Angelina Jolie Most Powerful Celebrity
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James Joyner | Thursday, June 4, 2009 |
Angelina Jolie has topped Oprah Winfrey to become the World’s Most Powerful Celebrity, according Forbes magazine. The methodology is, shall we say, unclear. But here’s what they say about Jolie:
Eclectic actress and gossip-column favorite dethrones media maven Oprah Winfrey atop this year’s Celebrity 100. Jolie has always been able to attract tabloid attention and Oscar nods, but this year, she’s finally figured out a way to make serious money. Her most recent blockbuster, Wanted, proved this mother of six’s sweet spot is action films; the movie earned $340 million at the box office. Up next: Salt, in which Jolie plays a CIA officer accused of being a spy.
Oddly, Oprah earned a whole order of magnitude more money — $275 millionto Jolie’s paltry $27 — but, since they don’t tell us what factors were used or how they were weighed, who’s to criticize. And, certainly, Jolie’s hotter. (Were I employed by Playboy magazine, I would compile a list. As it is, I shall pass.)
But here’s an odd one for you:
About halfway down the list sits a very familiar face: President Barack Obama. At No. 49, Obama’s the first sitting head of state to appear on this Forbes fixture because of his worldwide fame, his historic election and his career as a best-selling author.
On what planet is Angelina Jolie more powerful than Barack Obama?
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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<blockquoteOn what planet is Angelina Jolie more powerful than Barack Obama?
Hollywood!
Couldn't resist.
It's the question of what is a celebrity. Either Obama should be at the top, or not on the list at all. It seems the ambiguity of whether he is technically a "celebrity" weighed him down in the list (half points for half celebrities).
reading this kind of stuff rots your brain, James.
I feel her power. Or I should say I want to feel her power.
lol Steve
I would be willing to bet, as sad as it is to say that more people read about what Angelina Jolie is up to than they do about what President Obama is up to. In our celebrity obsessed culture, that's powerful. And I must mention that no woman should look like she does, I hope to find out someday that she's full of botox, collagen, and various plastic parts - I'd feel a lot better!
Didn't she and Brad Pitt announce that they were going to solve the Isreali Palistinian conflict? Seriously. How is that going for them...
I don't want to feel her power, I want to feel.......uhhh
"On what planet is Angelina Jolie more powerful than Barack Obama?"
In today's dumb downed, star struck culture, where mindless voters base votes and their "policy" positions on feel good cult of personality...........who knows??
Gimme a policy rich "Yes we can," people.
"Didn't she and Brad Pitt announce that they were going to solve the Isreali Palistinian conflict?"
Brad's practicing by fixing New Orleans first. After that: Israel / Palestine. Then: a cure for all diseases known to mankind.
Cool, huh?
Give that Obama is the first president to ever make the list, can we assume that all of the celebtrities on previous lists were more powerful than the then current president?
