"TV host" isn't a bad job if you can swing it, but the people in charge know that the right one is invaluable, and they command extremely large paychecks as a result. How large? Take a look at this list of the five highest paid TV hosts on the air right now and see for yourself.
5. Steve Harvey — $44 Million
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Unlike the other figures on this list, Steve Harvey is leveraging a prolific work schedule into big money, rather than taking home top earnings from just one or two shows. He's currently the host of iconic game show classic Family Feud, his daytime talk show Steve, the annual Miss Universe beauty pageant, and talent contest program Little Big Shots, and something called Steve Harvey's Funderdome, all of which and more, handed him $44 million in earnings from June 1st, 2017, to June 1st, 2018.
4. Ryan Seacrest — $74 Million
The fourth place spot on this list belongs to Ryan Seacrest, who is the host of both Live With Kelly and Ryan and the show that made him a household name, American Idol. Those jobs together earned him a healthy $74 million over the last year.
3. Dr. Phil McGraw — $77.5 Million
Phil McGraw, much better known to the world as "Dr. Phil," edged out Seacrest by $3.5 million with his daytime show of the same name as well as his behind-the-camera producer credits.
2. Ellen DeGeneres — $87.5 Million
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Last year Ellen became the first woman to make $20 million for a Netflix special. That, in addition to her popular daytime talk show, numerous endorsement contracts, and various TV producing gigs earned her $87.5 million in the last year.
1. Judy Sheindlin — $147 Million
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Judy Sheindlin, who you may know by her TV moniker "Judge Judy," made more than triple her usual annual salary with her well publicized deal to sell back the reruns to her extremely popular TV show back to CBS. Altogether it got her $147 million for the year, more than enough to hit the top of this list.
