Forbes reveals world's highest-paid TV hosts: Dr. Phil McGraw tops the list with $88 million
- Forbes released its list of highest-paid TV hosts in the world on Thursday
- Dr. Phil McGraw tops the list after taking home $88million last year
- He is followed by Ellen DeGeneres, Ryan Seacrest, Judge Judy Sheindlin and Matt Lauer in the top five
- Top 10 is dominated with syndicated TV show hosts and news reporters
- Late night show hosts like Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert are in the lower half of the top 20
It's been a good year for Dr Phil McGraw, who landed exclusive interviews with both Jon Benet Ramsey's brother and Nick Gordon, fiance of the late Bobbi Kristina Brown.
And it looks like it's about to get sweeter, since McGraw was just named TV's highest-paid host by Forbes.
The magazine released the list on Tuesday, for the first time focusing just on TV hosts, and not reality stars.
Dr. Phil McGraw made $88million last year, making him the highest-paid television host according to Forbes
Ellen DeGeneres and Ryan Seacrest round out the top three, according to the list, with their $75million and $55million pay
Judge Judy Sheindlin (left) made $47million last year, Matt Lauer (center) made $25million and Heidi Klum (right) made $19million
McGraw tops the list since he gets a percentage of the profits from his production company, in addition to separate deals for endorsing AARP and AstraZeneca, plus an executive producing role on The Doctors.
In a 2013 interview with Forbes, McGraw explained his work philosophy, saying: 'The older I get, there’s no way am I going to spend my life doing what somebody else wants me to do.
'I’ve always said you need to star in your own life because if you don’t, nobody will.'
Following McGraw in the top five are Ellen DeGeneres, Ryan Seacrest, Judge Judy Sheindlin and Matt Lauer.
There are a total of six women in the top 20 this year, including Heidi Klum and Kelly Ripa.
Ripa and her estranged former Live with Kelly co-host Michael Strahan are tied on the list with $17million each, but Strahan's is expected to go up next year thanks to his new role on Good Morning America.
Noticeably missing from the top 10 is all of the late-night hosts, who make in the $12-$15million a year range.
The list was compiled with information from Nielsen, IMDB and Forbes' interviews with agents, managers and lawyers.
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