Story photo: Who's On Top? Hollywood's Hottest RivalriesForbes
Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens may be the best of friends, but professionally, there's room for only one "High School Musical" star at the top.

Yes, they're both young, talented and beautiful. But when it comes to the War of the Wages, Tisdale's No. 1. Between June 1, 2007, and June 1, 2008, the Disney star banked $5.5 million, beating her "High School Musical" costar by $2.3 million. In addition to a third Musical installment, the 23-year-old's rapidly expanding resume includes two Disney channel series, a straight-to-DVD movie, and a handful of endorsement deals.

In Pictures: Hollywood's War of the Wages

From Leno and Letterman to Aniston and Jolie, Hollywood's chockablock with rivalries. And there's no better -- or fairer -- way of measuring who's winning than with the industry's favorite metric: money.

Nowhere does the game get more personal than in the shoot-out between Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston. After all, Aniston's former husband Brad Pitt is now the father of Jolie's many children. But while Jolie got the guy, the former "Friends" star's got the fatter wallet. Between June 2007 and June 2008, Aniston banked $27 million to Jolie's $14 million.

Why the $13 million difference? While a pregnant Jolie was focused more on her ever- expanding brood than her big screen opportunities, Aniston was busy scoring role after role. The tabloid staple's upcoming films include the canine comedy "Marley & Me" and relationship drama "He's Just Not that Into You." "Friends" syndication and a lucrative Smartwater endorsement deal also help.

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Over on the small screen, Jay Leno, of NBC's "The Tonight Show," and David Letterman, of CBS' "Late Show," have been pitted against each other for nearly two decades. And while Leno regularly scores higher ratings, he comes up short in pay stubs.

As it turns out, it pays to be your own boss: Unlike the NBC host, Letterman owns a stake in his late-night show. Over the course of the year, Letterman raked in $45 million to Leno's $32 million. Of course, much can -- and likely will -- change next year when Leno explores other late- night options. As of June 2009, he is being replaced by NBC's other late-night funnyman Conan O'Brien.

And as far as the tween set goes, the Jonas Brothers may be the next big thing, but Walt Disney's "Hannah Montana" dynamo Miley Cyrus still has them beat at the bank. In fact, Cyrus pulled down $25 million this year compared with the Jonas trio's $12 million.

How did the 16-year-old sensation reach that hefty sum? In addition to a 70-date Best of Both Worlds concert tour, which raked in some $50 million in ticket sales, the pint-sized super star has a book deal, a TV series and several movies in the works.

The Jonas Brothers are playing a quick game of catch-up, however, garnering big gigs and even bigger money. Over the course of the same 12-month period, the crooner siblings pulled in $9 million from touring and $3 million from CD sales, merchandise and television deals. Still to come: a movie, a TV series and a 3-D documentary.

Reporting by Lacey Rose

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comments 1-10 of 312  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • Jill Ray Antonette Sua
    I love you Ashley Tisdale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you Ashley Tisdale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you Ashley Tisdale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you Ashley Tisdale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you Ashley Tisdale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you Ashley Tisdale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    report abuseposted February 28, 2009 3:03 AM PST
  • Jill Ray Antonette Sua
    I love you Ashley Tisdale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you Ashley Tisdale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you Ashley Tisdale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you Ashley Tisdale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you Ashley Tisdale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you Ashley Tisdale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    report abuseposted February 28, 2009 3:02 AM PST
  • B
    Maniston is a whore that's why she's got $ lol
    report abuseposted January 24, 2009 6:09 AM PST
  • finola
    I too am a fan of T.D. Faison. He is actually the sexiest author out there, with such a sexual past. I attended one of his seminars and I'd follow this beautiful man anywhere. He really knows a woman and what she needs and wants. he speaks with a such a manly swagger. After I left his seminar I had to change my underwear and the way I dealt with my man. T.D. vs Bad Sex. I cant wait for the
    report abuseposted January 4, 2009 10:38 AM PST
  • finola
    T.D. Faison is quickly becoing a household name with the successful release of his 1st novel "All the Things She Told Me."Apart of the highly successful McNeil Chronicles that are now being turned into a feature length film. Faison pronounced(fay'shon) is being named Renisance man of 2009, from being connected to all sorts of hollywood big shots. Faison's life isn
    report abuseposted December 28, 2008 3:47 PM PST
  • candy
    i luv u vanessa hudgens!
    report abuseposted December 20, 2008 6:36 AM PST
  • Ashley
    I dont care who is richer... Its great that Vanessa and Ashley are best of friends... And they are not fighting to see who is better... I personally heart Vanessa wayyyyyyyy better...but I still like Ashley... Ohhh one more thing! Zanessa 4 life!
    report abuseposted December 14, 2008 7:43 PM PST
  • Jen
    I
    report abuseposted November 27, 2008 10:59 PM PST
  • RandysGyrl10
    I don't think how much money celebrities make should determine if they win a rivalry. I think what kind of people they are should affect it more than money. The Jonas Brothers are amazing people, always donating money and giving whatever they can. They're just all around great guys and they try to be as generous and normal as they can. How people interpret that is up to them. They
    report abuseposted November 14, 2008 11:48 AM PST
  • cookiemonster77
    i hate celebrity rivalrys! cant they sll just get along!
    report abuseposted November 2, 2008 12:50 PM PST
comments 1-10 of 312  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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