Highest-paid | featured news

Maria Sharapova's life-changing move from Siberia to Florida as a seven-year-old propelled her on a path to fame and fortune but she says she would never turn her back on her mother country.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been a lightening rod for Nascar fans since the he joined the top level of the sport in 2000. Fans have voted him the sport's most popular driver 10 straight years. He has dominated Nascar merchandise sales over the past decade with estimates putting his share as high as 35% of the total during some years. But the critics question his ardent following after extended winless streaks of 76 and 143 races and figure his support is simply a function of his famous name. Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Dale Jr. is still the biggest star in the sport.

Forbes, the media outlet that publishes a new Hollywood-related list more often than most people shower, has a fresh one for us: a look at the highest paid TV actresses of the past year.

A salary is one of the most compelling factors for individuals deciding on a career path, a degree or even where to live — because some parts of the U.S. pay higher wages, on average, for the same position.

Over the last 12 months, the combined earnings of the top 10 highest-paid models, from Gisele Bündchen to Candice Swanepoel, totaled just under $100 million.

This should come as no surprise, "Twilight" fans: Kristen Stewart made more money than any of her female peers last year. Forbes has released their annual list of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood, and Stewart managed to land on top.

Tyler Perry is the highest paid man in entertainment according to yet another list in the endless parade of Forbes lists. He earned $130 million between May of 2010 and May of 2011, ranking him ahead of Jerry Bruckheimer, Steven Spielberg and Simon Cowell. In a bit of gender irony, Perry collected some of that cash by dressing up as a woman: Madea.

His first "Two and a Half Men" episode may not have aired yet, but Ashton Kutcher has already become TV's highest-paid sitcom star, the New York Post reported Wednesday. Kutcher will pull down $700,000 per episode ($15.4 million for the season) as Charlie Sheen's replacement on the hit CBS series, playing heartbroken internet billionaire Walden Schmidt.

Tom Brady and the Patriots finalized a 4-year extension, and Peter King reports that Brady “it’s safe to say” be the highest-paid player, averaging roughly $19 million per year.

Lionel Messi has replaced David Beckham as the best-paid player in world football, according to France Football magazine's annual "rich list".