Parade magazine is coming out with its annual "'What People Earn' salary comparisons showing how actors make millions playing ordinary people. In one example, the mag says actress Ellen Pompeo, 37, who plays Dr. Meredith Grey on "Grey's Anatomy", earned $5 million last year to pretend to be a medical intern, while medical resident Jennifer Beller, 26, of Palmyra, Va., made just $45,000.
More comparisons of celebrities and their real-life counterparts:
Actor Kiefer Sutherland made $23 million for playing government agent Jack Bauer on his hit show "24", while police officer Kevin Weaver, 40, of Concord, N.C., earned just $64,000 last year.
Actor Steve Carell, who plays insufferable office manger Michael Scott on The Office, earned $9 million, and real-life office manager Patricia Reichard, 55, from Naples, Fla., brought home a mere $29,000.
Simon Cowell makes $20 million a year for shooting down hopeful singers with remarks like "You are all horribly stupid and pathetic!" But high school counselor Carla Bailey makes just $64,000 while trying to build confidence in students.
TV host Rachael Ray made $6 million last year, while Tyler Mitchell, 55, a personal chef from Albuquerque, N.M., earned $67,000.
Maybe the Supreme Court should broadcast their cases? Judith Sheindlin, a former judge who now hosts the cable TV series "Judge Judy", earned a salary of $25 million last year. By contrast, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg made less than $200,000.
