George Lucas: Named as richest man in Hollywood

George Lucas: Named as richest man in Hollywood

"Star Wars" creator George Lucas has topped a list of highest male earners of Hollywood on Wednesday, by making an estimated 170 million dollars in a year that saw the release of his fourth, blockbuster Indiana Jones movie. The list has been published by famous Forbes magazine.

Steven Spielberg, who undertook the responsibility of directing the movie "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", had taken 2nd place after making securing earning of 150 million dollars  between June 2008 and June 2009.

In spite of mixed reviews, the movie secured 786 million dollars at box offices throughout the world.

The Forbes list was dominated by men behind the camera rather than the screen stars, with movie and TV producer Jerry Bruckheimer,  the man behind popular series like "CSI", "The Amazing Race" and "Cold Case" listed as the 3rd biggest male earner with an estimated 100 million dollars.

According to Forbes.com, "In Hollywood the stars get their pictures on the covers of magazines and designers ply them with free clothes, but producers earn the big bucks”.

The website has compiled the high-earning list by looking at producers, actors, writers, musicians and television personalities in the industry and then talking to the Hollywood insiders in order to estimate earnings over the past twelve months.

The comedian Jerry Seinfeld came 4rth in the list with 85 million dollars, thereby thanking largely to the syndication rights for his television comedy creation "Seinfeld" almost ten years 10 years after it ended, and a series of Microsoft ads.

In 5th  place, television psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw proved that advice pays, along with his television shows, books and speeches helping him earn about $80 million last year.

"American Idol" judge and record producer Simon Cowell ranked in around 75 million dollars, along with television producer Dick Wolf and movie maker Tyler Perry.