Cruise tops star-power ranking

LOS ANGELES -- Never mind the couch-jumping and the depression-dismissing. Tom Cruise is the world's No. 1 star, according to Forbes's annual ``Celebrity 100 Power List," which ranks famous folks based on earnings and buzz.

The less-than-scientific ranking tracks the highest-paid stars from television, film, music, and sports, said editor Lea Goldman.

``It's what kind of currency does the star's name have," she said. ``It's increasingly important how they are perceived both in industry circles and commercial circles, and this list represents who has cachet in both arenas."

Cruise is the only celebrity to top the list twice, she said. He was also No. 1 in 2001.

``He's one of the few guaranteed bankable stars," Goldman said. ``No one in Hollywood can negotiate the kind of salary he gets."

With an estimated income of $67 million last year, Cruise wasn't the top money earner, but his couch-hopping antics on ``Oprah," his dismissive comments about Brooke Shields's postpartum depression, and whirlwind romance with Katie Holmes made him one of the most talked-about stars of the year. He ranked 10th last year.

Perennial Forbes-list favorite Oprah Winfrey, who claimed the No. 1 spot last year, dropped to No. 3 . The $225 million she pulled in, according to Forbes, should ease the pain.

Winfrey's windfall pales next to Steven Spielberg's take of $332 million. The director-producer was the year's highest-paid celebrity. He ranks sixth on the list.

Satellite radio star Howard Stern was the second-highest-paid celebrity, with $302 million. He placed seventh on the list, up 20 spots from last year.

Tiger Woods, who pulled in $90 million in earnings, ranked fifth .

Rapper 50 Cent never made the list before, but this year he captured eighth place thanks to his music, top-selling ringtones, and G-Unit clothing line. No other rapper made the list.

International concerts helped earn the Rolling Stones and U2 top positions on the list. The veteran rockers ranked second and fourth, respectively.

The cast of ``The Sopranos," which earned a total of $52 million for their seventh season, placed ninth. Author Dan Brown, whose ``The Da Vinci Code" sold a staggering 61 million copies, rounded out the top 10.

Nothing in Hollywood is complete without Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. Hilton was No. 56 and Richie No. 95.