He owns two of today's most successful TV franchises as well as his own record company, and more than his fair share of Armani shirts. So, it's no surprise that X Factor judge Simon Cowell has been named by Forbes as the top earning man on prime time U.S.  television.

The 50-year-old earned a staggering $75m (£45m) last year, topping the list ahead of The Apprentice host Donald Trump who took $50m (£30m) during the same period.

Cowell has raked in his earnings through TV show The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and his record label Syco Music. The worldwide success of the shows, as well as the X Factor winners, has made the music mogul U.S. TV's top earner.

The full list of Top 10 male earners on U.S. TV:

1. Simon Cowell ($75 million)

2. Donald Trump ($50 million)

3. Ryan Seacrest ($38 million)

4. Charlie Sheen ($21 million

5. Steve Carell ($21 million)

6. Howie Mandel ($15 million)

7. Kiefer Sutherland ($13 million)

8. Jeff Foxworthy ($11 million)

9. Hugh Laurie ($10 million)

10. David Caruso ($9 million)



Top 10 female earners on U.S. TV:

1. Tyra Banks ($30 million)

2. Katherine Heigl ($18 million)

3. Marg Helgenberger ($9.5 million)

4. Eva Longoria Parker ($9 million)

5. Mariska Hargitay ($8.5 million)

6. Julia Louis-Dreyfus (tie) ($8 million)

6. Maura Tierney (tie) ($8 million)

8. Tina Fey ($7 million)

9. Marcia Cross ($6.2 million)

10. Jennifer Love Hewitt (tie) ($6 million)

10. Ellen Pompeo (tie) ($6 million)

- Dailymail