NEW YORK, June 3, 2009
Jolie Dethrones Oprah On Forbes List
Actress Grabs No. 1 Spot From The Talk Show Queen As The World's Most Powerful Celebrity
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Play CBS Video Video The Most Powerful Celebrities In this year's Forbes list of the most powerful celebrities, Angelina Jolie beat out Oprah Winfrey for the top spot. Julie Chen spoke with Forbes' Matthew Miller.
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Angelina Jolie arrives for a screening of the film "Inglourious Basterds", during the 62nd International film festival in Cannes, southern France on May 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file)
They are among the best-paid and most powerful celebrities in the world.
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The actress grabbed the No. 1 spot from the talk show queen on the magazine's annual Celebrity 100 list, which ranks the rich and famous based on media exposure and career earnings over the past year.
Jolie, a reigning tabloid fixture, earned $27 million, bumping her up from third place on last year's list, Forbes said, adding that she wields more power due to high-profile turns in hit films such as "Wanted" and "Kung Fu Panda."
At No. 2, Winfrey is still the highest earner -- $275 million.
Matthew Miller, a senior editor of
"Angelina Jolie is far more famous than Oprah Winfrey on a daily basis. You're always hearing about her in the press, you're seeing her on magazine covers. She has a fame factor of 20 to 1 versus Oprah," Miller said. "And so she becomes much more powerful."
Miller said, to Forbes, money plus fame equals power. He explained the ranking is based on entertainment earnings, the fame element, and how often a figure is in the press.
Madonna came in third. Miller said she ranked high because of her tour, which grossed the highest earnings last year, and for her rumored affair with Alex Rodriguez that has kept her ever-present in the tabloids.
Beyonce came in next. Featured on the cover, Miller said she's milking her fame for all it's worth. He said she's singing, dancing, doing tours and endorsements, and even producing a fashion line.
"The business of celebrity is get famous," he told Chen, "and milk it as much as you can before you stop being famous."
Tiger Woods, Bruce Springsteen and Steven Spielberg come in next on the Forbes list.
Two other celebs tied up in Jolie's tabloid universe -- Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt -- came in at eighth and ninth place, respectively.
Tenth place goes to Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, thanks in part to endorsement deals scored after the Beijing Olympics.
About halfway down the list sits a very familiar face: President Barack Obama. At No. 49, Obama's the first sitting head of state to appear on this Forbes fixture because of his worldwide fame, his historic election and his career as a best-selling author.
Newcomers to the list: Alec Baldwin (No. 91); Meryl Streep (No. 64); Toby Keith (No. 59); Rascal Flatts (No. 42); and teen singing superstar Taylor Swift (No. 69).
Although he's one of the biggest acts in entertainment, Justin Timberlake went from 12th to falling off the list completely, since ending his lucrative "FutureSex/LoveShow" concert tour.
Jennifer Lopez, Johnny Depp and Tyra Banks also dropped off the list.
Miller also talked about the return of the "Infamy Index," which featured Alex Rodriguez at the top for his ongoing media attention for steroid abuse, a rumored affair with Madonna, and divorce.
To see the Forbes article with the complete list and details on the selections, click here.
© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Add a Comment See all 41 Comments
- Some of you are forgetting this is not a beauty contest, it's to what they are worth. So Jolie is worth more than Oprah? Who cares? The average Joe doesn't! What gets me is that they dole out their money to other countries when they should be helping out those in the U.S.A. I know Oprah has helped out people here, but the fact remains to be seen that their are people homeless, starving right here in our country and their not being helped. Our own government doesn't seem to be helping either. Helping out other countries, when they should be paying attention to their own people. Don't forget you big stars some day you'll be coming down from your high horse after your star has shone.
- Reply to this comment
- Jolie is a POS and not worthy to be mentioned in the presence of Oprah and many others on the list.
Posted by mjb89
.................................................
Princess Diana and Mother Theresa were buried on the same day.
What is your most vivid memory of Mother Theresas funeral?
(we are all guilty of false idol worship are we not?) - Reply to this comment
- "which university was it that refused to present President Obama with an honorary doctorate when he spoke at their commencement excercise? Their excuse was that he had not accomplished enough? Alrighty then!"
Posted by Solarrays247
What exactly has he accomplished?
Oh yes. He got elected by having the entire media as part of his campaign and outspending McCain 5 to 1. Wow. Charles Manson could have gotten elected with those advantages.
