Lucas, Spielberg richest of Hollywood rich men
NEW YORK (Reuters) - "Star Wars" creator George Lucas topped a list of Hollywood's highest male earners on Wednesday, making an estimated $170 million in a year that saw the release of his fourth, blockbuster Indiana Jones movie.
Steven Spielberg, who directed "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", took second place after making about $150 million between June 2008 and June 2009, according to Forbes.com.
Despite mixed reviews, the movie made $786 million at box offices worldwide.
The Forbes list was dominated by men behind the camera rather than screen stars, with movie and TV producer Jerry Bruckheimer -- the man behind hit series like "CSI", "The Amazing Race" and "Cold Case" listed as the third biggest male earner with an estimated $100 million.
"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 Forbes.com website said.
Forbes.com compiled the high-earning list by looking at producers, actors, writers, musicians and television personalities in the industry and then talking to Hollywood insiders to estimate earnings over the past 12 months.
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld came fourth in the list with $85 million, thanks largely to syndication rights for his TV comedy creation "Seinfeld" 10 years after it ended, and a series of Microsoft ads.
In fifth place, television psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw proved that advice pays, with his TV shows, books and speeches helping him earn about $80 million last year.
"American Idol" judge and record producer Simon Cowell raked in around $75 million, along with TV producer Dick Wolf and movie maker Tyler Perry.
(Reporting by Edward McAllister; editing by Patricia Reaney)
