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  • Adam Sandler Tops List Of Most Overpaid Actors

    Adam Sandler has been named the most-overpaid actor in the list that was released by Forbes magazine. He continues to pull in big paychecks as if he were making big hits such as Happy Gilmore or Billy Madison still, despite the fact his past few films have been complete flops.

    Hollywood continues to pay its biggest stars millions of dollars per film, with Sandler being one of them. However, as his films continue to do poorly, fans have to wonder if it is worth it for the studios to pay him the huge upfront paychecks, since it is such a hard task to determine whether a film is going to be a success or not.

    While big names that have been popular often gain big money at the box office, that is clearly not the case all the time as Adam Sandler and other big name stars made some less than stellar films over the past year. The list is made up by examining the last three movies each actor starred in over the three years to June 1st.

    In order to compile a list of the 10 highest paid actors, Forbes had a formula in which they looked at pay, movie budgets and expenses, and calculated a return on investment number for each star, and then averaged those numbers to get an overall return.

    While it is being criticized as one of the worst films of the year and tops Time Magazine’s top 10 worst movies of 2013, Grown Ups 2 was actually Adam Sandler’s recent success at the box office. However, That’s My Boy and Jack And Jill did wonders to hurt his box office numbers, causing him to return an average of $3.40 on his last three movies.

    Closely following Adam Sandler in second place is actress Katherine Heigl, who started off with a very successful career, but her films that have come out recently have not been much to marvel at. She burst onto the Hollywood scene as the queen of romantic comedy, starring in 27 Dresses and Knocked Up, but with films such as Killers and One For The Money, she has not had much success since her earlier films. In fact, for every dollar she earned, she returned an average of $3.50.

    Reese Witherspoon comes in third on the list averaging a $3.90 return on every dollar that she makes. Following Witherspoon in fifth place is an actor that Adam Sandler has worked with on multiple occasions, and is appearing on the list for the first time. Kevin James fell to a return of $6.10 this year, mostly due to his awful looking film, Here Comes The Boom, which deterred many people, and only grossed $73 million at the worldwide box office.

    As the most overpaid actor, Adam Sandler is in a bit of an awkward position. While he enjoys making a lot of money, it can’t feel good to be known as the guy who makes more than everyone else when he doesn’t deserve it.

    Image via Facebook

  • Sofia Vergara:Top Paid While News Obsesses On Weight

    Life is full of ups and downs. This includes finances, weight and things that are just as important that the public eye probably does not care about.

    Modern Family star Sofia Vergara is feeling the highs and lows of stardom these days–Forbes has recently named her the highest paid television actor while some are worried about her apparently hitting the gym and cutting back on her diet.

    The 41-year-old Colombian actress, who is usually praised for proudly displaying her voluptuousness, has experienced a recent surge in attention from the news. In between the usual tweets from adoring fans are website links writing about her weight and giving quizzes asking the world “Is Sofia too Skinny?”

    In the articles, there are “quotes” of twitter users in an outrage about Sofia’s weight-loss, but there seems to be more news articles talking about Sofia Vergara’s weight than actual twitter users. Either all of the tweeters have deleted their posts for some reason, or they never existed– none of them have showed up in twitter’s search engine. The only tweets that do show up about her weight:

    are dated from May and August 2013.

    Vergara has experienced backlash earlier this year for apparently losing her “latin curves” in a Diet Pepsi ad but she assured fans that although she was skinny as a younger girl, that it was just the wardrobe in the ad that made her look so slim.

    After posting up recent Thanksgiving pictures and a poster for her new upcoming series Killer Women, Vergara does look a bit slimmer, but the tweets have been full of marriage proposals and “te amoooooo”s per usual.

    Due to fishy evidence, I say the verdict is still out on if “fans are in an outrage about Sofia Vergara being too skinny.” As Sofia Vergara continues to gain a wider lead on that number one Forbes’ list spot, the only fret truly should be is if doctors have any concern about her weight.

    [image: twitter]

  • Prince Alwaleed Says Twitter Will Succeed Post IPO

    Billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who’d invested $300 million in Twitter 2 years ago, says he thinks that the social media platform needs to focus on generating revenue. Twitter raised $1.82 billion during its November 7th IPO, and its stock jumped 73 percent after debuting, selling roughly 70 million shares to investors.

