America's richest entertainers named

Simon Cowell is one of America's top-earning celebrities. Photo/Getty

Simon Cowell may not be used to sharing the spotlight, but it seems he may have to after he was named joint top in a poll of America's highest earning TV personalities.

The X Factor founder was named in first place alongside America's Got Talent judge and shock jock Howard Stern, with both raking in around US$95 million (NZ$122m) in the 12 months to June.

Cowell took the top spot despite Fox cancelling the US version of his show after he walked away from the project, and after walking away from the America's Got Talent competition.

Forbes magazine spoke to agents, managers and lawyers of each celebrity to come up with estimates for their entertainment-related earnings.

According to their data, Oprah Winfrey earned $82 million in the last year, putting her in fourth place, a dramatic fall from the 2012 list in which she was named top with earnings of $165 million.

Phil McGraw - more commonly known as Dr Phil - is in fifth place with earnings of $77 million.

Ellen DeGeneres, the chat show host and comic, ranks sixth with $70 million, followed by Rush Limbaugh on $66 million and Ryan Seacrest on $65 million.

Scottish chef Gordon Ramsay, host of Hell's Kitchen USA, came in at No. 9 with entertainment earnings estimated at $47million, while Judge Judy Sheindlin - the host of real-life courtroom drama show Judge Judy, completed the top 10 with earnings of $47 million.

As well as sitting on the judging panel for X Factor UK, Cowell also owns media production house and record label Syco, taking a cut from the earnings of every winner of the show.

Stern, meanwhile, has dubbed himself the 'King Of All Media' for his success as a writer, producer and host, and is thought to earn around $15 million a year for starring on America's Got Talent.

While Glenn Beck is less prominent on television screens ever since he quit Fox in 2011, but now charges fans $10-a-month in order to access his online opinion site, The Blaze.

Despite spending 12 years on the air, Dr Phil still ranks high on the list thanks to his ability to track down high-profile interviewees, such as V Stiviano - the girlfriend of former Clippers owner Donald Sterling who recorded him making racist remarks.

Forbes' top-earning US celebs:

1. Simon Cowell - $95million
1. Howard Stern - $95 million
3. Glenn Beck - $90 million
4. Oprah Winfrey - $82 million
5. Phil McGraw - $77million
6. Ellen DeGeneres - $70 million
7. Rush Limbaugh - $66 million
8. Ryan Seacrest - $65 million
9. Gordon Ramsay - $47 million
10. Judge Judy Sheindlin - $47 million

- Daily Mail