Oprah Winfrey named the highest earning woman

The media mogul - who quit her successful chat show earlier this year after 25 years to focus on running her own network - made $290 million between May 2010 and May 2011 to top Forbes` Highest Earning Hollywood Women list, ahead of celebrities including Lady Gaga, Gisele Bundchen and Ellen DeGeneres.

Her closest competitor `You and I` hitmaker Gaga only managed to make $90 million in the same period, $200 million less than Oprah, while former `Real Housewives of New York` star Bethenny Frankel was third with $55 million thanks to her New York Times bestseller and Skinnygirl food empire.

Supermodel Gisele, talk show host Ellen, TV`s Judge Judy Sheindlin and country superstar Taylor Swift all tied for fourth place with earnings of $45 million.

Katy Perry banked $44 million from her world tour, album sales and endorsement deals and pregnant pop star Beyonce Knowles raked in $35 million last year, completing the top ten with romance author Danielle Steel - the most successful female novelist of all time - who earned the same amount.

Forbes Top 10 Highest Earning Hollywood Women 2011:

1. Oprah Winfrey, $290 million

2. Lady Gaga, $90 million

3. Bethenny Frankel, $55 million

4T. Gisele Bundchen, $45 million

4T. Ellen DeGeneres, $45 million

4T. Judge Judy Sheindlin, $45 million

4T. Taylor Swift, $45 million

8. Katy Perry, $44 million

9T. Beyonce, $35 million

9T. Danielle Steel, $35 million

sections: Celebrities