    Alwaleed put his $300 million into Twitter in December of 2011, and has demonstrated that he’s bullish about how the unprofitable social network might generate income from its over 200 million users. “When we analyzed Twitter, we believed in its business model,” Alwaleed said, adding, “You bet on the company and that the monetization process is going to be successful. We’re seeing some success in that process.”

    So far, Prince Alwaleed has made good use of Twitter, garnering over a million followers:

    Al Waleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz al Saud is a member of the Saudi royal family, as well as the founder, CEO, and 95%-owner of the Kingdom Holding Company. In March 2013, Forbes Magazine listed Alwaleed as the 26th-richest man in the world, with an estimated net worth of $20 billion. Some have said that Alwaleed’s Twitter investment was an act of self-preservation, as the platform had been used to coordinate uprisings in his home region, and some noted the correlation between sudden censorship within the network, soon after getting a $300 million handshake from the Prince.

    Twitter’s revenue reached $534.5 million during the 12 months before September 30, though user growth is slowing. The platform had 231.7 million monthly users in the quarter that ended in September, a 39 percent increase from the year before. Still, Twitter saw a growth of 65 percent during the year before that.

    Image via Twitter.

  • Highest-Paid Musician List Released By Forbes

    Forbes has released the 2013 list of highest paid musicians where the top contenders made the list not solely for the music produced. Madonna’s fruitful year of $125 million placed her in the top spot; however, she is not necessarily the Queen of Music but more likely the Queen of Merchandise and Touring. Her annual income was a culmination of revenue from her MDNA Tour and subsequent merchandise from the tour (current estimates claim the amount is $305 million), sales from her Truth or Dare fragrance, and the rising popularity of her Material Girl clothing line.

    Kevin Liles, who is the founder of KWL Enterprises, explained how capitalizing on money-making avenues beyond producing music will help place artists on this list. “With touring being the biggest revenue stream, if there’s an opportunity for an artist to go out, if there’s an opportunity for a promoter to curate a festival, people are doing it,” Liles said.

    Lady Gaga, the infamous rumored rival to Madonna, placed second on the list with $80 million where she had grossed $160 million through touring before cancelling due to a hip injury. Bon Jovi was third on the list thanks to annual earnings of $79 million, which was partially the result of the Because We Can tour. Toby Keith ($65 million) placed fourth barely etching out the fifth spot, where Coldplay placed due to earnings of $64 million.

    (image)

    Though some may wonder if an artist typically places at the top from year-to-year, the list for 2012 composed different artists where many of the performers were from the UK. However, the list for last year as well as the list for this year shows that having a top album is not the main factor for grossing the highest revenue. Most importantly, artists must maintain active tour schedules.

    [Images Via Wikimedia Commons and Courtesy of Pascal Mannaerts and Eva Rinaldi]

  • CoD: Ghosts Will Run at 720p on XB1 While PS4 Runs 1080p

    Call of Duty has done it again, at least in terms of causing controversy. Unlike previous controversies of the next-generation consoles, one of which involved Microsoft’s crazy DRM policies and the feud with the retail/resale market while another cited NSA-like data collection associated with the Kinect device, this one involves the release resolution for Call of Duty: Ghosts. The bad press, at least for Xbox One, seems viral; as it stands, the PS4 version of the new game will run at a higher native resolution than the Xbox competitor.

    PlayStation/Xbox rivalry is well-documented, and Call of Duty: Ghosts producer Mark Rubin certainly didn’t help things when he confirmed the difference on Twitter:

    “[For] Xbox One we’re 1080p upscaled from 720p. And, we’re native 1080p on PS4. We optimized each console to hit 60 FPS and the game looks great on both,” the tweet continued.

    Erik Kain at Forbes writes that this difference shouldn’t be a dealbreaker, especially for console gamers, most of whom probably don’t care about the strength of their hardware. In other words, “you don’t buy a PS4 because it has higher resolution if you’re a big Halo fan,” he wrote. “You don’t buy an Xbox One because it comes with a Kinect if you’re a big Uncharted fan.”

    Kain takes note of a piece on CinemaBlend by author William Usher, who clearly believes the gaming media is doing Microsoft a favor by downplaying the Xbox One’s technological inferiority. But unlike Usher, Kain acknowledges that console players probably won’t angrily charge onto internet forums and voice their disapproval.

