(NNPA)—Move over Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio: producer and actor Tyler Perry is the richest man in entertainment, according to Forbes magazine.
The 42-year-old Perry, creator of the popular “Madea” franchise and the TBS shows “House of Payne” and “Meet the Browns,” recently topped the magazine’s list of Entertainment’s Highest Paid Men. Perry, whose films rarely find an audience outside the US, recently helmed an adaptation of stage play “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf,” which starred Whoopi Goldberg, Thandie Newton and Janet Jackson.
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Forbes wrote, “Thanks to five movies he has cranked out over the past two years and two TV series, Perry earned $130 million between May 2010 and May 2011, which ranks him as the highest-earning man in entertainment for that time period.”
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer came in second on the list with $113 million for his latest installment of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise. His film “On Stranger Tides” also earned him $1 billion in the global box office.
The only other actor featured on the list was DiCaprio, who earned $77 million for his films “Shutter Island” and “Inception.” Golfer Tiger Woods was 10th, with $75 million.
Producer Steven Spielberg, talent judge Simon Cowell and musician Elton John were also featured on the list.
The past year has been a good one for Perry. He’s set to appear as detective Alex Cross in author James Patterson’s “I, Alex Cross” film. The role was originally portrayed by Morgan Freeman in the films “Along Came a Spider” and “Kiss the Girls.”
The New York Times also reported last month that the entertainment giant has plans to launch his own television network with Lionsgate Films.
Industry insiders said the new venture, with the working title Tyler TV, will initially be stocked with Perry’s own films and television shows, but may later feature content akin to Perry’s from a third party.
The media mogul is currently gearing up for the debut of a third TBS series deemed “For Better or Worse,” which will air this fall.
(Reprinted from the Afro American)
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