newsmakers

newsmakers

Winfrey tops Forbes’ highest-paid celebs list

LOS ANGELES

Oprah Winfrey may not have her daily syndicated talk show dumping truckloads of cash at her feet anymore, but with OWN and other ventures, she’s still bringing home enough to top Forbes magazine’s list of the highest-paid celebrities for the fourth-straight year.

Though the magazine estimates that Winfrey’s income dropped by $125 milllion last year, her total haul from May 2011 to May 2012 is estimated to be $165 million. She may not have the daily show, but she still produces “Dr. Phil,” “The Dr. Oz Show” and “The Rachael Ray Show,” among others.

Following close on Winfrey’s heels is Michael Bay. Thanks to “Transformers: Dark of the Moon’s” $1.1 billion in box office worldwide (and Bay’s great deal for that film) as well as a cut of all Transformers toy sales, Bay took in an estimated $160 million last year.

Another filmmaker, Steven Spielberg, came in at No. 3, with $130 million, thanks in part to two films he directed, “The Adventures of Tintin” and “War Horse,” as well as the various TV shows and films he produced (including “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”).

Action producer Jerry Bruckheimer and music producer-rapper Dr. Dre round out the top five.

Other celebrities in the top 20 include Tyler Perry, Howard Stern, author James Patterson, George Lucas, Simon Cowell, Glenn Beck, Elton John, Tom Cruise, Dick Wolf, Rush Limbaugh, boxer Manny Pacquiao, Dr. Phil McGraw, Donald Trump and Ryan Seacrest, with Britney Spears and Tiger Woods tying for the last spot with an estimated $58 million each.

LL Cool J burglary suspect enters plea

LOS ANGELES

The man accused of breaking into LL Cool J’s home has pleaded not guilty to a felony burglary charge.

Jonathan E. Kirby appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom Tuesday morning and entered the plea.

Kirby was arrested after the actor-rapper subdued him in his home early Aug. 22, breaking the 56-year-old’s jaw, nose and ribs in the process. He was later charged with felony residential burglary and faces 38 years to life in prison if convicted due to his lengthy criminal history.

LL Cool J, whose real name is James Todd Smith, and his family were unharmed during the break-in, and nothing was apparently taken from their home. He stars in the CBS series “NCIS: Los Angeles.”

A district attorney’s spokeswoman says Kirby’s bail was set at $1.1 million.

Wire services