Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey replaced good friend Tom Cruise as the most powerful celebrity with earnings of $260 million over the past 12 months from her media empire.
NEW YORK: Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, whose chat show is watched by 30 million viewers every week in the US, replaced good friend Tom Cruise as the most powerful celebrity with earnings of $260 million over the past 12 months from her media empire, according to Forbes’ Celebrity 100 rankings released on Thursday.
“A combination of strong financials and her enduring influence on the US public, which could see her affecting the outcome of next year’s US elections, is enough to propel her back into the top spot,” said a Forbes spokeswoman.
Winfrey, 53, last topped the list in 2005. She has gone from rags to riches and regards education as “the door to freedom.” In January, Winfrey who is the richest African American, worth an estimated $1.5 billion, opened a school in South Africa for poor girls.
She also donated over $50 million to charity last year. Golf ace Tiger Woods powered into the second spot on the Forbes’ list by banking $100 million this year mainly through endorsements.
Madonna, absent from the list last year, cruised to the third spot this year after her “Confessions” tour which set a record as the highest-grossing tour by any female singer in history. Forbes said she drew over a million fans and generated $195 million in ticket sales.
For the first time, actor George Clooney earned a spot on the list where generating headlines isn’t enough to solidify a celebrities Hollywood standing.
A fat paycheck won’t do it, either. Forbes claims only a combination of earnings and sizzle lands a celebrity a spot on their powerlist.
No comfort then for celebrity-seeking jailed heiress Paris Hilton, who was number 56 last year, but failed to make the top 100 for 2007.
“The year’s biggest gainers include actress-advocate Angelina Jolie, who bounces to the 14th spot this year from 35th last year, thanks in no small measure to the media maelstrom surrounding her relationship with Brad Pitt. Soccer star David Beckham jumps to 15th this year, from 43rd, on the heels of his lucrative new deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy,” said Forbes magazine.
Pitt’s ex-wife Jennifer Aniston came in at number 44 after ending her box-office curse with the ironically titled The Break-Up, which grossed $205 million worldwide.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}