Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant

Pay $31 million
Power Rank 25
2005 Rank: 19

E-Score Rank 91

Top Attributes
Physically Fit, Talented

E-Score is a celebrity appeal ranking, comprised of 46 separate personality attributes. E-Score evaluations are provided by E-Poll Market Research, which has a database of more than 2,800 celebrities.

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Athlete
© AP Photo/Matt York


With his past legal troubles finally laid to rest, Bryant has devoted himself to his sport. His 81 points for the Los Angeles Lakers in a January game against Toronto were the second highest in NBA history. Bryant led his team to the playoffs despite a less-than-stellar supporting cast. Nike released a Bryant signature shoe that sold well and added several million to his $10 million Nike base pay. He also announced plans to switch his jersey number from 8 to 24.

Celine Dion

Celine Dion
Celine Dion

Pay $40 million
Power Rank 24
2005 Rank: NR

E-Score Rank 53

Top Attributes
Talented, Distinctive Voice

E-Score is a celebrity appeal ranking, comprised of 46 separate personality attributes. E-Score evaluations are provided by E-Poll Market Research, which has a database of more than 2,800 celebrities.

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Musician


© AP Photo/John Marshall Mantel


The Canadian chanteuse's exclusive run at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas has been extended into 2007, thanks to its continued popularity. In 2005, she has the third-highest-grossing "tour," earning $81 million in ticket sales for 155 gigs, according to Pollstar. Fans shelled out on average $136 per ticket to hear her. Only Barry Manilow fans paid more.

Jay Leno

Jay Leno
Jay Leno

Pay $32 million
Power Rank 23
2005 Rank: 21

E-Score Rank 31

Top Attributes
Funny, Distinctive Voice

E-Score is a celebrity appeal ranking, comprised of 46 separate personality attributes. E-Score evaluations are provided by E-Poll Market Research, which has a database of more than 2,800 celebrities.

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Talking head
© Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images
Although he consistently beats Letterman in the ratings, drawing 5.9 million viewers to Letterman's 4.4 million, Leno still earns less. (Letterman owns a piece of his show.) The classic car buff supplemented his income last year with voice roles in the animated features "Ice Age 2" and "Cars."

Dr. Phil McGraw

Dr. Phil McGraw
Dr. Phil McGraw
Pay $45 million
Power Rank 22
2005 Rank: NR

E-Score Rank 61

Top Attributes
Intelligent, Confident

E-Score is a celebrity appeal ranking, comprised of 46 separate personality attributes. E-Score evaluations are provided by E-Poll Market Research, which has a database of more than 2,800 celebrities.

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Talking head


© Robert Trachtenberg/Corbis Outline


Oprah Winfrey's tell-it-like-it-is protégé has emerged as a star in his own right with an ultra-successful syndicated talk show that draws 6.7 million viewers. He also boasts six best sellers, as well as an endorsement deal with online dating service Match.com. Last year he made a cameo appearance in "Scary Movie 4."

Earnings estimates are for June 2005 to June 2006. Figures rounded off where appropriate. Exact figures available on Forbes.com. Includes dollars earned solely from entertainment income. Management, agent and attorney fees have not been deducted. Estimates by forbes; sources include Billboard, Pollstar, Adams Media Research, Nielsen SoundScan and Nielsen BookScan. Rankings are generated by combining earnings with other metrics: Web mentions on Google press clips compiled by LexisNexis; TV/radio mentions by Factiva; and number of times a celebrity's face appeared on the cover of 26 major consumer magazines.

Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson

Pay $39 million
Power Rank 21
2005 Rank: 30

E-Score Rank 37

Top Attributes
Talented, Influential

E-Score is a celebrity appeal ranking, comprised of 46 separate personality attributes. E-Score evaluations are provided by E-Poll Market Research, which has a database of more than 2,800 celebrities.

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Director/Producer


© Art Streiber/Corbis Outline


Had a monster hit with the "King Kong" remake. Even if it didn't do "Lord of the Rings" dollars, the film kept Jackson on top as one of Hollywood's most reliable, and profitable, directors. Next, he goes from blockbuster special effects to family drama with an adaptation of Alice Seybold's "The Lovely Bones."

Earnings estimates are for June 2005 to June 2006. Figures rounded off where appropriate. Exact figures available on Forbes.com. Includes dollars earned solely from entertainment income. Management, agent and attorney fees have not been deducted. Estimates by forbes; sources include Billboard, Pollstar, Adams Media Research, Nielsen SoundScan and Nielsen BookScan. Rankings are generated by combining earnings with other metrics: Web mentions on Google press clips compiled by LexisNexis; TV/radio mentions by Factiva; and number of times a celebrity's face appeared on the cover of 26 major consumer magazines.

