Making the List
December 20, 2004

Who is the most powerful celebrity on the planet? Is it Cruise, Oprah, Tiger, or Mel? Forbes magazine has put together a list that ranks entertainment's top earners and it includes everyone from actors to athletes.

"We want to make sure we get a mix of people," Forbes' Peter Kafka told us. He says they used a formula that includes earnings, TV exposure, Web, and print presence to rank Hollywood's top one hundred, and, "Because we're Forbes, we care mostly about how much money they make."

So, who's on the list?

"Our top ranked actress this year was Angelina Jolie," Kafka informed us. Meanwhile, "Johnny Depp, at number ten this year -- people were talking about him."

And there's been lots of talk about the gang from "Ocean's 12," too. Catherine Zeta-Jones was ranked 56th, while Brad Pitt came in at 36 and Julia Roberts at 24.

Sports stars are powerful too. Derek Jeter scored at 53; David Beckham bent it at 22 and Michael Jordan landed the lucky number seven spot.

Surprises include those who did not make the list this time around: no Affleck, no Lopez -- Jessica Simpson's there, but hubby Nick is a no-show -- and there's no sign of Britney.

Newcomers include Lindsay Lohan, in at number 97, just one below William "She Bangs" Hung. Paris pops in at 70, and Hilary Duff took number 72.

So who tops the list? Tom cruise is fourth and pal Oprah is number three. According to Kafka, "Oprah Winfrey always has a really good year; she makes about two-hundred-million dollars or more."

Newlywed Tiger Woods shoots a solid number two. And Forbes' most powerful celebrity is Mel Gibson, who followed his passion to a hit movie that raked in more than $600 million. "Mel Gibson hasn't been on this list for years," Kafka informed us. "I think he took everybody by surprise with this movie 'The Passion of the Christ.'"

Here's the complete Top 10:

1. Mel Gibson
2. Tiger Woods
3. Oprah Winfrey
4. Tom Cruise
5. Rolling Stones
6. J.K. Rowling
7. Michael Jordan
8. Bruce Springsteen
9. Steven Spielberg
10. Johnny Depp

And you can check out the full Celebrity 100 list by clicking here.


LINKS
Forbes’ Celebrity 100
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