Like, say the dog(s) who played Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, etc.
Michael Jackson?
Mike Tyson?
I’d like to know why Bill Gates doesn’t count.
Scalia
A more serious answer. The horse Cigar won just short of US$10m over a 4 year career.
As far as I know, paying a non-human results in a dumb look and maybe some sniffing. I assume you’re talking about their agents/trainers?? In modern dollars I’d go with Spuds Mckenzie, just think of the residual revenue generated by that mutt! Ever see that special on Diana Ross’ dogs…absolutely sickening!! They spend in a day more than I make in a month.
Earth?
Lassie? Probably not because that was a long time ago & you’d have to adjust for inflation. An alligator rental for Candid Camera got $900.
“I’d like to know why Bill Gates doesn’t count.”
I don’t know what his salary is (Someone said $400k per year), but Im sure there are a lot of people who make a higher salary than he does. The rest of his value is in paper stocks.
Slightly off-topic, but this recent Guardian piece about the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy claims that
Secretariat made jilliions for his owners but nary a cent for himself. True, he did live in horsey opulence for the rest of his life, but still it’s not like having your own money.
However, having retired at, oh I don’t know, let’s say 21 he’d been human, he spent the remainder of his life servicing an endless stream of young to not-so-young hard bodies. That plus all the oats you can eat has to count for something.
Gunther The Dog. He inherited a multi-million dollar trust. He has a group of 5 people (called The Burgundians) whose sole purpose is to keep him happy. He lives in Madonna’s old mansion in Miami.
I’m thinking that any animal could care less about luxury. As long as they are fed and taken care of, any money they generate is only benefitting their owners.
Guiness said the most paid for an animal is is $13.1 million on 23 July 1985 at Keeneland, Kentucky, USA by Robert Sangster and partners for Seattle Dancer (a racehorse).
This story lays out cloning and Catlle. One bull made his owners $2 million since 1995 & I doubt he was the #1 Bull — one of those (thru clones) may make more.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/local/chi021209breeds,0,4676098.story
The Taco Bell dog,
Is it Gates or Steve Jobs that has an official salary of only $1 a year? Jobs, i believe…
I think Lee Iacocca did the $1/year salary his first year as CEO, too. Of course, you don’t count the fact that it comes with perks like a chauffeur, house, lovely severance package. Having a $1/ys. salary = good for taxes!