Oprah Winfrey, producer of the musical "The Color Purple" yells as she takes a curtain call with the cast in New York in this Dec. 1, 2005 file photo. Oprah is the highest-paid TV personality by earning a 260 million U.S. dollars between June 2006 and June 2007, according to "Forbes TV 20" published on Sept. 27. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Sept. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Oprah Winfrey is the highest-paid TV personality by earning 260 million U.S. dollars between June 2006 and June 2007, according to "Forbes TV 20" published on Thursday.

    Nabbing the No. 2 spot on the TV 20 is Jerry Seinfeld earning 60 million dollars.

    Simon Cowell, the harshly critical judge on top-rated talent show "American Idol," earned 45 million dollars to land at No. 3, and Donald Trump, who produced popular reality show "The Apprentice," was No. 5 with 32 million dollars.

    Another talk show host at the top of the list, late-night funnyman David Letterman, reaped 40 million dollars to rank the fourth.

    The list is dominated by daytime personalities, a reflection of just how profitable their programs are to network coffers.

    "Daytime personalities dominate our list of TV's top earners, with the most competition among morning and afternoon talk show hosts," said Lea Goldman, Forbes Senior Editor. "Other big earners, like Simon Cowell and Katie Couric, come from reality shows and television news."

    The remaining top 20 is as follows:

    6. Jay Leno, 32 million dollars

    7. Dr. Phil McGraw, 30 million dollars

    8. "Judge" Judy Sheindlin, 30 million dollars

    9. George Lopez, 26 million dollars

    10. Kiefer Sutherland, 22 million dollars

    11. Regis Philbin, 21 million dollars

    12. Tyra Banks, 18 million dollars

    13. Rachael Ray, 16 million dollars

    14. Katie Couric, 15 million dollars

    15. Ellen DeGeneres, 15 million dollars

    16. Ryan Seacrest, 14 million dollars

    17. Matt Lauer, 13 million dollars

    18. Barbara Walters, 12 million dollars

    19. Diane Sawyer, 12 million dollars

    20. Meredith Vieira, 10 million dollars

    (Agencies)

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