TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw tops Forbes magazine’s list of highest-paid TV hosts, earning an estimated $88 million in the one-year period surveyed.
McGraw, 66, had come in at No. 3 on this new list’s predecessor, Highest-Paid TV Personalities 2015, which also included reality-TV stars and TV chefs. He increased his pay by $18 million, based on what the magazine said was profits from his syndicated show “Dr. Phil,” his executive-producer position on the syndicated medical panel-discussion show “The Doctors,” and endorsements for the AARP.
Coming in at No. 2 on the 20-person list was Ellen DeGeneres, 58, with $75 million — the same spot and same amount as on the previous list. In addition to her syndicated talk show, she endorses CoverGirl cosmetics, has a hit mobile game, “Heads Up!,” and voiced the title role in this year’s Pixar/Disney animated feature “Finding Dory.”
Repeats from the predecessor list, which only numbered 10, include No. 3, Ryan Seacrest, 41, with $55 million from his radio show and hosting the final season of “American Idol”; No. 4, Judy Sheindlin, 73, with $47 million from her arbitration-based courtroom reality show “Judge Judy”; and No. 5, “Today” co-anchor Matt Lauer, 58, with $25 million.
Game-show hosts on the list include Alex Trebek (“Jeopardy”), 76, at No. 11 with $16.5 million, and Pat Sajak (“Wheel of Fortune”), 69, at No. 12 with $15 million. Sajak is tied with the highest-ranking nighttime talk-show star, Stephen Colbert, 52.
Forbes’ estimates for the period between June 1, 2015, and June 1, 2016, are based on data from Nielsen Media and IMDb, as well as interviews with agents, managers and lawyers.
TOP 10
1. Dr. Phil McGraw – $88 million
2. Ellen DeGeneres – $75 million
3. Ryan Seacrest – $55 million
4. Judy Sheindlin – $47 million
5. Matt Lauer – $25 million
6. Heidi Klum – $19 million
7. Bill O’Reilly – $18.5 million
8. Robin Roberts – $18 million
9. (tie) Kelly Ripa – $17 million
9. (tie) Michael Strahan – $17 million
