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Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been a lightening rod for Nascar fans since the he joined the top level of the sport in 2000. Fans have voted him the sport's most popular driver 10 straight years. He has dominated Nascar merchandise sales over the past decade with estimates putting his share as high as 35% of the total during some years. But the critics question his ardent following after extended winless streaks of 76 and 143 races and figure his support is simply a function of his famous name. Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Dale Jr. is still the biggest star in the sport.

A salary is one of the most compelling factors for individuals deciding on a career path, a degree or even where to live — because some parts of the U.S. pay higher wages, on average, for the same position.

Over the last 12 months, the combined earnings of the top 10 highest-paid models, from Gisele Bündchen to Candice Swanepoel, totaled just under $100 million.

Residents of Swiss financial center Zurich know that their country has more to offer than world-class chocolate and precision watches. They can now brag that, on the whole, they earn more than anyone in the world. Zurich-dwellers rake in $22.60 per hour in average net pay, according to a wage survey released August 19. The runner-up city is less than 200 miles southwest: Geneva, where jobs pay $20.40 per hour.