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The Schmooze

How Much Does Jon Stewart Earn? A Lot

TV Guide Magazine’s annual survey of star salaries is out and one thing is clear — Jon Stewart’s high ratings translate into dollars.

According to the survey, Stewart tops the late night bracket, earning between $25 and $30 million a year. In previous years, Jay Leno and David Letterman had monopoly over the honor — no more. Leno took a nearly $10 million pay cut last year, putting him down in the $20 million range. Letterman is also in the $20 million ballpark after the license fee paid by CBS to his production company, Worldwide Pants, was reduced.

Judy Sheindlin (Judge Judy), is the highest paid television personality ever, earning a reported $47 million a year.

Jason Segel and Max Greenfield made the list in Comedy, with a cool $225,000 per episode for “How I Met Your Mother,” and $75,000 for “New Girl,” respectively. Ashton Kutcher (honorary Jew), is the highest paid actor in prime time with $750,000 an episode for “Two and a Half Men.”

Other members of the tribe included Andy Cohen ($2 million a year for “Watch What Happens Live”) and Howard Stern ($15 million a year for “America’s Got Talent”).

For the full list, pick up the August 22nd issue of TV Guide.

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