Forbes has just released its most powerful hundred celebrities and guess who’s on top?
That would be one Beyonce Giselle Knowles, clocking in at #1. And no, we didn’t say it’s the list of most powerful Black celebrities, this is a list that looks at celebrities overall.
Forbes says Beyonce’s #1 because in the last year her 95 shows earned an average of $2.4 million per show. Her self-titled album, released via iTunes download, not only sold a million copies, so did the single “Drunk In Love.” Combined with Beyonce’s deals with H&M and Pepsi, along with her perfumes and clothing line, Forbes estimates Beyonce’s earnings to be about $115 million between June 1, 2013 and June 1st 2014.
That doesn’t even include sales for her and hubby Jay-Z’s “On the Run” tour, the second grossing tour of all time based on earnings per venue. Hubby Jay-Z had to settle for 6th place on the list this year, with $60 million in earnings over the same period.
Consider this – Dre made a billion dollar deal by partnering with Jimmy Iovine in the sale of Beats Electronics to Apple, Inc., and was only good enough for third place on this year’s list. However, Black Americans can be proud that the top four celebrity earners are all Black and out of the top 10, 7 Black celebs make the list with LeBron James at #2, Oprah at #4, Rihanna at # 8 and boxer Floyd “Money” Mayweather at #7.
Forbes doesn’t just factor money in the Power equation.
They also consider media mentions, social media penetration, and the celebrity’s impact on their culture and pop culture overall. This year, Dr. Dre earned more in the the time period considered than anyone else in the history of the celebrity 100, but because he’s been musically dormant, he presumably lost some impact points.
Other Black celebs on the list Kobe Bryant at #15, Kanye West at #20 (who will, we’re sure be ranting very shortly at why he wasn’t ranked higher) Sean “Diddy” Combs at #31, Kevin Durant at #33, Pharrell Williams at #38, Dwyane Wade at #55, Tyler Perry tied with model Gisele Bundchen at #56, Serena Williams at #69, Will Smith at #75, and Kerry Washington at #93.
Click here for the whole list:
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