Forbes 2010 Power List: The Celebrity 100

“The Celebrity 100” measures power based on money and fame. Earnings are calculated between June 2009 and June 2010 and include income from films, television shows, endorsements, books and other entertainment ventures. Forbes measures fame based on “Web hits on Google, Blog Search, TV/radio mentions on LexisNexis, overall press mentions on Factiva and the number of times a celebrity’s image appeared on the cover of 25 consumer magazines.” Celebrities’ Facebook friends and fans, as well as Twitter followers, also come into play when determining social rank.

Beyoncé landed at No. 2 on the “Celebrity 100,” moving up two spots since 2009, thanks in part to her “90-date global tour [grossing] more than $85 million” for a total of $87 million earned over the course of the year. Forbes notes that her portfolio “includes album sales, her House of Dereon fashion line and a slew of endorsement deals, ranging from Nintendo to L’Oreal.” Earlier this year the R&B singer released her first fragrance, Heat.

In addition to sharing screen time with Lady Gaga on the pop star’s “Telephone” music video, Beyoncé is also sharing space with the singer at the top of “The Celebrity 100” list.

Lady Gaga makes her first appearance on the list at No. 4, making her the list’s top-ranked newcomer. She hasn’t done too badly for herself in the money department, bringing in an estimated $62 million in earnings from her 106-date world tour and partnerships with corporations like Virgin Mobile and Polaroid. Forbes gives her props for using her fame and theatricality to bring her “gobs of press coverage,” adding “her music videos have made something of an Internet sensation.”

With Britney Spears sitting pretty at No.6, it would be hard for anyone to deny that Britney is back. The singer’s 98-date tour ranked as the fifth highest-grossing tour in the world with $130 million in gross box office receipts. She also got her name out there through a number of high-profile endorsement deals with Elizabeth Arden and Candies.

U2 is ranked at No. 7 as “the highest-earning band on the planet.” The band’s 2009 world tour brought in more than $311 million in gross box office receipts with each tour stop raking in $10 million in gross ticket sales. The band has also done well when it comes to merch sales, heavy radio play and its steady-selling back catalog.

Additional musicians on “The Celebrity 100” list include Madonna (No. 10), Taylor Swift (No. 12), Miley Cyrus (No. 13), Jay-Z (No. 15), The Black Eyed Peas (No. 16) and Bruce Springsteen (No. 17).

Pink also earned a spot at No. 27, along with Coldplay (No. 35), AC/DC (No. 38), Jonas Brothers (No. 40), Kenny Chesney (No. 54), Rascal Flatts (No. 62), Toby Keith (No. 67), Sean “Diddy” Combs (No. 68), Keith Urban (No. 76) and Akon (No. 80).

Former “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell made it to No. 11 with “Idol” judge Ellen DeGeneres at No. 23 and “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest at No. 44.
 
Click here for Forbes’ complete “The Celebrity 100” list.