In early May of 2009, Forbes listed the top most powerful celebrities
in the world. The list, which includes entertainment and media
stars, directors and producers, athletes, and musicians, is determined
based on a combination of earnings over the past year and media
exposure during that time. Despite worldwide economic problems,
the earnings of celebrities has remained relatively unchanged.
Most celebrities
have ongoing endorsement contracts and performance contracts
that began prior to the economic crises. If this list of celebrities
sees any change in earnings as a result of budget crunches,
it will be felt in the coming year. Interestingly enough, the
total accumulated wealth rose over the past year from an estimated
$4 billion to $4.1 billion.
While Oprah
Winfrey has topped the list in previous years, actress and philanthropist
Angelina Jolie took the number one spot for 2009. In addition
to a busy film career, Jolie has garnered massive attention
from the media as a result of the birth of twins and her on-going
effort to draw attention to humanitarian causes around the world.
Media mogul
Oprah Winfrey, last year's winner, came in second. Winfrey's
own philanthropic endeavors in Africa and America are always
a part of her media attention in addition to her multiple television
shows and publications. Winfrey also topped Forbes' list of
wealthiest Black Americans.
Also on
both lists is Tiger Woods, professional golfer, who pocketed
$110 million over the last year. While the golf pro earns millions
through his athletic career, the majority of his income comes
from endorsement and sponsorship deals.
The remaining
two in the top five are Madonna and Beyonce Knowles. Madonna,
entrepreneur and entertainer, earned approximately $280 million
last year from her "Hard Candy" tour while Knowles
pulled in $87 million from album sales, tours, and endorsement
deals.
Newcomers
to this year's list included Twilight author Stemphanie Meyer
and singer Taylor Swift. Meyer managed to earn $50 million from
the sale of her best selling young adult novels about vampires
and the related movie release. Swift made the list with $18
million last year and earned the spot of top-telling U.S. artist
of 2008.
President
Barack Obama also made this year's list as a result of publicity
and book sales that earned him $2.5 million. Obama is the first
sitting head of state to land on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list.
A few well-known
names fell off the list. Despite earnings and wealth, author
J.K. Rowling and actor Johnny
Depp were not included. Rowling has ended her famous Harry
Potter series and Depp didn't star in any blockbuster movies.
Top Ten Most Powerful Celebrities Ranked by Forbes
- Angelina
Jolie - Famous
Actress
- Oprah
Winfrey - Talkshow Host
- Madonna
- Famous
Singer
- Beyonce
Knowles -
Singer and
Actress
- Tiger
Woods - Famous
Golfer
- Bruce
Springsteen - Famous
Singer
- Steven
Spielberg - Movie Director
- Jennifer
Aniston - Famous
Actress
- Brad
Pitt - Famous
Actor
- Kobe
Bryant - Basketball
Player
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