Simon Cowell is highest earner on TV

His salary includes his fee as co owner of the ‘X-Factor’ format and as a producer and judge on the show,outstripping the earnings of his fellow judges Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul.

Scherzinger,who replaced Cheryl Cole after she was sacked from the show,will take home USD 1.5 million while Abdul will receive USD 2.5 million,according to TV Guide magazine.

Cowell,50,is the highest paid out of any of the formats on US TV and tops the list of those involved in reality shows.

Ashton Kutcher has been revealed as the highest paid sitcom actor despite only filming his first episode of ‘Two and a Half Men’ last week.

The 33-year-old actor,who replaced Charlie Sheen in the show after he was fired from his role,earns USD 700,000 an episode.

British actor Hugh Laurie is the best paid actor in a TV drama,making USD 700,000 per episode for his role as grumpy doctor Gregory House in ‘House’.