Vergara: Television’s Highest-Paid Actress

She’s one of the hardest working women in Hollywood… And, now Sofia Vergara is reaping the rewards for her red-hot career…

Forbes magazine has just released its list of the highest paid actresses on television in the past year, with the 40-year-old Colombian actress unseating Eva Longoria at the top of the list.

Sofia Vergara

Forbes estimates that Vergara, who reportedly got engaged last week, raked in $19 million from May 2011 to May 2012. That hefty sum is due in large part to the seven-figure advance from her Kmart clothing line (to the tune of $7 million dollars by the end of 2012), English-language endorsement deals with Cover Girl and Diet Pepsi, as well as Spanish-language endorsement deals with Burger King, Comcast and State Farm (which amount to a whopping $12 million). Vergara serves as one half of the management company Latin World Entertainment, which should help secure her status as a rising entertainment mogul.

Vergara narrowly beat out Kim Kardashian, with the reality star earning an estimated $18 million over the same time frame. Kardashian’s earnings include $10 million for her E! wedding special. Kardashian, like Vergara, also has her hand in the fashion industry with a cost-conscious clothing line through Sears, which she designs alongside her sisters.

Meanwhile, last year’s No. 1, Eva Longoria, dropped to third place despite increasing her earnings by $2 million.  The 37-year-old Mexican American actress pulled in a grand total of $15 million during the same time period. Longoria earned an estimated $8 million for her role on the final season of ABC’s Desperate Housewives. In addition, Longoria’s endorsement deals with L’Oreal and Pepsi Next earned her $5 million and sales of her cookbook, two fragrances and a handful of small movie roles rounded out her earnings.

Here’s a look at the Top 10 female earners in TV:

1. Sofia Vergara: $19 million

2. Kim Kardashian: $18 million

3. Eva Longoria: $15 million

4. Bethenny Frankel: $12 million

5. Khloe Kardashian Odom: $11 million

6. Tina Fey: $11 million

7. Mariska Hargitay: $10 million

8. Zooey Deschanel: $9 million

8. Felicity Huffman: $9 million

8. Ellen Pompeo: $9 million