Oprah Earns $385 Million Per Year

Simon Cowell banks $50 million.

David Letterman? $32 million!

They’re among the stars who appear in TV Guide’s annual star salary survey, based on information from TV industry insiders and published sources.

Who else brings in the big bucks?

According to the magazine, newlywed Charlie Sheen is the highest-paid comedy star on primetime television, with $825,000 per episode.

CSI’s William Peterson — who is leaving the show this upcoming season — is the highest-paid actor in a prime-time drama, earning $600,000 per episode.

With $400,000 an episode, Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay is the highest-paid actress in a drama. Kyra Sedgwick takes home $275,000 per episode of TNT’s The Closer, making her top- earning actress on a cable network drama.

Some stars make serious money without appearing on TV at all.

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, who supplies the voice of lead character Peter Griffin, just signed a deal with Fox that will net him $100 million through 2012.

And The Simpsons cast — Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith and Hank Azaria — each earn $400,000 per episode.

For the complete list of star salaries, pick up the new issue of TV Guide, out August 7.

(source)