Angelina Jolie is the most powerful celebrity in the world

Angelina Jolie is the most powerful celebrity in the world.

The 34-year-old actress topped the annual poll by Forbes magazine, knocking US talk show host Oprah Winfrey – who has held the top spot for the past two years – into second place.

Explaining that the magazine took into account earnings as well as fame, Forbes senior editor Matthew Miller said: “In addition to nearly doubling her earnings in the past year, from $15 million to $27 million, Angelina Jolie is the most famous star on the planet.

“She is in the dialogue of popular culture nearly every day - for her acting, for her relationship with Brad Pitt, for her children and for her philanthropic endeavours. All of this exposure leads to an extremely powerful celebrity brand - one that allows her to command a higher salary when starring in movies, can bring more people to the theatre and one that she can monetise further if she chose to do so.”

Angelina - who raises six children with partner Brad Pitt – made $27 million last year, while Oprah pocketed a staggering $275 million.

Self-made billionaire Oprah runs a successful production company, monthly magazine and has a $55 million three-year deal with XM Satellite Radio.

Madonna jumped from 21st position last year to third, after making $110 million thanks to her world tour.

Her split from husband Guy Ritchie and rumoured romances with baseball star Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez and model Jesus Luz also ensured she was never far from the public eye.

Beyonce Knowles, who married her long-term beau, rapper Jay-Z, last year, came fourth after making $87 million.

Golfer Tiger Woods was deemed the most powerful athlete in the world, after his $110 million earnings secured him the final place in the top five.

Jennifer Aniston – who endured a high-profile split from John Mayer earlier this year - polled eighth after making $25 million, beating her ex-husband Brad who finished ninth with $28 million.

Barack Obama is the first US President to ever appear on the list, coming in at number 49.

Other notable inclusions include 16-year-old ‘Hannah Montana’ actress Miley Cyrus at number 29, rapper 50 Cent at number 50 and Drew Barrymore who took the 87th spot.



Forbes' annual Celebrity 100 Power List top 10:



1. Angelina Jolie ($27 million)

2. Oprah Winfrey ($275 million)

3. Madonna ($110 million)

4. Beyonce Knowles ($87 million)

5. Tiger Woods ($109 million)

6. Bruce Springsteen ($70 million)

7. Steven Spielberg ($149 million)

8. Jennifer Aniston ($25 million)

9. Brad Pitt ($28 million)

10. Kobe Bryant ($45 million)