Highest annual earnings for a television talk show host ever

Television talk show host Oprah Winfrey (USA) earned an estimated US$275 million (£147.3 million) in 2008.

From Forbes "Ratings for the self-made billionaire's flagship production, The Oprah Winfrey Show, may have diminished, but her earning power appears bulletproof—at least for now. She will debut the Oprah Winfrey Network in partnership with Discovery Communications next year. She also has a three-year, $55 million deal with XM Satellite Radio. Her Harpo production company helped create Dr. Phil and The Rachael Ray Show. Less successful: a recent reality-TV show, Oprah's Big Give."