How Do Celebrity Salaries Compare With Ours?

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.