"Modern Family" made Sofia Vergara a star in 2009, and the Columbian actress has capitalized on that power to become highest paid TV actress for the third straight year.
Vergara reeled in an extra-healthy $37 million over the last year and out-earned the next highest paid actress, Mariska Hargitay. A combination of her $325,000 per episode contract for the ABC comedy and multiple well-known endorsement deals drove her to the top of Forbes' 2014 list.
Vergara represents companies such as Diet Pepsi, CoverGirl, Head & Shoulders and AT&T, plus she touts her own fragrance. She has a 12-year contract with Kmart and they carry her clothing and home goods product line.
Vergara also co-founded the Hispanic talent management and entertainment marketing firm Latin World Entertainment, or LWE, in 1994 with former music promoter Luis Balaguer.
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" star Mariska Hargitay raked in $13 million for the year and boast a $450,000 per episode contract for the longest-running show on TV. Her role as Det. Olivia Benson led her to start the Joyful Heart Foundation that serves to help victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse "heal and reclaim a sense of joy in their lives," according to the charity's website.
A hefty raise should help "The Big Bang Theory" actress Kaley Cuoco move up the Forbes' list in the coming years. She landed at No. 3 this year with $11 million.
She and her male co-stars, Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki, renegotiated for a $1 million per episode salary, a figure not seen since the "Friends" cast bowed out 10 years ago. She also has endorsement deals with Priceline and Toyota.
See the complete list of Forbes' 2014 Highest Paid TV Actresses here.
