Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting joins Sofia Vergara atop Forbes’ highest-paid TV actress list

Gloria Delgado-Pritchett has a high-earning new neighbor, and her name is Penny

Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting of “The Big Bang Theory” has joined “Modern Family’s” Sofia Vergara at the top of Forbes’ highest-paid TV actresses list. The sitcom stars each nabbed an estimated $28.5 million pretax between June 1, 2014, and June 1, 2015, according to the financial magazine.

Vergara, whose endorsement deals with CoverGirl and Head & Shoulders have padded her income, has topped the annual list for the past three years playing fiery Pritchett family matriarch Gloria on the ABC comedy. The Colombian star also earns a pretty penny from Latin World Entertainment, the talent-management and entertainment-marketing firm she co-founded in 1994.

But the “Hot Pursuit” star isn’t giving up the top spot so easily. The 43-year-old’s estimates have steadily increased over the previous three years -- $19 million estimated in 2012, $30 million in 2013 and $37 million in 2014 -- but this year’s tally marks the first dip since she laid claim to the TV title.

Meanwhile, Cuoco-Sweeting, 29, who the plays quick-witted girl-next-door Penny on the popular CBS comedy, notched the No. 3 spot last year with $11 million. She climbed the ranks with assists from her Priceline.com endorsement deal and the reported $1-million per episode salary she achieved after contract negotiations involving “Big Bang” costars Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki. (Parsons led the pack of highest-paid TV actors last month, earning a reported $29 million.)

Joining the list for the first time were Vergara’s “Modern Family” costar Julie Bowen ($12 million), “Bones” star Emily Deschanel ($6.5 million), “NCIS” star Pauley Perrette ($6 million) and “House of Cards” Emmy winner Robin Wright ($5.5 million).

Rounding out the Top 10 were “Grey’s Anatomy” star Ellen Pompeo; “Law & Order: SVU’s” Mariska Hargitay; “The Good Wife” star Julianna Margulies and “Parks & Recreation” star Amy Poehler, who tied for the No. 6 spot; and “The Mindy Project” star/show runner Mindy Kaling. Wrapping up the 10 were “Scandal’s” Kerry Washington and “The Middle’s” Patricia Heaton, who tied for No. 9.

The earnings estimate is calculated before subtracting management fees and taxes and based on data from Nielsen, IMDb and other in-the-know sources and insiders.

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