How Do Celebrity Salaries Compare With Ours?

ByABC News via logo
March 15, 2004, 9:52 PM

March 16 -- For anyone curious about just how celebrity paychecks or those of ordinary people around the country stack up to their own, Parade magazine's annual survey of "What People Earn" is must-read material.

The top earner last year was not surprisingly businessman Donald Trump, whose salary was $100 million, Parade found. The lowest-paid person on the survey was author C. Annette Boyd from Randolph, Mass., who made just $2,000 last year.

Simon Cowell, the sharp-tongued judge on American Idol, made $2 million last year for shooting down hopeful singers with remarks like "You are all horribly stupid and pathetic!" That's a much better salary than high school counselor Carla Bailey, who made just over $64,000 trying to build up student's confidence last year.

Judith Sheindlin, a former judge who now hosts the cable TV series Judge Judy, earned a salary of $25 million last year. By contrast, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, presiding over the nation's highest court, brought in less than $200,000.

Basketball star Kobe Bryant made $13 million last year, but Woodie Smith, a high school athletic director who trains boys who hope to be future basketball stars didn't do nearly as well. He made just over $90,000.

Even some animals make more than people. Take Funny Cide, the winner of last year's Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. The gelding with the reddish, chestnut coat banked $2 million. Meanwhile, Jean Anhalt, a Wisconsin farmer who also spends plenty of time in the field didn't do quite as well. She earned just $45,000 last year.