Sheen 'highest paid US TV actor'

Sheen plays a womanising bachelor in the sitcom

Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen is the highest paid US TV actor this year, according to TV Guide magazine.

The actor rakes in $825,000 (£422,000) per episode, including income from his ownership rights in the show.

William Petersen, who plays Gil Grissom on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, is the second highest paid, taking home $600,000 (£307,000) an episode.

Law & Order's Mariska Hargitay was the best paid woman for TV drama, earning $400,000 (£204,000) per show.

'The best'

"[Sheen and Petersen] are at the very top of their game and are the best at what they do," said TV Guide editor Craig Tomashoff.

"You'd expect them to be at the top of the scale."

Others making the highest TV salaries list include the cast of The Simpsons, who each earn $400,000 (£204,000) per episode.

American Idol judge Simon Cowell earns $50m (£26m) for one season of the talent search show, says the magazine.

Family Guy and American Dad creator Seth MacFarlane's new $100m (£51m) five-year deal with TV network Fox makes him the highest-paid writer-producer creating shows for the small screen.

Oprah Winfrey tops TV Guide's list of highest paid TV celebrities, earning $385m (£197m) annually for hosting her daytime talk show.