Australian Entertainers Top Money Earners 2005

[AC/DC]

Here is the list of the top money earners for Australian Entertainers......

( My dream is to replace Angus and play lead for AC/DC, , but if that cant happen, I would be one of the WIggles ! ! !)


Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban may not need a pre-nuptial agreement.
The celebrity couple made almost the same amount of money last year and, with a combined worth of $42.3 million, are the top male and female earners in Australia's entertainment business.

The pair were named, behind children's group The Wiggles and aged rockers AC/DC, in BRW magazine's list of Australia's 50 richest performers in 2005.

The magazine calculated Kidman's 2005 earnings to be $22.3 million, in front of Urban's $20 million, tying him equal fourth with Hugh Jackman.

"Keith is absolutely the big mover," said BRW's James Thomson, who compiled the list.

"He was at $4.7 million last year, jumping to $20 million. It just goes to show how important success in the United States is."

The Wiggles topped the list, with earnings of $50 million, up from $45 million the previous year.

And then came AC/DC, who haven't released an album since 2000, with $25 million, boosted by the release of their Family Jewels DVD.

"This is our estimates of gross earnings for 2005," said Thomson.

"We look at things like news reports, concert takings, album sales, box office and budgets to try and gauge the going rate for people."

Kylie Minogue ranked sixth on the list, followed by Cate Blanchett, children's group Hi-5, and actors Eric Bana, Naomi Watts and Geoffrey Rush.

Russell Crowe dropped dramatically, ranking 18th on the list this year with $5 million in earnings. That compared to last year's earnings of $27 million.

Crowe made one film last year, Ridley Scott's A Good Year, and has focused on his music, with band The Ordinary Fear of God.

"His earnings go up and down depending on what he wants to do," said Thomson.

Young model Gemma Ward is a new entry to the list with an income of $3.5 million.

Other newcomers include musicians Missy Higgins, Anthony Callea and The Veronicas, directors Greg Mclean and James McTeigue, and actors Jacinda Barrett and Emilie de Ravin.

The magazine will be released nationally tomorrow.