Hollywood is on a different pay scale than the majority of Americans, but even celebrity couples usually designate a "bread winner." When the high earner of a duo happens to be the woman, it's something to take note of. The Forbes Most Powerful Celebrities list reveals that only 11 of the top 50 celebrity earners are female, and of that small number, about half were in a committed relationship at the time of this writing. In spite of the rarity of long-term couplings where the lady makes the most, here are a handful of Hollywood power pairs doing just that.
Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady
Victoria's Secret supermodel Gisele has been dominating the top-paid (and most notable) women in Hollywood list for some time, dwarfing the financial achievements of her partner Tom in comparison. With Gisele earning a reported $45 million annually, and Tom getting $72 million over the life of his four-year contract with the Patriots (one of the richest on record), the couple isn't strapped for cash. Even with Tom's endorsement deals, which are being labeled as "relatively modest," Gisele is the high earner in this partnership.
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Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale
While most remember Gwen as the super-cute front woman for '90s hit band No Doubt, her influence in pop culture has grown to incorporate fashion, accessories and must-have gear for the kid crowd. Her latest line of clothing, Harajuku Mini, is a big boon for Target retailers. While Gwen's earnings aren't as public as some of the more notable celebs, her time in the limelight has given her more star-power and cash than her ex-Bush band rocker husband, who has been laying low until more recently.
Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie
Celeb couple Hilary and Mike aren't your typical "power pairing." Mike, a recently-retired Canadian hockey player, has seen much of his million-dollar sports earnings come to a halt, at least for now. Former Disney-star Hilary, who has just given birth to a child, but who has seen her acting and directing career transition into a mini empire of activity, (including clothing and young adult fiction), may just be getting started with her earnings.
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Oprah and Stedman
Finally, a celebrity feature wouldn't be complete without mentioning the mother of all earners: Oprah Winfrey. Topping the Forbes' list at a staggering $290 million in earnings, no one can seemingly out-earn her; this includes her technically non-celeb beau of 38 years, Stedman Graham. While most Americans wouldn't recognize the businessman and author while walking down a crowded sidewalk, his association with the queen of celebrity has made him a household name. Stedman's earnings are not available for public comment, but our educated guess is that it pales in comparison to Ms. Winfrey's well-established empire.
The Bottom Line
There were many other "notable" couples that almost made the list: Katy Perry and Russell Brand, Heidi Klum and Seal, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries - to name a few. Like so many Hollywood and real-life couples, the vows for these high-earners had fizzled out before making the list. Here's hoping the above-mentioned celebs can see their partnerships, and paychecks, carry on despite the spotlight.
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