Filmmaker Tyler Perry, recipient of the CinemaCon Visionary Award, accepts his award …
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor Tyler
Perry, who has his own film and TV studio in Atlanta, ranks atop the
list of Hollywood's highest paid men, in a new ranking from Forbes.com
that includes director Steven Spielberg and singer Elton John.
Perry topped the list by making $130 million from May 2010 to May 2011, financial website Forbes.com reported on Monday.
The actor, writer, director and
producer had his Hollywood breakthrough with 2005 film "Diary of a Mad
Black Woman," which he created as a stage play. He dressed in drag to
portray tough-talking family matriarch Madea, a crowd-pleasing role.
That movie led to a number of
sequels, and most recently Perry has seen success producing the
television show "Tyler Perry's House of Payne," which runs on TBS.
Holding the No. 2 position on the
Forbes list with $113 million is producer Jerry Bruckheimer. He is
behind the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise and had a hit with the
latest movie in the series, which came out this year and earned over $1
billion at global box offices.
Steven Spielberg ranks at No. 3
with $107 million, Forbes said. The last film directed by Spielberg was
released in 2008, but he has kept himself busy on a number of projects
since then where he was the producer or executive producer, including
action flicks "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" and "Cowboys &
Aliens" and the upcoming science fiction TV show "Terra Nova."
"Rocket Man" singer Elton John, whose most recent tour grossed over
$200 million, takes the No. 4 spot on the list with $100 million in
earnings, Forbes said.
TV personality and music executive
Simon Cowell, whose "The X Factor" singing contest is about to make its
U.S. debut, ranked No. 5 with $90 million, Forbes said.
Writer James Patterson, author of
"The Women's Murder Club" series of novels and such titles as "I, Alex
Cross," ranks at No. 6 on the Forbes list with $84 million.
Rounding out the top 10 on the
entertainment world list are: Phil McGraw, the TV psychologist and Oprah
Winfrey protege from the show "Dr. Phil," with earnings of $80 million;
actor Leonardo DiCaprio with $77 million; radio shock jock Howard Stern
with $76 million; and pro golfer Tiger Woods with $75 million.
DiCaprio and Perry were the only
actors on the list, and Forbes.com noted that Perry earned most of his
money from producing and directing projects instead of appearing
on-camera.