Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images, Jeffrey Mayer/Getty Images, Jeffrey Mayer/Getty ImagesThe queen is dead…or at least down a spot in Forbes' annual Celebrity 100 Power List.
After two years at the top, Oprah Winfrey has seen her pop culture clout drop a notch (according to some fusty magazine editors, not America's housewives) on the glossy's power list. Overtaking Winfrey as the most powerful celebrity in the world: longtime list rival Angelina Jolie.
While Winfrey is indisputably the highest celeb earner of the past year, raking in an astounding $275 million, Jolie's ever-pervasive face apparently made up the difference in salary, as Brad Pitt's better half made a comparatively paltry $27 million. (Forbes bases its ranking on earnings and media exposure.)
Speaking of Pitt, he held up his (lower) end of the power coupling, coming in at No. 9 on the list. While he was the highest-ranking actor on this year's rundown, his ego shouldn't get too high: Jennifer Aniston just edged out her ex, landing at No. 8.
As for the rest of Hollywood's reigning power players, it's mostly business as usual, but with a few surprises…
Chief among them the ranking of our commander in chief. While President Barack Obama has another first to add to his resume—this time, being the first sitting pres to land a spot in the Celebrity 100—the honor is not without its indignities…like coming in five spots lower than E!'s own Ryan Seacrest (a respectable No. 44), who banked $38 million thanks to his nightly news gig, American Idol hosting duties and radio shows.
As for the premiere power players, Madonna and Beyoncé (who doubles as the issue's cover girl) came in at Nos. 3 and 4, with 2008 earnings of $110 million and $87 million, respectively.
Talk about girl power.
Meanwhile, Tiger Woods was the highest-ranking athlete (and male) on the list at No. 5, ahead of Kobe Bryant, who fell in line at No. 10.
Also representing for the Y chromosome: Bruce Springsteen and Steven Spielberg at Nos. 6 and 7, respectively.
Elsewhere on the list, tween fave turned fashion brander Miley Cyrus came in at an impressive 29; Drew Barrymore ranked 87th; David Letterman was the highest ranked late-nighter at 14 (Jay Leno came in at 43, Jon Stewart at 93 and Conan O'Brien didn't rank); 50 Cent fittingly landed at No. 50; teen dream Taylor Swift strummed her way to No. 69; Twilight mastermind Stephenie Meyer came in at No. 26; Hugh Laurie's cantankerous ways landed him at No. 94, and list newcomers Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin checked in at 64 and 91, respectively.
Danica Patrick brought up the rear in the 100th spot, but perhaps the most surprising entry, particularly for any celeb left off the list, is No. 99: When you think power, think Jennifer Love Hewitt.
The complete rundown of Forbes' Celebrity 100 is available here.
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