The man behind television hit Pop Idol earned �30m from the show, according to a survey of Britain's top earners.

Simon Fuller, who helped devise the ITV1 talent contest, was the programme's biggest financial winner.

The Sunday Times Pay List.survey ranks Britain's 500 highest-paid people by what they earned in the past year.

Top Ten Music Earners

1. Madonna - �36m 2. Sir Paul McCartney - �35m 3. Sir Mick Jagger - �24.5 m 4. Keith Richards - �24m 5. Sting - �21.8m 6. Eric Clapton - �14.2 m 7= Rod Stewart - �12m 7= Charlie Watts - �12m 9= Pete Townshend - �10m 9= Robbie Williams - �10m 9= Ronnie Wood - �10 m

Madonna was 15th overall in the list, but her �36m made her the richest music star.

She was just �1m ahead of former Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney.

Rolling Stone Sir Mick Jagger was next among the musicians, having earned �24.5m, followed by Keith Richards (�24m) and Sting (�21.8m).

Robbie Williams finished ninth in the music category with �10m.

In film, Sir Anthony Hopkins topped the list with an annual haul of �21.5m, followed by Welsh compatriot Catherine Zeta Jones on �20m and director Ridley Scott with �12m.

Star Wars leading man Ewan McGregor earned �8.5m and finished fourth among the stars of the big screen.

Top Ten Film Earners

1. Sir Anthony Hopkins - �21.5m 2. Catherine Zeta Jones - �20m 3. Ridley Scott - �12m 4. Ewan McGregor - �8.5m 5. Gary Oldman - �8.2m 6= Sir Sean Connery - �8m 6= Ralph Fiennes - �8m 8. Patrick Stewart - �7m 9. Hugh Grant - �6.5m 10. Rachel Weisz - �3.5m

Gary Oldman made up the top five with �8.2m.

Peter Simon, founder of Monsoon, topped the fashion list with earnings of �6.6m.

The list, in its third year, said record producer Simon Cowell, a judge on Pop Idol, earned �3m.

He was some way ahead of Pop Idol winner Will Young, who earned �500,000.

Fuller recently told Time magazine in the United States that his next project could be a talent contest aimed at resurrecting the careers of faded singers.

Second Chance Idol could be on UK screens by February and summer in the US.