Forbes has released their list of the five highest-paid TV hosts, and no, Ellen didn’t get the top spot.

She did make it into the top two, which is still pretty good, but her earnings are miles away from TV’s top dog.

The list was created using estimated earnings from June 1, 2017, through June 1, 2018, and the pretax figures do not have fees for agents, managers and lawyers deducted.

Earnings estimates were based on data from Nielsen, Box Office Mojo and IMDB, as well as interviews with industry insiders.

Now that the formalities are out of the way, let’s get to the list, starting with Steve Harvey coming in at number five:

5. Steve Harvey

Earnings: $44 000 000

The comedian-turned-talk-show-host premiered his new show Steve last year as a lighter take on the daytime format. The show has delivered in ratings and was renewed for a second season but does not come close to the popularity of Family Feud, one of four game shows Harvey hosts.

All that money, and apparently he’s still a bit of a dick.

4. Ryan Seacrest

Earnings: $74 000 000

Just as soon as soon as his American Idol hosting gig wrapped up, it was back again—and so was Seacrest’s eight-figure check. In addition to that Los Angeles-based gig, the host and Keeping Up with the Kardashians producer has to be back in New York each morning to host Live with Kelly and Ryan.

3. Dr Phil McGraw

Earnings: $77,500,000

I honestly didn’t know Dr Phil was still a thing, but here we are.

The talk show host, who has one of the most-watched syndicated shows on TV, has moved behind camera, adding three executive producer credits to his name with his work on The Bull, The Doctors and Daily Mail TV. Though he is not a practicing doctor, McGraw cofounded Doctors on Demand, an app that connects people with psychologists and physicians.

2. Ellen DeGeneres

Earnings: $87,500 000

Ellen made history this year as the first woman to receive $20 million for a Netflix stand-up comedy special.

Combined with the eight-figure check she gets from hosting her eponymous show and millions more in producer salaries (Little Big Shots, Splitting Up Together) and licensing fees (PetSmart, Bed, Bath and Beyond), this is DeGeneres’ most lucrative year yet.

Finally, presiding over the top spot…

1. Judy Sheindlin

Earnings: $147 000 000

Yep, Judge Judy is the highest paid television host in the world.

The sharp-talking daytime judge takes the top spot thanks to her even sharper deal-making skills: Last year she sold the rights to her Judge Judy’s 5,200-episode library, as well as future episodes of the show, to CBS for an estimated $100 million. Between that paycheck and the $47 million she gets for hosting Judge Judy and producing Hot Bench, Sheindlin took in triple her typical annual paycheck. With that added to her bank account, she also became 48th-richest self-made woman in America, with a net worth of $400 million.

Judge Judy is watched daily by more than 10 million people who keep coming back for her sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude.

Now you know.

[source:forbes]