The small screen, or prime-time television as we call it, has been the BIG payday for many actors and actresses. It’s definitely the on-screen fights, back-stabbing, and love triangles that have skyrocketed the female presence on television for many years. So for several of these talented actresses it’s that almighty dollar that keep them in those drama-filled roles and their fans glued to the tube from 8pm to 11pm.


Forbes magazine released their Prime Time TV’s 20 Top-Earning Women’s list. Here are the top 10:

#1 Tyra Banks = $23 million (America’s Next Top Model)
#2 Heidi Klum = $14 million (Project Runway)
#3 Katherine Heigl = $13 million (Grey’s Anatomy)
#4 Eva Longoria Parker = $9 million (Desperate Housewives)
#5 Muara Tierney = $7.5 million (ER)
#6 Mriska Hargitay = $6.5 million (Law & Order: SVU)
#7 Marg Helgenberger = $6 million (CSI)
#8 Jennifer Love Hewitt = $5 million (Ghost Whisperer)
#9 Paula Abdul = $5 million (American Idol)
#10 Tina Fey = $4.5 million (30 Rock)

**This list of Hollywood’s Top- Earning Prime-Time Women is ranked according to estimated earnings, not only from television work, but also from production, movie, endorsement and fashion ventures between June 1, 2007 and June 1, 2008.

To find out who made the latter half of the list, go to www.forbes.com or tune in to Top 20 TV Cash Queens, which will premiere on E! on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 8 p.m. EST.