Basketball superstar Michael Jordan has
earned the top spot on Forbes magazine's inaugural Forbes
Celebrity 100 list that ranked him as the highest paid and most
"powerful" celebrity on the planet.
Victoria Arocho/AP |
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| Former NBA superstar Michael Jordan
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Those making the list are awarded a power ranking that
measures both 1998 income and media buzz — a blend of
prominence on the Web, magazine covers, on TV and radio and in
newspaper clips — that can also be a measure of future earnings
power, the magazine said in its March 22 issue.
While comedian Jerry Seinfeld made the most money last year
($267 million) and teen heartthrob actor Leonardo DiCaprio
appeared on the most magazine covers (14), it was Jordan who
cashed in big time on his name recognition and turned his
on-court prowess into $40 million in endorsement income.
He also registered more than 40,000 press clips — only
baseball slugger Mark McGwire (No. 23) topped it with 47,377 —
777 Web mentions, 492 TV/radio mentions and seven magazine
covers, according to the Forbes ranking.
The majority of the celebrities on the top 100 list are
entertainers or athletes.
AP |
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| Comedian Jerry Seinfeld was the top-earning celebrity in 1998, according to 'Forbes' magazine
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Talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey with her Harpo Entertainment
Group is No. 2 on the Celebrity 100, DiCaprio takes third place
but is No. 36 in the money rank, Seinfeld is fourth overall and
director Steven Spielberg is No. 5.
Forbes cites "ultimate hostess" Martha Stewart as a
classic example of brand name power, ranking her No. 31. Stewart
has her own multimedia company, a magazine, produces a TV show
and radio show, writes a syndicated column and has a Web site
that gets 3.7 million visitors a month.
Rap mogul Sean "Puffy" Combs, No. 19, is recognized by the
magazine as a fast-rising star who is building a vast empire
with hit records, a record label, a clothing line, restaurants
and more.
Rounding out the top 10 are the Spice Girls, No. 6; actor
Harrison Ford, No. 7; actor/comedian Robin Williams, No.8;
singer Celine Dion, No. 9 and the Rolling Stones, who are ranked
No. 10 both overall and in the earnings list with $57 million.
Pro golfer, 69-year-old Arnold Palmer, who still pulls in
endorsements, was No. 50 with $18.1 million, and former
President George Bush finished, with $2.2 million, at No. 100.
