22 TV Stars With Absurdly Large Paychecks

Getty Images8.) Ryan Seacrest: $15 million

Earlier this year, Seacrest signed a two-year deal to continue hosting "American Idol" giving him a $5 million-a-year pay raise.






Getty Images8.) Howard Stern: $15 million

"The America's Got Talent" judge also held the title of highest-paid celebrity judge until Spears was hired for "X-Factor."






Britney Spears Google+ page8.) Britney Spears: $15 million

Spears would have been the highest-paid celebrity judge for season 2 of "The X-Factor"; however, another celebrity knocked her off the top spot. 






8.) Sean Hannity: $15 million

Hannity signed a new deal with Fox News in May. He's the only host to hold the same time slot for 15 years.






9.) Ashton Kutcher: $14 million

Kutcher holds the title for highest-paid actor on television banking $700,000 per episode on "Two and a Half Men."

Considering season 10 of the show has between 20-24 episodes per season, he should rake in somewhere in the ballpark of $14-17 million.



10.) Brian Williams: $13 million

Sawyer's nightly news show may be closing in on the competition; however, Williams still earns slightly more than ABC's leading lady.




Getty Images10.) Maury Povich: $13 million

Though the nationally syndicated "Maury" has been on the air since 1991, he's been answering paternity questions since the segment began in 1998.





Getty Images11.) Jon Cryer: $12 million

Cryer is one of the highest-paid actors on television earning $600,000 per episode for "Two and a Half Men."

If the show produces its 20 episode average, he'll bank $12 million.




Getty Images11.) Conan O' Brien: $12 million

When Conan was let go from NBC's "The Tonight Show" the peacock paid him $32.5 million for the remaining two and a half years of his contract. His current $12 million-per-year salary holds through 2014 with TBS.




Getty Images11.) Mark Harmon: $12 million

The "NCIS" lead signed a deal with CBS in February 2011 to earn more than $500,000 per episode. With a 24-episode season last year, that's more than nearly any actor on television.





11.) Diane Sawyer: $12 million

The "ABC World News" host's show was ranked the number one newscast on the first night of the Republican National Convention. In the past month, the show has been closing the viewership gap with competitor "NBC Nightly News."




Getty Images11.) Chelsea Handler: $12 million

Handler earns the big bucks for her late show on E! despite a paltry .7 million viewers. The Los Angeles Times calculated that's an overwhelming $16.70 per viewer.