Forbes.com has released its ” Celebrity 100 ” list of the world’s most powerful celebrities and the top four slots are held by women: #1: Angelina Jolie, #2: Oprah Winfrey, #3: Madonna, and #4: Beyonce Knowles. Half of the top ten are women, although they make up only a quarter of the top 25. Last time around, Oprah, who made $275 million in the last year, as opposed to Jolie’s paltry $27 million, held the number one spot. This year, Jolie proves money isn’t everything. Looks are! Actually, Forbes.com sites Jolie’s philanthropic work and the tabloid ruckus over the birth of her twins to be significant contributors to her ascent to the top spot. Who knows if rumors swirling around the possible demise of her relationship with Brad Pitt (#9) will hurt her chances next year for topping a list I’m sure she cares not a wit about.
Despite the toileting of the economy, Forbes.com notes, celebrities have proven resilient! “In a year filled with humbling bank failures and violent stock market swings, the earning power of the 2009 Celebrity 100 remained remarkably resilient. The cumulative earnings of the 2009 list totaled $4.1 billion, up slightly from last year’s $4 billion haul.” Great. I feel so much better now. At least the rich are still rich. Now, I can sleep at night.
Some stars, though, took a rankings bath. Justin Timberlake didn’t even make the list. (I, for one, am outraged.) Jennifer Lopez suffered the same fate. Neither did Tyra Banks. Other women of note who made the list: Stephenie Meyer (#26, who wrote the Twilight series), Miley Cyrus (#29), Ellen DeGeneres (#40), Sarah Jessica Parker (#58), Meryl Streep (#64), Serena Williams (#67), and Gisele Bundchen (#72). Who came in dead last? Race car driver Danica Patrick. Bummer, #100.
