Simon Cowell is now the highest paid man on US television.
He took home an impressive pay-packet of more than £26 million in just one year for hosting American Idol.
His overall salary almost put him on a level with TV queen Oprah Winfrey who earns £175 million a year.
Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen tops the highest paid TV actor list, according to TV Guide magazine.
The star rakes in over £420,000 per episode, including income from his ownership rights in the show.
William Petersen, who plays Gil Grissom on CSI:
Crime Scene Investigation, is the second highest paid, taking home over £300,000 a show.
Yahoo! News