The £40m Osbournes

The past year has seen them shoot from rock has-beens to TV superstars. Now Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne have confirmed their ascendancy by entering rock 'n' roll's latest wealth chart, beating Robbie Williams, Sir Elton John and The Beatles.

Millions have been glued to the box for MTV's fly-on-the-wall show The Osbournes, which follows the often bizarre daily lives of the heavy metal icon, his wife and their children Jack and Kelly. And their new-found fame seems to be having a healthy effect on their bank balances.

According to research into the income of British rock and pop stars, Birmingham's most devilish musical export and his spouse are now third in terms of earning power, their £40 million combined income only bettered by Sir Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones.

The former Black Sabbath frontman and his businesswoman wife, who manages his career, beat Sir Elton, who comes in just behind at £38 million, the Beatles estate, at £17 million, and Robbie Williams, who made £12 million.

Tough negotiator Sharon Osbourne secured a £19 million VHS/DVD deal for the TV series, which has been broadcast on Channel 4, along with sponsorships and a £2 million book deal.

The rich-list, compiled for Heat magazine, is based on income last year - generated by record sales, live performance, songwriting and publishing, merchandising and sponsorship.

Sir Paul McCartney's status as Britain's most successful star in the US helped him earn £120 million and maintain his position as the highest-earning homegrown rocker.

The Stones benefited from the success of their greatest hits album Forty Licks which helped bring earn £75 million. Sir Elton too has done well out of a greatest hits package, and has targeted a younger market by collaborating with pop act Blue on a version of Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word.

Royalties helped The Who to number five in the list, with an income of £22 million, ahead of the The Beatles estate at number six.

Having signed an £80 million deal with EMI, Robbie Williams made £12 million in 2002, putting him at number seven.