Howard Stern – Stern’s Sirius Satellite Radio deal continues to pay him $100 million annually (less the production costs for the show, which come out of his pocket). The veteran shock-jock has threatened to retire when his five-year contract expires at the end of 2010, telling one caller...

Clint Eastwood’s reported last movie as an actor, Gran Torino, was also his highest-grossing. The movie earned $253 million at the world box office a good chunk of that went directly to Clint Eastwood, who also directed and produced.

Jay-Z reclaims his crown as the top earner in hip-hop cash this year, despite taking a steep pay cut from the $82 million he brought in a year ago. The reason? He signed a top-heavy 10-year, $150 million deal with Live Nation last April. Still had a good year: embarked on an international tour, made...

Country star released 11th studio album, Lucky Old Sun, last October to lukewarm sales. Who cares? Kenny Chesney real money is made on the road: Kenny Chesney sold 1 million concert tickets in 2008, grossing $72 million. Caribbean-loving crooner’s bottom line is buoyed by endorsement deals ...

Another monster year for the Tyler Perry brand. The Georgia-based studio owner added two more flicks, which collectively grossed $130 million at the box office, and another TBS sitcom, House of Payne, to his ever-expanding rsum. Perry’s rags-to-riches tale continues to garner headlines as he...

Though competition is mounting, Miley Cyrus remains the queen of ‘tween. In the last year, the 16-year-old TV star-turned-global brand sold 4 million albums, garnered $86 million at the world box office and shot 30 more episodes of her top-rated Disney Channel series, Hannah Montana. Miley Cyrus...

The world’s most famous footballer might be ending his run in the U.S. after playing on loan with AC Milan. Beckham will return to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy in July, when the MLS season is half over. The midfielder has an escape clause that allows him to terminate the final two years...

Roger Federer’s record streak of 237 consecutive weeks as the No 1-ranked player in the world ended last year when Rafael Nadal usurped the Swiss maestro. The 2008 Wimbledon final pitting Roger Federer against Nadal lasted nearly five hours and was called by many the greatest tennis match of...

Thanks to the success of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series, 2008 became the year of the vampire. The low-profile author sold 29 million books last year, releasing two new novels (Breaking Dawn and The Host) and selling hoards of paperbacks of what have become instant classics (Twilight, Eclipse...

The American Idol judge everyone loves to loathe has his contract coming up next yearand true to form, he’s been making noise about not renewing. That could kill Idolespecially if Simon Cowell brings his successful X Factor show to the U.S. Most likely scenario: Idol stays, Simon Cowell gets...