by Sun Meilan

Created on: June 30, 2010

Now that Forbes have published their latest Celebrity 100 Power List, which is based on earnings and media visibility, one thing is clear - there aren't really any great surprises, at least not in the top ten. Women are very well-represented, with six in the top ten and in the top two spots. Oprah Winfrey once again takes the top spot, having lost it last year to Angelina Jolie. She earned $315 million over the past year from her media empire, including her TV show, website and radio channel. Whether she can hold on to her position for another year remains to be seen, especially as she has already announced that she will be retiring from her show, but her current position certainly stands her in good stead and she has plenty of projects in the pipeline. 

Beyonce, at number four last year, has risen to number two this year, earning $87 million over the last year, thanks mainly to her popular tour, fashion line and the introduction of a new perfume. Lady Gaga is the highest placed newcomer to the list, shooting into the number four spot. However, bearing in mind her massive success over the past couple of years, most people would have expected to see her there - her celebrity presence is hard to avoid and her singles and album sales have rocketed and her tour has gone down a storm, earning her around $62 million. If her success continues, which it seems set to do, she could be even higher in next year's list. 

The two men in the top five are James Cameron at number three, and Tiger Woods at number five. James Cameron's Avatar success netted him $210 million since the last list was published - in all, Avatar grossed $2.7 million, making it the highest grossing film of all time. His earnings are likely to increase as DVD sales continue, and then there is a sequel planned. Tiger Woods has done well to hold on to his earnings of $105 million this year, bearing in mind the scandal that has tarnished his opinion. However, it is likely that his earnings and position with fall next year, as commercial endorsements fall, along with his media visibility. 

In the bottom five of the top ten most powerful celebrities are another three women, including Britney Spears, Sandra Bullock and Madonna, at numbers six, eight and ten. All have been hit with scandal over the past year or so - Britney's life never seems to be out of the papers, Sandra Bullock has split from husband Jesse James and Madonna split from husband - which has obviously contributed to their media presence. However, their earnings are not to be sniffed at either, with around $60 million each. Irish band U2 take the number seven spot, with Johnny Depp at number nine. 

The success of women in the entertainment industry does not stop at the top ten either, with many of them realising the necessity of building on their brand image in order to make money and build their positions. Oprah and Lady Gaga are the most obvious examples, but there are many more, including Tina Fey and Sarah Jessica Parker who have diversified their careers - Fey has moved from being a writer to having her own sitcom and Parker, like Beyonce, has branched out into perfumes and fashion. Female celebrities are proving themselves to be just as good at business as their male counterparts, if not better in some cases, and there is no sign of that stopping any time soon. 

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