Simon Cowell has been named as the best paid man on prime-time US television, having raked in an estimated 75 million dollars (£45 million) in just 12 months, according to business magazine Forbes.

A list of America's biggest TV earners places the 50-year-old Briton firmly at the top, with his American Idol continuing to pull in big bucks and record ratings.

He towers over second place Donald Trump, whose TV ventures, including the Apprentice franchise, saw him take home 50 million dollars (£30 million) in the year to June.

Cowell is not the only one to cash-in on the success of American Idol. Host Ryan Seacrest secured third place in the list of top earning prime-time entertainers, bringing in 38 million dollars (£23 million) over the 12 month period.

Alongside his regular Idol job, Seacrest fronts E! News, a regular radio show, red-carpet events and Disney's annual New Year's Eve's spectacular.

The top five is completed with stars of two of the US's most popular sit-coms.

Charlie Sheen earned 21 million dollars (£12.7 million) as a result of the ratings hit Two and a Half Men. Meanwhile Steve Carell took home 20 million dollars (£12 million) for his role in the American version of Ricky Gervais's The Office.

Cowell is not the only Briton to feature in the list of top ten male earners.

Hugh Laurie came in at number nine for his portrayal of the eponymous star of medical drama House.

The comedian turned actor earned an estimated 10 million (£6 million) in the year to June, Forbes estimated.