Charlie Sheen and Hugh Laurie named the highest paid actors in US television

(HMG) – According to TV Guide which broke down the salaries of top stars in various categories, including comedy drama and reality TV, Charlie Sheen who is paid $1.25 million for each episode of the series Two and a Half Men, is top dog for his comedy sitcom. Charlie’s co-star Jon Cryer earns $550,000, while ‘The Desperate Housewives; leading ladies are taking home $400,000 per episode.
British star Hugh Laurie, who plays the grumpy but brilliant doctor in House, tops the drama list earning $400,000 per episode. Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay who are paid $395,000 for Law & Order: SVU, and David Caruso, whose role on CSI: Miami sees him earn $375,000 an episode followed Laurie. Kiefer Sutherland, whose 24 series ended earlier this year was the top salary dog in 2009. Rounding out the list this year, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’s Marg Helgenberger and NCIS’s Mark Harmon, each earning $375,000. Others making more than $300,000 per episode are CSI’s Laurence Fishburne and cable TV stars The Closer’s Kyra Sedgwick and Rescue Me’s Denis Leary. Those in the $200,000 and above bracket include CSI: NY’s Gary Sinise, Grey’s Anatomy’s Patrick Dempsey, Bones’ David Boreanaz and Burn Notice’s Jeffrey Donovan.
On the late night and talk-show front, Oprah Winfrey lead the pack at $315 million per year, while in reality, the highest paid personality is American Idol’s Ryan Seacrest, earning $15 million a year, well ahead of America’s Got Talent’s Piers Morgan, earning $2 million a year.

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