Never ran so much as a corner grocery.
Was a "community organizer" (aka rabble rouser).
Wrote two books both about himself (complete narcissist)
I can't believe he made the list at all (and wouldn't have if the press wasn't smitten with him)
Posted by ritewingman at 4:54 AM : Jun 4, 2009
*smirk* Since you appear to be one of those "18" percenters....I'll feel free to view your comment with a grain of salt....ie: of no value, ie: passe', ie: out of touch!
;=) - Reply to this comment
- Who cares? With most people struggling economically, throwing this in their face is hardly productive, much less news.
Its a bit like calling a baseball team champion with a record of 99 and 1 vs the opponent with a record of 98 and 2. - Reply to this comment
- Jolie is a POS and not worthy to be mentioned in the presence of Oprah and many others on the list.
- Reply to this comment
- What a nonsense BS article !! Why does this matter ???? I avoid watching Oprah and Jolie anyway.
- Reply to this comment
- So where is Michelle Obama on the list ?
Surely she really outranks both Oprah and Angelina.
In reality.
Posted by erb0087 at 10:57 PM : Jun 3, 2009
For what exactly? Riding hubby's coattails into the White House? Not having flabby triceps? What exactly has SHE done to merit any celebrity? Ya, ya, I know B.O. is a celebrity, what with crippling our children and grandchildren with obscene debts, but back to Michelle. She hasn't done anything to merit inclusion on this list. - Reply to this comment
- List of parasites topped by the best(!)
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- Neither one of these women can hold a candle to the talent of Meryl Streep. Ever!
- Reply to this comment
- I casn't stnd either of them.
- Reply to this comment
- Angelina "Queen" of the B Movies.
==================================
She's more than that.
She won an Academy Award for "Girl Interrupted."
She's been in a number of fine films, including "Changeling" (2008), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award, "A Mighty Heart" and "The Bone Collector."
And she has toned arms, like Michelle Obama.
From IMDb.com:
"While [filming in Cambodia], Jolie witnessed the natural beauty, culture and poverty of that country. She considered this an eye opening experience, and so began the humanitarian chapter of her life. Jolie began visiting refugee camps around the world and came to be formally appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Some of her experiences were written and published in her popular book "Notes from My Travels" whose profits go to UNHCR.
Jolie has stated that she now plans to spend most of her time in humanitarian efforts, to be financed by her actress salary. She devotes one third of her income to savings, one third to living expenses and one third to charity. In 2002, Angelina adopted a Cambodian refugee boy named Maddox and in 2005 adopted an Ethiopian refugee girl named Zahara. Jolie's dramatic feature film Beyond Borders (2003) parallels some of her real life humanitarian experiences although, despite the inclusion of a romance between two westerners, many of the movie's images were too depressingly realistic -- the film was not popular among critics or at the box office." - Reply to this comment
- So where is Michelle Obama on the list ?
Surely she really outranks both Oprah and Angelina.
In reality. - Reply to this comment
- She is a skank. You may not like Oprah, but her influence has touched millions of people worldwide and isn't a skank. Jolie is an adulterer, ugly, B actor, baby maker and attention grabber. You can have her.
- Reply to this comment
- Bad, I can't stand Angelina Jolie either.
- Reply to this comment
- Good, I can't stand Oprah!
- Reply to this comment
- Angelina "Queen" of the B Movies. Run Brad Run. Smart man not to sign a marital contract with that one.
- Reply to this comment
- Finally, a role model for freak ***** white chicks everywhere!
- Reply to this comment
- Winfrey could buy and sell Jolie every month of the year yet Jolie's more "powerful".
What a laugh that is. - Reply to this comment
- dwilson59 said: " I say lets tax them at 99% they make too much money"
They get paid what conservative Republicans say they get paid. Personally, I promote a return to the 1950's, when any amount you made over $3 million a year was taxed at 90%. Leaving you with $3 million taxed at the lower 25% rate.
But no. They're not just rich, they're STINKIN' rich thanks to supply-side Republicans. While the rest of us a poor and STINKIN' poor, to boot. - Reply to this comment
- Gosh, this is important news!! Hey, CBS, I also heard that the image of the Virgin Mother had been found in a polar bear stool. You need to report that as well, as it could be an important harbinger of the second coming.
- Reply to this comment
The road ahead in Afghanistan, and the crucial decision Obama faces.
