Tom Cruise, most powerful celebrity: Forbes
Actor Tom Cruise, 43, is the most powerful celebrity in the world, ahead of the Rolling Stones and Oprah Winfrey, according to Forbes magazine's annual list out Thursday.
Despite the controversy surrounding his Scientology beliefs and his romance with Katie Holmes, with whom he has just had a daughter, Cruise has 67 million dollars thanks to "War of the Worlds" and "Mission Impossible 3," is still the top star in Hollywood, the New York business magazine said.
Forbes based its list on income between June 2005 and June 2006, on the number of hits each received on Google Internet searches, mentions in the press, television and radio as well as the number of cover photos in 26 major US magazines.
Sexagenarian rockers the Rolling Stones earned a silver medal for their "A Bigger Bang" tour, which pulled in 162 million dollars in late 2005, when Mick Jagger and the band played in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for 1.5 million spectators, Forbes said.
At the top of Forbes' 2005 list, Oprah Winfrey, 52, little known outside the United States, where she has aired her show for 20 years, came in third this year, but her communications empire took in 225 million dollars.
Steven Spielberg had the highest earnings, with 332 million dollars and US radio shock jock Howard Stern had earnings of 302 million. "Star Wars" director George Lucas earned 235 million.
In fourth place, Irish rockers U2, in eighth, rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson.
"The Da Vinci Code" author Dan Brown came in 10th.
The top sports figure is Tiger Woods, at fifth place, with 90 million dollars. Boxer Mohammed Ali, who has not stepped into a ring in 25 years, recently signed a 50-million-dollar contract, earning him 13th place.
Actress Jennifer Aniston is in 35th place and Angelina Jolie, 36th. Aniston's ex and the father of Jolie's baby, Brad Pitt, is 20th.
Canadian singer Celine Dion, now living in Las Vegas, landed in 24th, after 155 concerts earned her 81 million dollars. - AFP/fa