Showbiz

Tyler Perry beats Simon Cowell, Steven Spielberg to be named highest paid man in entertainment

Published Tuesday, Sep 13 2011, 22:16 BST | By Tom Eames | 11 comments

Tyler Perry has beaten the likes of Simon Cowell and Steven Spielberg to top a Forbes list of entertainment's richest men.

The actor, who also produces, directs and writes several publications and productions is reported to have made $130 million (£82.4m) in the last year. He is most famous for appearing and directing the Madea series of films, but also produces TV shows Meet the Browns and House of Payne.

Director Jerry Bruckheimer followed Perry in second place with $113m (£71.5m), mainly for taking the helm of the $1 billion-grossing Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. He also produces the TV shows The Amazing Race and all three CSI series, among others.

Steven Spielberg finishes in third place with $107m (£67.8m) after directing the likes of The Adventures of Tintin and War Horse and producing Super 8.

Elton John and X Factor judge Simon Cowell round off the top five with $100m (£63.3m) and (£57m) respectively.

The top ten in full:

1. Tyler Perry - Actor/Producer/Director/Author - $130m
2. Jerry Bruckheimer - Director/Producer - $113m
3. Steven Spielberg - Director/Producer - $107m
4. Elton John - Musician - $100m
5. Simon Cowell - Television producer/judge - $90m
6. James Patterson - Author - $84m
7. Dr Phil McGraw - Television presenter - $80m
8. Leonardo DiCaprio - Actor - $77m
9. Howard Stern - DJ - $76m
10. Tiger Woods - Golfer - $75m

> Tyler Perry: 'I just didn't get Madea'