TV's 20 Highest-Paid Actresses

Sofia Vergara edges out Kim Kardashian, thank goodness
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 18, 2012 12:52 PM CDT
TV's 20 Highest-Paid Actresses
Sofia Vergara attends Glamour Women of the Year Awards 2012 at Berkeley Square Gardens on May 29, 2012 in London, England.   (Getty Images)

Sofia Vergara has made her way from Colombian farmer’s daughter to the top spot on Forbes' list of highest-paid TV actresses. The Modern Family star made an estimated $19 million between May 2011 and May 2012, thanks to the success of the show, endorsement deals in both English and Spanish, and a top-earning year for the media company she co-founded in 1996. Forbes calls her "the cross-over star [television has] been waiting for since Desi Arnaz left the airwaves."

The rest of the top five:

  1. Kim Kardashian: The reality star earned an estimated $18 million. In addition to her TV presence, Kardashian has a clothing line and tons of endorsement deals.
  2. Eva Longoria: The Desperate Housewives star earned an estimated $15 million. She boasted one of the highest per-episode salaries on TV, but she also earned money from cookbook sales, two fragrances, film roles, and endorsement deals.
  3. Bethenny Frankel: The Real Housewife earned an estimated $12 million, thanks in part to her Skinnygirl cocktail line and a novel.
  4. Khloe Kardashian Odom: That's right, the Kardashians claimed two of the top five spots. Kim's sister earned an estimated $11 million.
Click for Forbes' full top 20. (More Sofia Vergara stories.)

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