Tyler Perry, recipient of the CinemaCon Visionary Award, poses during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, in Las Vegas, Nevada March 31, 2011. (Photo: Xinhua/Reuters)
Multi-talented Tyler Perry has topped a list of entertainment's highest-paid men who are selected by Forbes magazine, beating out big-names including producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Steven Spielberg in a surprise.
The actor, who is also known as an established director, playwright, screenwriter, producer, author and songwriter, grossed 130 million U.S. dollars from May 2010 to this May as the highest- paid men on a star-studded list, the magazine announced on its website.
As one of the two actors who have made their way into the top ten highest-paid entertainers, Perry made money mainly through five movies he has made over the past two years, including "Madea' s Big Happy Family," "Why Did I Get Married Too?" and "For Colored Girls."
He also made two television series, "Meet the Browns" and " House of Payne."
The other actor who made the directors, producers and TV personalities-dominated list is Leonardo DiCaprio, who ranks eighth with a haul of 77 million dollars. He was supported by two blockbuster films including "Shutter Island" and "Inception" which reaped a combined 1.1 billion dollars in movie tickets worldwide.
Ranking in second is Jerry Bruckheimer who has made 113 million dollars during the period. The producer, although suffering from two box office flops including "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and " Prince of Persia," has made up the loss this summer with the showing of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," the fourth installment on the popular adventure-fantasy franchise which raked in 1 billion dollars from the global markets.
Steven Spielberg, who's back directing movies after a three- year hiatus, made 107 million dollars, ending in third place.
The only musician on the list, 64-year-old rock'n'roller Elton John, was fourth with 100 million dollars.
Rounding out the top five is Simon Cowell, a British judge known for his blunt and often controversial criticisms, insults and wisecracks about contestants and their abilities. The former " American Idol" judge has made 90 million dollars.
