf, 62
- $75 million
12. Simon Cowell, 49
- $75 million
13. Bruce Springsteen, 59
- $70 million
14. Howard Stern, 55
- $70 million
15. Harrison Ford, 67
- $65 million

Forbes' list of 15 best-paid celebrities of Hollywood includes the top-earning producers, actors, writers, musicians and talking heads in the industry. Estimates of the celebrities' earnings between June 2008 and June 2009 come from managers, agents and other Hollywood insiders. Musicians who perform as a group are not included on the list.