Jennifer Lopez Tops Forbes Powerful Celebrity List, Ryan Seacrest Named Most Powerful Player in Reality TV

Idol employees beat out fellow A-listers for top-ranking spots on entertainment lists; find out where Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Rihanna and more stars came in

By Rebecca Macatee May 16, 2012 5:13 PMTags
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Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Seacrest, two of the busiest people in the entertainment industry, are also the most influential.

Lopez, 42, takes the No. 1 spot on this year's Forbes Celebrity List of the post powerful people, and E!'s own Seacrest takes the top honor on the Hollywood Reporter's list of most powerful individuals in reality TV.

Lopez climbed to No .1 on Forbes' list after ranking 50th last year. She ousted Oprah Winfrey (now in second place) for the coveted top spot, also besting Justin Bieber (3), Rihanna  (4) and Lady Gaga (5).

Other celebs topping Forbes' list include Britney Spears (6), Kim Kardashian (7), Katy Perry (8) and Tom Cruise (9). Taylor Swift ranked a respectable 11th place, while Angelina Jolie came in at 13 and Beyoncé at 16. Seacrest didn't come in the lead on this list, but he did earn the 29th spot.

The American Idol host also beat out his friend and former coworker Simon Cowell as a powerful reality TV player: Cowell was ranked No. 8 on the Seacreast-led list. Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner also made the list, coming in at No. 46 for her work as executive producer and star of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Bethenny Frankel, star and executive producer of Bethenny Ever After, was No. 49.