    The endless debate over PC graphics cards shouldn’t even extend to consoles, Kain contends, because a vast majority of console players don’t overclock, tinker, and upgrade their gaming rig in the same way a PC gamer does. “You just plug and play, end of story,” he writes. “You don’t equip your PS4 with water-cooling.”

    [Image via Microsoft/Xbox.com]

  • NFL Most Disliked Players List Led by Michael Vick

    There are a lot of unlikeable characters playing today in the NFL. But according to a survey published yesterday on Forbes.com, Michael Vick is the most disliked man currently playing professional football.

    Michael Vick served his time, 19 months, for being involved in a dog fighting ring. However, in a society that considers dogs not just household pets, but members of the family – it is unlikely that Vick will ever win back the affections of the greater public. It has been four years since his release from prison, and it’s obvious that some crimes will never be forgiven.

    The scientific poll was conducted by the Marketing Research Company, E-Poll. It measured the public opinion of celebrities and athletes, alike, based upon a survey of 1,100 people. The qualifying age was 13 years old and up. Vick lead the way with 53% of those polled reporting that they disliked him. Although it should be noted that Vick is now likeable enough to endorse Nike products and football fans in general feel okay with him, as opposed to non-football fans.

    There were some obvious choices on the list. Yes, the media-craze surrounding San Diego Chargers linebacker Manti Te’o last year put him on the list at second. The rest of the list seems to fall into place in terms of general public perception. The remaining top ten are: Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (he plays dirty), Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (multiple sexual assault chargers), New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (under performer, hated by Jets fans), Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (he complains and scowls a lot), Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo (he plays for Dallas), New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (a little, okay, a lot too perfect), Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (under performer/poor image) and Detroit Lions runningback Reggie Bush (he had to give back his Heisman Trophy and he gets injured a lot.)

    Did the survey miss a player that you simply can not stand? Let us know in the comments section below.

    Image via Facebook

  • Jay-Z and Beyonce Named Forbes’ Highest-Earning Celebrity Couple

    Jay-Z and Beyonce are the epitome of a power couple. Most people associate the two of them with being among the top entertainers in the music industry, so having the title of highest-earning celebrity couple doesn’t come as a surprise. Earning approximately $95 million from June 2012 to June of 2013, the business-savvy couple takes ‘hustling’ to a whole new level. However, the impressive part of it all is how they earned the title. Jay and Bey prove to be jut as proficient in the boardroom as they are on stage.

    The numbers that equated the estimated $95 million dollar fortune demanded a gratuitous effort. Forbes reports that the calculations were comprised of information acquired directly from the couple’s managers, agents, and other business counterparts and affiliates. The numbers were then compiled to develop a legitimate estimation of the couple’s earnings. While the calculations exclude taxes to be deducted, along with fees that the couple may incur from management and other professional services, it provides a concise scope of the their financial attainment.

    With more than 20 #1 records collectively, the power couple are at the top of music’s totem poll, with no intention to wane anytime soon. “Watch the Throne,” Jay-Z’s duo album with Kanye West, garnered platinum success that led to the launch of their world tour. The tour made both nationwide and international headlines earning $1.4 million a night in the United States. But, Jay’s tour wasn’t the only to bring in big bucks. His wife, Queen Bey, bounced back after a short maternity hiatus with her “Mrs. Carter” tour. She managed to earn an average of approximately $2 million each night.

    The “Hard Knock Life” rapper also sold his stake in the Brooklyn Nets and the Barclay Center for a sizable profit of $1.5 million. While that profit may not be an astounding feat for the rapper/businessman who made approximately the same amount in one night on tour, this decision was merely a calculated business move. With the launch of Roc Nation Sports, Jay-Z’s new sports agency, the commerce of his stake in the Nets was justified. In an effort to remain compliant with NBA Rules and Regulations in regards to conflict of interests, Jay made the executive decision to proceed with the sale, which is exactly why his financial portfolio is as laudable as his discography.

    The power couple also has a number of other business ventures that contributed to the accumulation of their mounting fortune. Bey owns her clothing line, “House of Dereon,” and a fragrance collection. In addition to ownership of Roc Nation, Jay-Z also has a share in a number of companies such as Rocawear, the 40/40 Club, and Carol’s Daughter, which all collectively render a sizable profit as well.

