Kim Kardashian and Lauren Conrad are top earning reality TV stars for 2010

NEW YORK, Dec. 6, 2010 (PRNewswire) — The Daily Beast has released a ranking of the 10 top-earning reality-television stars. The estimates of earnings were calculated from dozens of discussions with industry professionals, agents, managers, and publicists, as well as published reports and public financial disclosures. Our study examined stars who derived their fame from reality television — talent from “American Idol” didn’t qualify in our strict definition — and who had a show that aired or was in production in 2010. Our data revealed that all three Kardashian sisters made it to the top 10, with Kim coming out on top as the highest-earning reality star. Lauren Conrad of “Laguna Beach” and “The Hills” fame came in second, and her co-star Audrina Patridge ranked fourth.

Top 10 highest-paid reality stars

1. Kim Kardashian
2. Lauren Conrad
3. Bethanny Frankel
4. Audrina Patridge
5. Kate Gosselin
6. Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino
7. Khloe Kardashian
8. Kourtney Kardashian
9. Paul “Pauly D” DelVecchio
10. Kendra Wilkinson

Kim Kardashian’s estimated 2010 earnings were $6 million, accumulated from endorsement deals, party-hosting gigs, and sponsored tweets, in addition to licensed perfumes and a share of a clothing line with her sisters.

All earnings figures were designed to be conservative, meaning that some of these characters may have earned a bit more.

Full methodology: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-12-06/the-10-highest-earning-reality-television-stars/

(source: The Daily Beast)

Sidenote: Lauren Conrad will be on today’s (Dec 10, 2010) episode of CBS’s “The Talk.” Check out the preview below. ~Ifelicious