Modern Family star Sofia Vergara has topped TV's highest paid actresses list for the third year in a row.
She earned US$37 million this year, well over TV's highest earning actor Ashton Kutcher (Three And A Half Men), who pulled in US$26 million, according to Forbes magazine in its annual list.
"At 42, the Modern Family star continues her streak in large part due to her business savvy," said Forbes of the actress.
It is estimated that Vergara, like the other stars on the sitcom, makes about US$325,000 (S$406,000) an episode on the popular sitcom, which recently won the Emmy for Most Outstanding Comedy series for the fifth year in a row.
The Colombian beauty, however, gets most of her earnings through her endorsements of Diet Pepsi, CoverGirl, Head & Shoulders, AT&T and thyroid hormone medication Synthroid in addition to her work on the show.
Known for her curves and her wacky character Gloria on the show, Vergara is also a media mogul: she is the co-founder of Latin World Entertainment - a talent management company and entertainment-marketing firm that has turned into a multi-million-dollar empire.
Add to this her 12-year-long contract with American supermarket chain Kmart to produce items that appeal to the Latin American market.
She also recently launched a collaboration between Latin World Entertainment and CNET to produce a Spanish-language tech site. And she has her own fragrance: Sofia by Sofia Vergara.
Here is Forbes list of the Top 10 highest paid actresses on TV.
1. Sofia Vergara, 42 (Modern Family): US$37 million
2. Mariska Hargitay, 50 (Law And Order: SVU): US$13 million.
3. Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, 28 (The Big Bang Theory): US$11 million
4. (tie) Julianna Margulies, 48 (The Good Wife): US$10 million
4. (tie) Ellen Pompeo, 44 (Grey's Anatomy): US$10 million
4. (tie) Cobie Smulders, 32 (How I Met Your Mother): US$ 10 million
5. Alyson Hannigan, 40 (How I Met Your Mother): US$9.5 million
6. Amy Poehler, 42 (Parks And Recreation): US$7 million
7. Mindy Kaling, 35 (The Mindy Project): US$6.5 million
8. (tie) Kerry Washington, 37 (Scandal): US$6 million
8. (tie) Zooey Deschanel, 34 (New Girl): US$6 million
8. (tie) Courteney Cox, 50 (Cougar Town): US$6 million
9. Claire Danes, 35 (Homeland): US$5 million
10. Lena Dunham, 28 (Girls): US$3.5 million
Top 10 highest paid actors on TV:
1. Ashton Kutcher, 36 (Two And A Half Men): US$26 million
2. (tie) Jon Cryer, 49 (Two And A Half Men): US$19 million
2. (tie) Mark Harmon, 62 (NCIS): US$19 million
3. Neil Patrick Harris, 41 (How I Met Your Mother): US$18 million
4. (tie) Patrick Dempsey, 48 (Grey's Anatomy): US$16 million
4. (tie) Kevin Spacey, 55 (House Of Cards): US$16 million
5. Tim Allen, 61 (Last Man Standing): US$15 million
6. Simon Baker, 45 (The Mentalist): US$13 million
7. Jim Parsons, 41 (The Big Bang Theory): US$12 million
8. (tie) Jason Segel, 34 (How I Met Your Mother): US$11 million
8 (tie) Johnny Galecki, 39 (The Big Bang Theory): US$11 million
9. (tie) Jon Hamm (Mad Men): US$10 million
9. (tie) Charlie Sheen (Anger Management): US$10 million
9. (tie) Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother): US$10 million
10. Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad): US$8 million
