Sofia Vergara is the best-paid actress on TV

Sofia Vergara is the highest-paid actress on television for the past six years according to Forbes, with total earnings of $41.5 million a year. But a lot has to do with her being a business maven.

Vergara's role on "Modern Family" accounts for only a quarter of her income. The rest comes from movie roles, speaking engagements, licensing deals and her own businesses which are often aimed at empowerment.

"As a woman who has been able to build my career through business, business was the most logical way to enable other women," said Vergara.