Think you know everything
about making money? You've got a lot to earn.
Not long ago we presented
you with 10 sets of two individuals, and asked you to guess who
commanded the larger paycheck. Now we're asking you to guess
again.
Forbes magazine has compiled a new series
of lists showcasing top wage earners, and many of those individuals
are featured below. Can you tell us ... Who Made More?
1) TENNIS, ANYONE? Like any professional athlete,
tennis stars can earn millions on the court, and millions more
endorsing products and services. Andre Agassi and Anna Kournikova
have certainly earned their fair share playing tennis, but both
do more for their checkbooks when they pitch products. In 2001,
who had the higher total income?
2) PRESIDENTIAL PAYCHECK The U.S. President's annual
salary was set at $25,000 by an act of Congress in 1789. At the
same time the Vice-President earned only $5,000 per year. Over
the years, salaries for both positions grew. Reaching that $25,000
threshold took the Vice-President a considerable amount of time.
In the dollars of his day (not adjusted for inflation), who made
more?
3) THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN AND BOYS Think boy bands are old news?
'N Sync concerts grossed over $90 million in 2001, earning the
band a cool $42.3 million. Adults didn't fare too bad either,
as the grown-up members of U2 also had an impressive year. Can
you send a boy to do a man's job? Who made more?
4) BATTLE OF THE SEXES For decades, the average woman
has suffered paychecks lower than the average man. Recent awareness,
however, has resulted in a tremendous upsurge in the salaries
of female professionals. Did the pendulum swing too far to the
female side? Who made more in 2001?
5) BEWARE THE RISE OF THE COMPUTER NERD In 2001, America's two highest
paid CEOs were both from the computer industry. Lawrence Ellison,
CEO of Oracle, and Michael Dell of Dell Computer together earned
nearly $1 billion in a single year. Both made big money, but
one rose to the top of the Forbes CEO list. Who made more?
6) SOME FRIENDS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS Friendship can be lucrative.
The cast of the television show Friends each earn $1 million
dollars per half-hour episode, for a total of $22 million per
year. Add these earnings to film roles and product endorsements
and one friend makes more than the other five. Which friend made
more?
7) TALK AIN'T CHEAP Old politicians never die, they
get book deals and go on speaking engagements. Two high-profile
public servants made the Forbes list of 100-highest paid celebrities
in 2001. Who made more?
8) FAMILY FEUD What do you get when you combine
super-sweet twin sisters with foul-mouthed head-banging hellions?
The Olsen Twins and The Osbournes, two of the highest paid families
of 2001. Did cute win over coarse? Who made more?
9) DIRECTOR'S CUT Well-known movie stars make
a lot of money, but what about the big-name talent behind the
camera? Two of Hollywood's most famous producer/directors brought
in big money in 2001, but one had a bigger cut. Who made more?
10) DEAD AND LOVING IT Pushing up daisies is no reason
to stop the gravy train. Some performers continue to make millions
years after their death. In 2001, for example, the late Elvis
Presley earned more than $37 million dollars. Who was the second-highest-earning
dead celebrity during this time?
[ Click here for the answers ]