    Then, to add to his long lineage of success, Jay-Z’s latest album, “Magna Carta Holy Grail,” topped the Billboard charts with an unprecedented release. The album was RIAA certified platinum on July 4, 2013, due to pre-orders and an outstanding number of digital downloads. The “Magna Carta” became Jay-Z 13th consecutive, studio album to debut at the top of the Billboard 200. If Jay’s successful album debut is anything to go by, it looks like the power couple is making strides to top the Forbes list again next year.

     

    Image via Beyonce’s Tumblr

  • Jennifer Pritzker: First Transgender Billionaire

    Jennifer Pritzker has become the first transgender billionaire and has been ranked among FORBES’ list of the top 400 richest Americans. There are only 48 women in total on the list of 400, since we all know that the 1% and much of the workforce is dominated by men. She has an estimated worth of about $1.7 billion. Pritzker is a retired Army lieutenant colonel who served 11 years in active duty, followed by 16 years in the U.S. National Guard.

    She was born to a Jewish family in Chicago, Illinois. James Pritzker released a statement declaring that as of August 16, he will undergo a legal name change and will be known as Jennifer Natalya Prtizker. The statement, which was released as an email, went on to say that this change will reflect the beliefs of her true identity that she has held privately and will now share publicly.

    She is known for her philanthropy and is also the founder of the Tawani Foundation, which aims to enhance the awareness and understanding of the importance of the citizen solider. Earlier this year, the organization donated $1.35 million to University of California’s Palm Center, in order to create The Transgender Military Service Initiative. She also donated $25 million to Norwich University, the school that established the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

    She is one of 11 billionaire members of the extended Pritzker famly that appear on the FORBES list. They sold a majority stake in industrial conglomerate Marmon Holdings to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, according to FORBES Magazine. Her father, who has since passed away, started Marmon Group.

    Their family is very elite in the business world and the community of Chicago. Chicago Business states that her uncles, the late Jay Pritzker and Donald Pritzker, founded the Hyatt Hotel empire. Her half brother Matthew Pritzker is an entrepreneur and her cousin J.B. Pritzker is also a venture capitalist.

    Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are ranked at the top of the list and the highest ranked woman on the list is Alice Walton, who is worth $33.8 billion.

    The issue of Pritzker’s gender is receiving more attention after Bradley Manning, the source of WikiLeaks, declared that he wanted to be woman after being imprisoned and wants to be known as Chelsea from now on. It is a big deal for Pritzker to be open about this, after being ranked among the wealthiest people in the country and a significant step for transgender people.

    Image via Youtube

  • Forbes Richest 400: 2013 List Revealed

    Forbes Richest 400: 2013 List Revealed

    For those who anticipated seeing some new names top the famous Forbes 400, you’re expectations are definitely about to wane. Straight from the mouth of Forbes, the richest man of 2013 is, none other than, Microsoft Corporation co-founder, Bill Gates. Classified as the richest American for 20 consecutive years, it should come as a surprise to no one that Gates’ has once again dominated the Forbes’ list. The most intriguing part is that Gates is not just the richest American. At 57, with a $72 billion net worth, Gates’ has also been named the richest person in the world yet again. Last year, Gates’ dropped down a notch falling in second place to Mexico’s Carlos Slim, but nevertheless, he’s recouped this year.

    Second on the list is Berkshire Hathaway CEO, Warren Buffett. Another wealthy American that’s no stranger to the Forbes’ list, Buffett’s fortune is calculated at a whopping $58.5 billion fortune. Chief executive of the Oracle Corporation, Larry Ellison, placed third on the list with $41 billion. Brothers and businessmen Charles and David Koch of Koch Industries hold a tied net worth of $46 billion. The Koch brothers have also been noted as the richest residents in the city of New York.

    The four founders and share holders of Wal-Mart designated the sixth to ninth spots on the list, with a reported average net worth of $34 billion. New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg, placed tenth on the list with a net worth of approximately $31 billion, deeming him the world’s richest mayor.

    The 2013 edition, which is marks the 32nd year of the Forbes list, went on to unleash a few surprises as well. Famed computer programmer and Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, raked in an additional $9.6 billion, catapulting him into the top 20 from No. 36 on the 2012 Forbes list.

    The top 400 wealthiest Americans are calculated to be worth a mind-blowing $2.02 trillion.

     

    Image via Forbes.com

  • Dallas Cowboys Top List Of Most Valuable Teams

    While the National Football League may not have the worldwide following that is so coveted in sports, it does continue to be far and away the most lucrative league in the world. NFL franchises, including the really bad ones, are cash factories that allow owners to basically print their own money.

