Top-Earning
Talk Show Hosts
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(L) CBS (R) NBC
Some say talk is cheap -- but not for the best-paid talk show hosts on television and radio.
Case in point: Howard Stern. The King of All Media earned $302 million in just 12 months.
But Stern isn't the only star getting paid big bucks to gab. In the course of a single year, the 10 talking heads on Forbes' list pulled down some $731 million combined.
Top Earning Talk Show Hosts -
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Howard Stern
$302 million
In 2004, Sirius Satellite Radio agreed to pony up $100 million a year for his famously racy fare -- and that doesn't include the slew of bonuses.
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Brad Barket, Getty Images
Oprah Winfrey
$225 million
There's no such thing as a full plate for Oprah Winfrey, who recently added a $40 million all-girls school in Africa, a weekly satellite radio show and a syndicated daily talk show starring Food Network star Rachel Ray to her ever-expanding multimedia empire.
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Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images
Dr. Phil McGraw
$45 million
Oprah Winfrey may have put him on the map, but self-help specialist Dr. Phil McGraw has had little trouble garnering viewers of his own on his syndicated talk show. He also has six best-selling books, a monthly column in O, The Oprah Magazine and an endorsement deal with online matchmaking service Match.com.
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John P. Filo, CBS
David Letterman
$40 million
He may not garner as many viewers, but David Letterman has his late night rival Jay Leno beat when it comes to earnings: The television legend earned $40 million, compared with Leno's $32 million. And unlike Leno, Letterman has a stake in his show.
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NBC
Jay Leno
$32 million
Leno rules the late night roost when it comes to ratings, thanks to his witty quips and A-list lineup. In addition, he earns big on the stand-up circuit as well as the silver screen, where he lent his voice for roles in 2006's animated films Ice Age 2 and Cars.
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