Media mogul Oprah Winfrey is back on top of Forbes' annual "Celebrity 100 Power List," which ranks the rich and famous based on earnings and buzz.
Winfrey, who came in third last year, was the top money-maker with an estimated income of US$260 million over the past 12 months. She last topped the list in 2005.
"The woman is making history every single year," said Lea Goldman, a Forbes associate editor who oversaw the list. "It's not as if she's sitting on her laurels enjoying [her talk] show."
BIG GIVE
Winfrey's Harpo Productions is a partner on the popular daytime syndicated talk show featuring celebrity chef Rachael Ray, which debuted last September. Harpo is launching its first series in a prime-time slot, Oprah's Big Give, a reality contest in which contestants compete in philanthropy. Winfrey also produced the Broadway show The Color Purple.
Golf tycoon Tiger Woods, who pulled in US$100 million, ranks second. Madonna, absent from the list last year, is No. 3. The pop star's "Confessions" world tour -- the highest-grossing tour by any female artist in history, Goldman said -- and her adoption of a baby boy in the African country of Malawi put her back in the spotlight.
FAMILY MEN
The Rolling Stones dropped from No. 2 to No. 4. Brad Pitt, who earned US$35 million, ranks fifth -- up 15 spots from last year -- in part because of his status as one of the most talked-about celebrities in the world, Goldman said (girlfriend Angelina Jolie is No. 14).
Another handsome family man, Johnny Depp, placed sixth and was the year's highest-paid actor with his take of US$92 million. Not too bad for a pirate.
Eslton John, who earned a grand total of US$53 million from to concerts and revenue from Broadway hits such as The Lion King, came in seventh place.
Power player Tom Cruise, whor ranked as the world's No. 1 star last year, slipped to No. 8.
HIP-HOP
Rap mogul Jay-Z placed ninth with earnings of US$83 million, leading the newly added category "Hip-Hop Impresarios." Businessmen-rappers 50 Cent and Sean "Diddy" Combs placed 32nd and 43rd respectively.
Steven Spielberg rounded out the top 10.
New to the "Celebrity 100": George Clooney (40), the cast of ABC's Grey's Anatomy (12), Justin Timberlake (34), Keira Knightley (71), Bon Jovi (18), actor-comedsian Dane Cook (89), Vince Vaughn (54) and Cate Blanchett (63).
Troublemakers Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears did not make the cut.
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