    So while the Dallas Cowboys haven’t had great success on the field as of late, they continue to make a killing at the bank. The franchise posted $539 million in revenue last year, which is a double digit gain from the previous year. Dallas obviously cashes in on the moniker of “America’s Team”, and this year marks the seventh consecutive year that they have topped the list.

    Forbes, which compiled the list, also reported that the 32 NFL franchises are worth around $1.17 billion on average, which is a 5% increase from last year. Major League Baseball only boasts an average worth of $744 million per team, and the NBA pales in comparison at $509 million per team.

    The top five is rounded out by the Tom Brady lead New England Patriots, the rejuvenated Washington Redskins, the New York Giants, and the other team from the Lone Star State, the Houston Texans.

    Having a profitable stadium and being located in a large metro area undoubtedly helped those teams in the top 5, but the numbers can still be mind-boggling to those working for minimum wage.

  • Angelina Jolie Tops List Of Top Earning Actresses

    Angelina Jolie Tops List Of Top Earning Actresses

    Angelina Jolie has not quite been in the spotlight over the last year, but that has not stopped her from making more money than any other actress over that time.

    According to Forbes, Jolie earned $33 million between June 2012 and June 2013 despite dropping from the public eye. Jolie’s absence was understandable given the double mastectomy she underwent earlier in the year. Despite her misfortune, Jolie was still able to produce, direct the Bosnian War film “In The Land of Blood and Honey”, voice a character in “Kung Fu Panda 2”, and perform other duties that earned her such a hefty total.

    Second place on the list was Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence. The “Silver Linings Playbook” star earned $26 million in the past year. Lawrence was able to rack up such a healthy bank account due to her Oscar winning role in that film, as well as her portrayal of Katniss Everdeen in “The Hunger Games”, a role which she will reprise in the upcoming “Catching Fire” as well as the trilogy ending “Mocking Jay”.

    Actress Kristen Stewart took third place with a reported $22 million. The rest of the list was rounded out by big names like Jennifer Aniston, Emma Stone, Charlize Theron, Sandra Bullock, Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Julia Roberts, who starred in Snow White retelling “Mirror Mirror”.

    While Jolie’s earnings were more than impressive, she is still dwarfed by the $75 million raked in by Robert Downey Jr., who topped the list of top-earning actors thanks to his role as Tony Stark in “The Avengers” and “Iron Man 3”.

  • Stanford Tops Forbes List Of Top Universities

    For at least this year a west coast school can claim supremacy over what is usually viewed as eastern academic superiority. Stanford university in Palo Alto, CA has been named the top university in the country by a recent Forbes list.

    The list focused on the areas of Student Satisfaction, Post-Graduate Success, Graduation Rate, Nationally Competitive Awards, and Student Debt. Forbes editor Michael Noer made sure to emphasize that the areas being assessed not only deal with the experience offered by the institutions, but also their economic viability.

    “Our college rankings were created to inform consumers about the quality of the educational experience and our brand new financial health grades give insight into which schools will be around for the long-haul.”

    In claiming the number one spot Stanford dethroned Ivy League titan Princeton University, which fell to the third slot.

    Second place also went to a west coast institution in Pomona College. The private, liberal arts college is located in Clermont California and boasts a student population under two-thousand.

    The rest of the top ten is rounded out by Yale, Columbia, Swarthmore College, The United States Military Academy, Harvard, Williams College, and MIT.

    The issue, which will be released early next month, will also include rankings of the best public, private, and value schools. Forbes’ coverage will also include an interactive tool called “Find Your Top Colleges” that will allow students to find their best matches based upon their test scores, GPA, and other factors such as region.

  • Lady Gaga Takes Top Spot On Forbes Under-30 List

    Lady Gaga recently underwent hip surgery to repair a labral tear, most likely caused by her intense dance schedule. It is that work ethic that helped her top this year’s Forbes list of the top earners under the age of 30.

    Forbes estimates that Gaga made around $80 million in the period between June 2012 and June 2013. The estimate does not include taxes, management deductions, and other fees associated with the insanely wealthy. However, that figure remains impressive due to the fact that she was unable to finish her sold-out tour due to the aforementioned injury. Gaga was also number two on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list.

