By Tonya Whitaker
NDG Staff Writer
Actor, writer and producer Tyler Perry ranks top on the list of Hollywood’s highest paid men, according to Forbes.com.
According to the magazine, Perry, who gained attention in 2005 with his film and stage play, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, earned at least $130
million from May 2010 to May 2011.
The popularity of his character, Madea, has led to several spinoffs, including Madea’s Family Reunion and Madea’s Big Happy Family. Perry has also found success producing television shows, such as Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and Meet The Browns, on TBS.
Although Perry is an actor, Forbes.com noted that the star gained most of his fortune from producing and directing projects.
Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer came in second with earnings of $113 million. Globally, the latest installment of the pirate franchise that stars Johnny Depp earned more than $1 billion globally.
Rounding out the top five are director Steven Spielberg ($107 million), singer Elton John ($100 million) and TV personality and The X Factor star Simon Cowell ($90 million).
The remaining top 10 are author James Patterson ($84 million), Dr. Phil McGraw ($80 million), actor Leonardo DiCaprio ($77 million); “shock jock” Howard Stern ($76 million) and golfer Tiger Woods ($75 million)
Forbes reports that DiCaprio and Perry were the only actors to make the list.
