Star-studded stayers

Broadcaster Alan Jones and rockers AC/DC are an unlikely pair of long-term performers on the Rich Entertainers list

The BRW Rich Summer edition, which goes on sale tomorrow, features the two most interesting lists of the year: Top Entertainers and Top Sports earners. And while they can barely crack their way into the Young Rich list under normal circumstances, these names can certainly find the limelight in these categories.

Unlike the Rich 200, which is largely populated by successful business people with large property portfolios, the Top Entertainers ranks Australia’s top 50 entertainers in terms of what they earned in the past 12 months. So while the Rich 200 will make the cut or fall off the list based on fluctuations in the value of their share or property portfolios, actors, dancers, authors and musicians will go charging onto or off the list depending on how much work they’ve picked up in the past 12 months.

And it’s a fickle industry. James Wan and Leigh Whannell, the creative duo behind schlock-horror movies such as Saw IV and Saw V, made it into ninth place in 2009 with combined earnings of $8.8 million, but dropped back to 27th place in 2010, with earnings of $4.7 million. Newcastle music powerhouse Silverchair were still in their teens when they first made it to seventh place on the list in 1997, with a combined income of $1.1 million, scored 23rd spot in 2009 earning $4.2 million, but fell off the list last year – their fortunes built on tours and album releases. Oddly enough, the real stayers are the ones whose income is regular and whose reach is global. Broadcaster Alan Jones has not dropped off the list since in was first published and neither have veteran rockers AC/DC.

As for the sports stars, it’s as much to do with flashing a smile and finding a sponsor as it is with bowling, batting, swimming or riding. The best-paid sports stars are those that can turn their physical prowess into sponsorship dollars to keep them in cash long after their knees have given way or shoulders collapsed.

So who are the stayers? All will be revealed at 1pm, Wednesday, December 14.

Who do you think are Australia’s best paid entertainers or sporting stars?

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