It is official, last year’s highest paid actor, Charlie Sheen, has been replaced by his replacement on Two and a Half Men, Ashton Kutcher. Between May 2011 and May 2012 Kutcher earned a total of $24 million dollars, putting him squarely in the number 1 spot on Forbes list of Highest Paid TV Actors .
Last year Sheen topped the list, making $40 million dollars for his role on Two and a Half Men , now he isn’t on the list at all. There is still a chance he will be back on the list next year as his payment arrangement for Anger Management is said to be very lucrative but for now he is off.
Kutcher, who originally was feared incapable of carrying a high caliber show like Two and a Half Men , has proven his critics wrong. Two and a Half Men attracts more than 12 million viewers weekly making it the most watched sitcom on TV. Kutcher, also an avid investor in high tech companies, will be joining his two passions when he portrays Apple founder Steve Jobs in the upcoming movie, Jobs .
Some other actors of not that fell off the list this year were Office star Steve Carrell, who was number three on the list last year was off the list completely this year after leaving the show.
This year’s number two on the list, Hugh Laurie, will be falling off the list completely next year because his mega hit show House M.D. ended its eight year run last season.
Tying Laurie for second place on the list was Everybody Loves Raymond star Ray Romano. Alec Baldwin and Mark Harmon tie for fourth place with $15 million each.
