March 2, 2001. Copyright 2001. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

CRUISE NAMED MOST POWERFUL CELEBRITY

LONDON, March 2, Graphic News: MOVIE actor Tom Cruise, the star of ÒJerry MaguireÓ and ÒMission: Impossible,Ó was named the most powerful celebrity in the world on Thursday by the business magazine Forbes.

In ForbesÕ unique ranking, which quantifies celebrity by combining earning power and star power -- including press clippings, television and radio appearances, magazine cover stories and Web hits -- Cruise vaulted into the top spot in the Celebrity 100 from 20th place last year.

Although he rated 13th overall in wealth, with earnings last year of $43.2 million, Cruise featured in a chart-topping 11 magazine cover stories. His messy public breakup with wife Nicole Kidman assured he had lots of newspaper ink.

ÒCelebrity is the ultimate asset,Ó Forbes said. ÒIn this frantic age of nanosecond attention spans, fame is fortune -- not just for the pampered stars but also for the businesses that bank on them.Ó

The combined wattage of Julia Roberts, Adam Sandler and Bruce Willis helped launch Joe RothÕs new movie studio last year. The worldwide appeal of Britney Spears, ÕN Sync and the Backstreet Boys give low-profile mogul Clive Calder powerful leverage in the music business. 

According to the list in the March 19 edition of Forbes, last yearÕs No. 1, Julia Roberts, dropped to 16th, with earnings of $18.9 million, even though she was nominated for a best actress Academy Award for ÒErin Brockovich.Ó

Second on this yearÕs Celebrity 100 list was golfer Tiger Woods, who earned $53 million last year, but had only five magazine covers. He was followed by the Beatles, who last recorded three decades ago, but whose album of hits, Ò1,Ó topped the pop charts in 24 countries last month. The Fab Four had an incredible 1.43 million mentions on Web sites last year.

Rounding out the Top 10 on the list that factors in wealth, media attention and other Òmetrics of fame,Ó were Britney Spears in fourth place, followed by Bruce Willis, Michael Jordan, Backstreet Boys, ÕN Sync, Oprah Winfrey and Mel Gibson.
/ENDS
Source: Reuters, Forbes