The media mogul Oprah Winfrey – who quit her successful chat show earlier this year after 25 years to focus on running her own network - made $290 million between May 2010 and May 2011 to top Forbes' Highest Earning Hollywood Women list, ahead of celebrities including Lady Gaga, Gisele Bundchen and Ellen DeGeneres.

Her closest competitor 'You and I' hitmaker Gaga only managed to make $90 million in the same period, $200 million less than Oprah, while  former 'Real Housewives of New York' star Bethenny Frankel was third with $55 million thanks to her New York Times bestseller and Skinnygirl food empire.

Supermodel Gisele, talk show host Ellen, TV's Judge Judy Sheindlin and country superstar Taylor Swift all tied for fourth place with earnings of $45 million.
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Katy Perry banked $44 million from her world tour, album sales and endorsement deals and pregnant pop star Beyonce Knowles raked in $35 million last year, completing the top ten with romance author Danielle Steel – the most successful female novelist of all time – who earned the same amount.

Forbes Top 10 Highest Earning Hollywood Women 2011:
 
1. Oprah Winfrey, $290 million
2. Lady Gaga, $90 million
3. Bethenny Frankel, $55 million
4T. Gisele Bundchen, $45 million
4T. Ellen DeGeneres, $45 million
4T. Judge Judy Sheindlin, $45 million
4T. Taylor Swift, $45 million
8. Katy Perry, $44 million
9T. Beyonce, $35 million
9T. Danielle Steel, $35 million