Oprah Winfrey and Britney Spears top female rich list

Image source, AP/Reuters

Oprah Winfrey has been crowned the highest female earner in Hollywood by Forbes magazine, having taken home an estimated $165m (拢102m) last year.

Britney Spears is next, with earnings thought to be about $58m (拢36m).

Taylor Swift completes the top three, only just behind Spears, making $57m (拢35m) in the past 12 months.

According to Forbes, Oprah Winfrey is America's only African-American billionaire and owns the television company, Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

She is also a television presenter and recently interviewed Rihanna about her relationship with Chris Brown.

Britney Spears did not make the Forbes list last year, possibly down to a reduction in the amount of her touring.

This year the pop star has performed 75 dates as well as earning money from various endorsements and her perfume line.

She has also taken a role on the judging line-up of The X Factor USA.

Taylor Swift's place is partly down to her tour, which grossed more than $1 million per night (拢620,000) and ran for more than 65 dates.

Other names on the list include television host Ellen DeGeneres and singers Rihanna and Lady Gaga.

Forbes' highest-paid women in 2012

1 - Oprah Winfrey, $165m (拢102m)

2 - Britney Spears, $58m (拢36m)

3 - Taylor Swift, $57m (拢35m)

4 - Ellen DeGeneres, $53m (拢33m)

5 - Rihanna, $53m (拢33m)

6 - Lady Gaga, $52m (拢32m)

7 - Jennifer Lopez, $52m (拢32m)

8 - Gisele Bundchen, $45m (拢28m)

9 - Katy Perry, $45m (拢28m)

10 - Judge Judy Sheindlin, $45m (拢28m)