Underrated Manpower tear strips off our richest entertainers
Bankable biceps ... Manpower

THEY rank above 'Russell' Crowe and the late 'STEVE IRWIN' on the BRW rich list, but Manpower are essentially ignored as Australian entertainment powerhouses.

In the last two BRW entertainment rich lists they were ranked No. 15, which last year placed them above the gross annual incomes of Crowe, IRWIN, TV personality Rove McManus, model Gemma Ward, actor Heath Ledger and singer Missy Higgins.
They were listed as earning $7.5 million, while the Wiggles remained at No.1 with annual earnings of $50 million. Apart from being a permanent fixture in Las Vegas, the male strippers regularly tour the UK, Europe, South America and Asia and sell merchandise worth millions.
"We're just out there, performing continuously, working for a brand - the same as the Wiggles I guess, but it's just a different style of entertainment," Damian Cage said.
Another member, Ben Staaden, said: "We perform as the Thunder from Down Under in Vegas but essentially it's all Manpower. It's pretty amazing when you think it all started 19 years ago with three lights and a beat box."
The group's Australian tour has shows in NSW from Rooty Hill to Wagga Wagga and Broken Hill.
Manpower are owned by Billy and Jackie Cross. "We like the fact that it's low-key," said Mrs Cross.