    Gaga joins six other women in the list’s top ten including Taylor Swift in third place and Rihanna in fourth. Those two are thought to have made $55 and $43 million respectively.

    The Y-Chromosome is also represented on the list, although rather sparsely. Teenage money machine Justin Bieber landed the number two slot with an estimated income of $58 million. The other two young men on the list were Actor Taylor Lautner and musician Calvin Harris, who is in his last year of eligibility at age 29.

    The rest of the top ten is rounded out by Kristen Stewart of Twilight fame, Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence, pop queen Katy Perry, and the talented Adele, whose earning were estimated at $30 million.

    The running themes of the list are clearly music and acting. A whopping seven of the top ten are musicians while the remaining three are actors. So for those of you out there with aspirations of seeing your children on the Forbes list in the future, invest in either acting or piano lessons.

  • Mark Zuckerberg Now Only the 36th Richest Person in America

    Mark Zuckerberg Now Only the 36th Richest Person in America

    Facebook’s struggles on the stock market have been widely reported, and the man behind Facebook has seen his bank account suffer in the past few months. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, is now only the 36th richest man in America.

    GASP, I know. But you shouldn’t feel sorry for the man who once famously claimed “I’m CEO, bitch.” Coming in at #36 among this crowd is nothing to scoff at. According to Forbes’ annual list, Zuckerberg still holds a net worth of $9.4 billion.

    That ties him with Richard Kindler and News Corp’s Rupert Murdoch.

    Last year, Zuckerberg joined the ranks of America’s top 20 for the first time. On that list, he ranked 14th with a net worth of $17.5 billion, which put him ahead of Google’s Sergey Brin and Larry Page, as well as Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer.

    This year, Sergey Brin and Larry Page come in at #13 (tied), with net worths of $20.3 billion. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos takes the 11th spot, with $23.2 billion.

    But among all of these insanely rich people, there is still one king. Microsoft cofounder and badass philanthropist Bill Gates takes 2012’s crown with a net worth of $66 billion. Here’s what the rest of the top 10 looks like:

  • Gordon Ramsay is the Highest Earning Chef in the United States

    Gordon Ramsay, the star of the insanely popular and extremely entertaining television programs “Hell’s Kitchen”, “Master Chef”, and “Kitchen Nightmares”, has been deemed the highest earning chef in the United States, according to Forbes. In addition to his numerous televised endeavors, Ramsay has opened numerous restaurants, released countless cookbooks, and has received a whopping 11 Michelin stars. The chef’s estimated global income: $38 million. From where I’m seated, the guy has earned every single penny he’s made.

    Nipping at his heels is the always-bubbly Rachael Ray, who managed to snag $25 million in just twelve months. Ray, too, has a number of accomplishments under her belt, including a daytime chat show, a well-circulated magazine, and several best-selling cookbooks. Although she’s in the number two spot this year, $25 million is nothing to complain about. Her empire is doing quite well, especially when you stop to consider she’s selling “garbage bowls” to suburban housewives. If she can make a mint off of such ridiculous items, I say go for it, girl.

    Also on this year’s list is Wolfgang Puck, who netted a cool $20 million from his 20 restaurants and various business endeavors. Paula Deen, who was recently criticized for hiding her Type 2 Diabetes from the public eye, managed to rake in $17 million from her restaurants, cookbooks, and merchandise. Rounding out the top five is Mario Batali, star of “The Chew” and owner of over a dozen eateries. He managed to grab $13 million from his various ventures.

    “They are very diversified,” Forbe’s Dorothy Pomerantz explaiined. “There is nobody who just has restaurants. TV is a huge factor in making this list because they make so much more money from television than they can from their restaurants.”

    For a complete list of the top-earning chefs and restaurants in the United States, then have a look at the original Forbes article. As always, it’s definitely an interesting read, particularly if you’re obsessed with celebrity food moguls and their ilk.

  • Sofia Vergara Tops Forbes List of Highest Paid Television Actresses

    Sofia Vergara is having one hell of a month. Not only did she turn 40 looking better than people do their entire lives, she’s also reportedly engaged to her boyfriend Nick Loeb, a man she nursed back to health following a car crash. Adding an expensive layer of icing to this incredibly curvy cake is Forbes’ list of highest paid television actresses, which finds Vergara sitting at the very top. Toss in a $7 million advance from K-Mart for her clothing line and a TV show that continuously brings in high ratings and you’ve got a woman who’s having the best year ever.