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt

Pay $25 million
Power Rank 20
2005 Rank: 11
E-Score Rank 32
Top Attributes
Handsome, Physically Fit

E-Score is a celebrity appeal ranking, comprised of 46 separate personality attributes. E-Score evaluations are provided by E-Poll Market Research, which has a database of more than 2,800 celebrities.

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Actor


© Sipa Press


For an actor who eschews the spotlight, Pitt couldn't avoid it last year. His breakup with Jennifer Aniston and subsequent coupling with Angelina Jolie sent the tabloids into a veritable feeding frenzy. (His daughter by Jolie, named Shiloh, was born in May in Namibia.) But it was his share of the profits from the half-billion-dollar grossing "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" that lined his pockets. While fatherhood should no doubt keep him busy, Pitt plans to film "Ocean's 13" with pal George Clooney.

J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling


J.K. Rowling

Pay $75 million
Power Rank 19
2005 Rank: 22

E-Score Rank 56

Top Attributes
Talented, Intelligent

E-Score is a celebrity appeal ranking, comprised of 46 separate personality attributes. E-Score evaluations are provided by E-Poll Market Research, which has a database of more than 2,800 celebrities.

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Author
© AFP/Getty Images

One of the few billionaires on our list, J.K. Rowling is preparing to close the book on her "Harry Potter" series. The next installment, the seventh in the series, is rumored to be her last, although she'll continue to write and will likely explore other parts of the Potter milieu. Worldwide sales of the Potter books have topped 300 million copies worldwide. "The Goblet of Fire" was last year's highest-grossing film, with a worldwide box office take of $892 million.

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson


Phil Mickelson

Pay $47 million
Power Rank 18
2005 Rank: 47




E-Score Rank 20

Top Attributes
Talented, Experienced

E-Score is a celebrity appeal ranking, comprised of 46 separate personality attributes. E-Score evaluations are provided by E-Poll Market Research, which has a database of more than 2,800 celebrities.

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Athlete


© Stephen Danelian/CORBIS OUTLINE


With his Masters win in April, Mickelson has won a major tournament for three straight years, a feat only he and Tiger Woods have accomplished in the past two decades. Mickelson earned $5 million on the course over the past 12 months, but the bulk of his income is from sponsors like Ford, Exxon Mobil and Bearing Point. His biggest deal is a ten-year agreement with golf club maker Calloway worth more than $10 million a year. Look for Mickelson to sign deals with a financial services firm and a telecom outfit in the coming months.

David Letterman

David Letterman


David Letterman

Pay $40 million
Power Rank 17
2005 Rank: 14




E-Score Rank 45

Top Attributes
Funny, Intelligent

E-Score is a celebrity appeal ranking, comprised of 46 separate personality attributes. E-Score evaluations are provided by E-Poll Market Research, which has a database of more than 2,800 celebrities.

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Talking head


© Getty Images


Although famously low-key off-camera, Letterman is one of late night television's biggest stars. "Late Night With David Letterman" earned him $40 million this year, more than rival Jay Leno. (Letterman owns a stake in the show.) This year he had Oprah Winfrey as a guest. The two publicly patched up a long-standing rift. And earlier this year he scooped the world when Britney Spears appeared on his program to announce her pregnancy. Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants, is responsible for hit shows like "Everybody Loves Raymond," which just ended its nine-year run.

Elton John

Elton John


Elton John

Pay $34 million
Power Rank 16
2005 Rank: 9
E-Score Rank 50

Top Attributes
Talented, Unique

E-Score is a celebrity appeal ranking, comprised of 46 separate personality attributes. E-Score evaluations are provided by E-Poll Market Research, which has a database of more than 2,800 celebrities.

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Musician


© Jason Joyce/Corbis Outline


The Rocket Man has taken his act to theater, where he rakes it in from his musical involvement in 11 shows worldwide, including eight "Lion King" productions. His newest theater hit, "Billy Elliot," is winning raves on London's West End. But not all his shows are winners: "Lestat," based on Anne Rice's acclaimed vampire novel, just closed after a handful of performances. The famously flamboyant star also earns $17 million for his standing gig in Vegas.

Earnings estimates are for June 2005 to June 2006. Figures rounded off where appropriate. Exact figures available on Forbes.com. Includes dollars earned solely from entertainment income. Management, agent and attorney fees have not been deducted. Estimates by forbes; sources include Billboard, Pollstar, Adams Media Research, Nielsen SoundScan and Nielsen BookScan. Rankings are generated by combining earnings with other metrics: Web mentions on Google press clips compiled by LexisNexis; TV/radio mentions by Factiva; and number of times a celebrity's face appeared on the cover of 26 major consumer magazines