Jul 16, 2009, 12:00 GMT
George Lucas is Hollywood's Highest-Paid Man.
US-born director George Lucas (L) and his partner Melody Hoffman The 'Star Wars' creator has topped a poll by Forbes.com after making $170 million in the past year, mainly thanks to his production company Lucasfilm - which is behind the sci-fi franchise and numerous other projects. EPA/PETER STEFFEN
The 'Star Wars' creator has topped a poll by Forbes.com after making $170 million in the past year, mainly thanks to his production company Lucasfilm - which is behind the sci-fi franchise and numerous other projects.
The movie mogul - who was placed 243rd in 2007 - saw huge success from last year's film and subsequent TV series 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' and the adventure movie 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'.
Award-winning director Steven Spielberg came second after he earned an estimated $150 million between June 2008 and June 2009.
His enormous salary came from directing the 'Indiana Jones' movie and producing films 'Eagle Eye', 'The Trial of the Chicago 7' and 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer came third with $100 million.
Other high-earners in the poll include music mogul Simon Cowell - who is behind reality TV shows 'Britain's Got Talent', 'The X Factor' and 'American Idol', and runs his own record company SyCo - with $75 million and comic actor Jerry Seinfeld who raked in $85 million.
Rocker Bruce Springsteen was named the highest-earning musician after coming joint ninth with DJ Howard Stern. The 'Philadelphia' singer secured funds of $70 million over the last 12 months.
The list of producers, actors, writers, musicians and industry leaders was compiled through discussions with managers, agents and other Hollywood insiders to estimate their gross earnings for the year.
Forbes.com's top 10 Highest-Paid Men in Hollywood:
1 - George Lucas - $170 million
2 - Steven Spielberg - $150 million
3 - Jerry Bruckheimer - $100 million
4 - Jerry Seinfeld - $85 million
5 - Dr. Phil McGraw - $80 million
6 = Tyler Perry - $75 million
6 = Dick Wolf - $75 million
6 = Simon Cowell - $75 million
9 = Bruce Springsteen - $70 million
9 = Howard Stern - $70 million
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