    Also on the list is Kim Kardashian, the reality TV star many people love to hate. Despite what you may think of the Kardashian clan and their dysfunctional lifestyle, they’ve managed to transform their peculiar behavior into a well-oiled empire. Although it’s a little insane to consider Kim an “actress” — after all, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” is barely a TV show — you cannot deny the impact she’s had on popular culture, for better or for worse.

    In addition to Kardashian, other non-acting television celebrities who made the list include Bethenny Frankel and Khloe Kardashian Odom, both of whom are positioned towards the top of the heap. However, don’t get down in the dumps just yet; talented actresses such as Tina Fey, Mariska Hargitay, Zooey Deschanel, and a number of “Desperate Housewives” stars also made quite a bit of money from their various endeavors over the past twelve months.

    If you’re curious to see the Top 20 highest paid actresses on television and how much they’ve made, take a look at the list below. Regardless of whether or not you like those who made the cut, you cannot deny that they’ve made the most of their respective careers. And be sure to swing by Forbes for a breakdown of how each lady made their dough. It’s an entertaining read.

    Sofia Vergara – $19 million
    Kim Kardashian – $18 million
    Eva Longoria – $15 million
    Bethenny Frankel – $12 million
    Khloe Kardashian Odom – $11 million
    Tina Fey – $11 million
    Mariska Hargitay – $10 million
    Zooey Deschanel – $9 million
    Felicity Huffman – $9 million
    Ellen Pompeo – $9 million
    Kate Walsh – $8 million
    Teri Hatcher – $8 million
    Marcia Cross – $8 million
    Kaley Cuoco – $8 million
    Alyson Hannigan – $7 million
    Marg Helgenberger – $7 million
    Melissa McCarthy – $6 million
    Julianna Margulies – $6 million
    Kyra Sedgwick – $6 million
    Courteney Cox – $5 million

  • Will Google Glass Interfere With Facebook’s Plans?

    Forbes has a report on Google Glass comparing it to Instagram and the new Facebook Camera app for iOS. The report argues that Glass will be standing in the way of Facebook’s maneuvering for a larger mobile presence.

    These sorts of predictions might be a little hasty, for two reasons. First, Facebook has not yet been able to get a firm foothold in the mobile realm. Though Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has promised investors a greater focus on mobile (and might deliver on that promise with a Facebook phone), the company still has a long way to go before mobile ads begin taking in the type of revenue Google is seeing from mobile.

    Second, Google Glass is by no means a guaranteed hit. Though smartphones are beginning to proliferate into every corner of the U.S. market, wearable computers will take quite a while to catch on. Perhaps Apple could market a Glass-type device and make it seem “cool,” but I suspect Glass will be to mobile devices what early Android was to mobile OS’s: the more functional alternative for early-adopter techies. Plus, there is still a stigma hanging over wearable devices that was created by bluetooth earpieces early last decade.

    There is a point to be made about the connection of Google Glass and social networks, though it was missed in the Forbes article. The first time a Googler allowed a non-Googler to wear one of the Glass headsets in public was last week, when Sergey Brin allowed a handful of photographers to don the device and walk through downtown San Francisco. This was no spur-of-the-moment decision. One of the few niche communities to embrace Google+ fully has been the photography community. The well-designed gallery views and Picasa integration are just two of the reasons photographers have adopted Google+ as their own.

    By allowing professional photographers to preview the device, Google is signaling that Project Glass is not simply a mobile device, but also as a social device. Photos are a key part of modern human social interaction, and Glass will provide a way for users to share their first-hand experiences, to allow others to see things from their perspective. Facebook wants users to fill their Timelines with a record of their life. However, if all of those experiences are filtered through the view of a Google product, will Facebook ever be able to get ahead?

    (via Forbes)

  • Women Who Are Least Likely to Land a Long-Term Mate Opt for Lucrative Careers

    A new social psychology study from The University of Texas at San Antonio sought to answer why some women decide to focus on their careers instead of having children. The researchers proposed that sex ratio affects women’s family planning and career choices. The study found that a scarcity of desirable men led women to seek high-paying careers and to delay starting a family. A large determining factor as to whether a woman decided to focus on a career or not was the availability of an “investing long-term mate.” Women who were least able to secure a mate — which was determined by surveys that assessed self-perceived value as a reproductive partner — produced the strongest desire to hold lucrative careers.

