Cowell judged prime time's top-earning man

LOS ANGELES -- Simon Cowell, the acerbic "American Idol" judge, is the top-earning man on prime-time TV, with an estimated haul of $75 million, Forbes.com said Tuesday. Cowell made more than "The Apprentice's" Donald Trump ($50 million) and "Idol's" Ryan Seacrest ($38 million), based on estimated pre-tax earnings from June 1, 2008 to June 1, 2009.

Rounding out the top 10: "Two and a Half Men" star Charlie Sheen ($21 million); "The Office" actor Steve Carell ($20 million); Howie Mandel ($15 million); Kiefer Sutherland ($13 million); Jeff Foxworthy ($11 million); Hugh Laurie ($10 million); David Caruso ($9 million).