Cowell named 'top male US TV earner'

Simon Cowell has been named as the top-earning male on US primetime television.

The American Idol presenter bested The Apprentice host Donald Trump and Idol colleague Ryan Seacrest to land top of the list complied by Forbes.

The 50-year-old netted $75m (£45m) between June 2008 and 2009, while his haul also includes ownership of his record label and serving as producer on America's Got Talent.

Trump earned $50m (£30m) for The Apprentice and has lent his name to products, including neck ties, to secure his second place position. Seacrest pulls in $38m (£23m) for presenter duties on Idol and E! News, his radio programme and for development of TV shows, such as Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Two And A Half Men star Charlie Sheen, who had previously been named the highest-paid TV actor for the past two years, came in fourth with $21m (£12.6m). The Office headliner Steve Carell grossed $20m (£12m) to round out the top five.

Cowell recently said that Britain's Got Talent favourite Susan Boyle, whom he signed to his label, would sell millions of copies of her forthcoming album.