    The researchers concluded by saying that, “The fact that sex ratio has pronounced effects on women is not surprising when one considers theory in evolutionary biology and past research on operational sex ratios in numerous species. The relative number of available mates serves as a powerful environmental cue that signals what the current local environment holds in store for a given individual, particularly in light of his or her mate
    value and, therefore, future mating opportunities.”

    Forbes pointed out that the study failed to take into account that there are many programs in place that encourage women to enter good-paying jobs in the medical and science fields. This would play a huge role as to why women are choosing to pursue careers instead of watching their children play and cry all day. They also highlighted that women are “out-earning men in 147 of 150 of the country’s largest metropolitan areas becuase as the number of men in the population decreases, more job opportunities become available for women.”

    Does this study offend your sensibilities? Do you think that it is biased? How has the economy shaped the results of this research?

    Doesn’t it depend on the type of career as well? Stripping is a lucrative career isn’t it?

  • Forbes’ 400 American Billionaires: Gates Still #1

    The Forbes’ Magazine annual list of American billionaires has come out and to pretty much no ones surprise, Bill Gates is still #1. The annual list is produced as a way to show off American productivity and prosperousness. This years list includes 397 people from Bill Gates to Dan Snyder.
    This is the 30th year of the vaunted list and this years list feature some up and comers as well as old stalwarts. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, is up to #14 on the list worth an estimated $17.5 billion. Other notables are New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg at #12 worth $19.5 billion, Phil Knight, the founder of Nike at #24 worth an estimated $13.1 billion, and Rupert Murdoch, the chairman of News Corp(the owner of the Wall Street Journal and Fox News) at #37 worth $7.4 Billion.

    Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly.The magazine is well-known for its lists, including its lists of the richest Americans (the Forbes 400) and its list of billionaires. The motto of Forbes magazine is “The Capitalist Tool.” Its editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes.

  • Social Media: Who Are the Most Powerful Influencers?

    Social Media: Who Are the Most Powerful Influencers?

    Forbes Magazine, they of the lists, has released a list of the “Top 50 Social Media Power Influencers“.

    The list is comprised of social writers whose networks are most active and identifiable. This is not the same as having millions of followers on Twitter. These are people who write about social media, predicting trends, influencing where things go in the future. Some standouts from the list include:

    #1 – Chris Brogan @chrisbrogan – Author of “Social Media 101: Tactics and Tips to Develop Your Business Online”.

    #3 – Guy Kawasaki @guykawasaki – Early Apple employee who really pushed the Mac; went on to venture capital and found Alltop.

    #4 – Gary Vaynerchuk @garyvee – Wine connoisseur, video blogger, author of “Crush It! Why Now is the Time to Cash in on your Passion”

    #6 – Robert Scoble @scobleizer – Uber-Blogger. Formerly with Microsoft, Fast Company. Currently with Rackspace.

  • Amazon Earns Top Spot In Reputation Study

    Amazon Earns Top Spot In Reputation Study

    In an objective sense, Amazon’s an impressive company, and its stock’s performance (up 41 percent in the last year) means investors who value money should respect it.  But Amazon seems to have done a great job balancing financial acumen with people smarts, earning the top spot on a “reputable companies” list today.

    Forbes Media and a consulting firm known as the Reputation Institute awarded Amazon that spot after surveying almost 33,000 consumers in January and February.  Amazon earned the highest score out of the 150 largest U.S. companies included in the study, which is quite an accomplishment.

    Anthony Johndrow, a managing partner at the Reputation Institute, observed in a statement, “The reputation economy of 2011 is characterized by a heightened focus on three things: trust in companies and leaders rather than product brands, multiple stakeholders and their interactions, and building a connection between a company’s reputation strategy and its business strategy.”

    Anyway, second and third place went to Kraft Foods and Johnson & Johnson, if you’re curious, and moving onto companies we cover on a regular basis, Google managed to place ninth.

    Then Apple and Microsoft finished side by side much farther down the list in 46th and 47th places, while eBay came in 81st, not far behind Best Buy (at 78th).

    Congrats to Jeff Bezos and the entire Amazon team.  Congrats to Amazon’s shareholders, too, for that matter, considering the company’s stock rose 1.28 percent today.

    Google’s stock fell 3.16 percent as shareholders still appear to be nervous due to Larry Page taking over as CEO.