Simon Cowell rules the roost

milked a fortune from celebrity that seemed to last barely minutes.
While the league is topped by well-known names such as Simon Cowell, there are others in the top 50 who will be a mystery to all but the most devoted TV addicts.

The X Factor boss, with an estimated fortune of £225 million, has beaten Britain’s “Got Talent” star Susan Boyle, who is worth £22 million, and his proteges One Direction, who are worth £20 million each, to top Now magazine’s list.

But while Simon came first in the list, six of the names featured in the article are, in fact, ones signed up by Cowell — who wouldn’t have made it in the industry without his help.

As well as Susan and One Direction, Will Young (£13,5 million), Leona Lewis (£12 million), Alexandra Burke (£12 million), Gareth Gates (£6,5 million), Paul Potts (£6 million) and JLS (£6 million) all feature on the list. Girls Aloud, who first found fame on “Popstars: The Rivals”, also featured prominently on the list.

Cheryl Cole came in fifth place with a fortune of £15 million, while bandmate Kimberley Walsh placed in number 11 with £6,8 million.

Nicola Roberts, who also has her own cosmetics line Dainty Doll, featured in 13th place with £6,5 million.

Sarah Harding was in 15th place with an estimated wealth of £6,3 million, and Nadine Coyle was in 18th with a fortune of £6 million.

In the list, 50 percent of those featured found fame through singing talent shows such as “The X Factor” and “Pop Idol”. But while the rest of the list are made up of “stars” who appeared on shows including programmes including “Made In Chelsea” and “Big Brother”, many of them aren’t what you would call household names. — Daily Mail.

Those little-known “celebrities” include Francis Boulle, of “Made In Chelsea” fame, who has an estimated wealth of £10,1 million — though this is more to do with his personal fortune rather than money he has made through the “E4” show.

Former “Apprentice” contestant Paul Torrisi also made the list, in 20th position, with a fortune of £5,5million.

Stars who are perhaps more well-known for their other ventures than their reality shows to make the list include Katie Price (£17,5 million) who came in fourth, and Levi Roots, who came in eighth place having amassed a fortune of £12 million through his Reggae Reggae sauce and his appearance on Dragon’s Den. — Daily Mail.