Tom Cruise Regains Top Spot In List Of Hollywood’s Most Powerful

Despite a less than stellar year at the box office, the erstwhile star has made it to the top again. He’s been rated number one on the Forbes list of the 100 most powerful and bankable celebrities in Hollywood.

The highly subjective rankings are designed to show who’s hot – and who’s not – and are based on both earnings, buzz and the amount of publicity a star generates, both good and bad.

Cruise’s antic in 2005 – including his infamous Katie Holmes-inspired couch hopping on Oprah Winfrey’s show, his criticism of Brooke Shields postpartum depression and his arguments about psychiatric drugs raised his profile and earned him the top spot in terms of profile.

That, in turn, attracts attention and the kind of offers that propel stars to the top. Even if he only made $67 million last year.

“It’s what kind of currency does the star’s name have,” explains Forbes editor Lea Goldman. “It’s increasingly important how they are perceived both in industry circles and commercial circles, and this list represents who has cachet in both arenas.

“He’s one of the few guaranteed bankable stars. No one in Hollywood can negotiate the kind of salary he gets.”

Or the kind of bizarre publicity.

The second place finishers couldn’t be much further from Cruise in both stature and mindset. It’s the Rolling Stones, the world’s oldest rock bank, whose world tour earned them $90 million – and runner up status.

Oprah Winfrey earns the bronze with her $225 million take, meaning she can likely afford a new couch in case Cruise broke the springs.

U2 is in fourth with $110 million, while golf legend Tiger Woods shoots a 5 and takes home $90 million for his efforts.

Director Steven Spielberg shows he still has the chops with a $332 million sixth place finish, while Howard Stern tuned in his abandonment of free broadcasting for the world of satellite into a seventh place listing and a bank roll of $302 million.

Rapper 50 Cent, who was never even close to making the top 100, occupies the 8th position, thanks to his albums, ring tones and a best selling clothing line. He got rich and didn’t have to die trying with $41 million.

The cast of the Sopranos got offers they didn’t refuse, earning a collective $52 million and major word of mouth on their ever-delayed return to the small screen.

And it doesn’t take Fibonacci numbers to figure out why author Dan Brown made number 10. His “Da Vinci Code” book sold 61 million copies and the movie based on it generated worldwide controversy – and made him a rich man with an $88 million payday.

So who doesn’t make the grade this year? Mel Gibson – number one in 2004 – is gone. So is Madonna, Lance Armstrong, Will Ferrell, Julia Roberts and Lindsay Lohan.

And despite all the gossip and the fight for baby pictures, Brad Pitt drops to 20th spot from his former 11th place perch. And not withstanding her somewhat uncertain talents, MuchMusic Video Awards guest Paris Hilton managed to reach 56th place. Her feuding friend Nicole Richie was 95th.

Forbes Celebrity 100 Power List

1. Tom Cruise
2. Rolling Stones
3. Oprah Winfrey
4. U2
5. Tiger Woods
6. Steven Spielberg
7. Howard Stern
8. 50 Cent
9. Cast of The Sopranos
10. Dan Brown

11. Bruce Springsteen
12. Donald Trump
13. Muhammad Ali
14. Paul McCartney
15. George Lucas
16. Elton John
17. David Letterman
18. Phil Mickelson
19. J.K. Rowling
20. Brad Pitt

21. Peter Jackson
22. Dr. Phil McGraw
23. Jay Leno
24. Celine Dion
25. Kobe Bryant
26. Michael Jordan
27. Johnny Depp
28. Jerry Seinfeld
29. Simon Cowell
30. Michael Schumacher

31. Tom Hanks
32. Rush Limbaugh
33. Denzel Washington
34. Cast of Desperate Housewives
35. Jennifer Aniston
36. Angelina Jolie
37. The Olsen Twins
38. Nicole Kidman
39. The Eagles
40. Rod Stewart
 
41. Shaquille O’Neal
42. Jerry Bruckheimer
43. David Beckham
44. Jessica Simpson
45. Andrew Lloyd Webber
46. LeBron James
47. Neil Diamond
48. Alex Rodriguez
49. Will Smith
50. Dick Wolf

51. Dave Matthews Band
52. Tom Brady
53. Ronaldinho
54. Jodie Foster
55. Ray Romano
56. Paris Hilton
57. Adam Sandler
58. Derek Jeter
59. Jennifer Lopez
60. Rick Warren
 
61. Scarlett Johansson
62. Katie Couric
63. Maria Sharapova
64. Valentino Rossi
65. Halle Berry
66. James Patterson
67. Leonardo DiCaprio
68. Kiefer Sutherland
69. Jim Carrey
70. Cameron Diaz

71. Gisele Bundchen
72. Renee Zellweger
73. Carson Palmer
74. Michelle Wie
75. Reese Witherspoon
76. Bill O’Reilly
77. Kate Moss
78. Diane Sawyer
79. Sean (Diddy) Combs
80. John Grisham

81. Rachael Ray
82. Dave Chappelle
83. Larry the Cable Guy
84. Tyra Banks
85. George Lopez
86. Regis Philbin
87. Serena Williams
88. Ryan Seacrest
89. Wolfgang Puck
90. Venus Williams

91. Annika Sorenstam
92. Matthew Broderick/ Nathan Lane
93. Mel Brooks
94. Emeril Lagasse
95. Nicole Richie
96. Heidi Klum
97. Mario Batali
98. Eric Idle/ Mike Nichols
99. Adriana Lima

100. Ty Pennington