Barack Obama keeps making history. Not only is he the first black president of the United States, he is the first sitting head of state to make the Forbes Celebrity 100 Power List.
President Obama came in number 49 on the list, which ranks celebrities based on their earnings and media mention. Obama collected $2.5 million last year from two best-selling books, Dream From My Father and The Audacity of Hope, (for young adult readers). Obama has already been contracted for a non-fiction book once he eventually leaves the White House. Clinton received $15 million for his writing ‘My Life’.
“There is a very real interest in President Obama, both as a president, a family man and a celebrity,” says Lacey Rose of Forbes Magazine.
Bill Clinton, former President, made the Forbes list in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007, but only after leaving office in 2001.
The top four spots of power in the 2008 list also made history, in all being held by women for the first time. Superstar actor and humanitarian advocate Angelina Jolie, dethroned talk show host Oprah Winfrey, after leaping from third position in 2008. Winfrey earned 10 times more income than Jolie, but not only is Angelina the most searched for celebrity on the Internet, she has appeared on the cover of 35 magazines, had an endless sea of media buzz and has starred in several blockbuster movies.
Jolie and Winfrey were followed by singers Madonna and Beyonce Knowles. Golfer Tiger Woods came in No. 5 position, followed by Bruce Springsteen, director Steven Spielberg and actor Brad Pitt in spots 6, 7 and 8. David Letterman came in at 14th place while Sarah Palin is nowhere to be seen. Simon Cowell, owner of Britain’s Got Talent, appears at No. 25.
Forbes Celebrity 100 Power List analyzes the earnings, as well as the media sizzle produced, to decide which personalities have both fame and fortune. The list looks at celebrities from TV, the movie world, to politics, models, athletes, authors and musicians.
In a year of financial crisis the earning power of the Celebrity 100 list has remained remarkably stable. The cumulative earnings of the group totaled $4.1 billion, which is slightly up on last year’s $4 billion. The primary reason being that many of the movie stars are locked into long-term performance and endorsement contracts. Perhaps the downturn in the world economy will do some catch-up with the celebrities next year.
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June 14th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
movie stars
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[...] The primary reason being that many of the movie stars are locked into long-term performance and endorsement contracts. Perhaps the downturn in the world economy will do some catch-up with the celebrities next year. … [...]…
June 16th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
President Obama Makes - Oprah Dethroned…
While Oprah Winfrey is dethroned by actress Angelina Jolie, President Barak Obama makes history as the first sitting Head of State to make the Forbes Celebrity 100 Power List….