Los Angeles, Sept 14: Atlanta-based actor Tyler Perry ranks atop the list of Hollywood's highest paid men, according to Forbes.com.
Perry topped the list by making $US130 million from May 2010 to May 2011.
The actor, writer, director and producer had his Hollywood breakthrough with 2005 film Diary Of A Mad Black Woman, which he originally created as a stage play. He dressed in drag to portray tough-talking family matriarch Madea, a crowd-pleasing role.
That movie led to a number of sequels, and most recently Perry has seen success producing the television show Tyler Perry's House Of Payne, which airs on TBS.
Holding the number two position on the Forbes list with $US113 million is producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
He is the man behind the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise and had yet another hit with the latest movie in the series, which came out this year and earned more than $US1 billion at global box offices.
Steven Spielberg ranks at number three with $US107 million, according to Forbes.
The last film directed by Spielberg was released in 2008, but he has kept himself busy on a number of projects since then where he has been the producer or executive producer, including action flicks Transformers and Cowboys And Aliens, as well the upcoming science fiction TV show Terra Nova.
Singer Elton John, whose most recent tour grossed more than $US200 million, takes the number four spot on the list with $US100 million in earnings.
TV personality and music executive Simon Cowell, whose X Factor reality competition is about to make its US debut, ranks number five with $US90 million.
Writer James Patterson comes in at number six on the list with $US84 million.
Rounding out the top 10 on the list are: Phil McGraw, the TV psychologist and Oprah Winfrey protégé from the show Dr Phil, with earnings of $US80 million; actor Leonardo DiCaprio with $US77 million; radio shock jock Howard Stern with $US76 million; and pro golfer Tiger Woods with $US75 million.
DiCaprio and Perry were the only actors on the list, and Forbes.com notes Perry earned most of his money from producing and directing projects instead of appearing on-camera.
