Forbes magazine today released their annual The World’s Most Powerful Celebrities, a top 100 list that ranks stars based on press coverage, social media buzz and whose agents paid Forbes the most money to put them on a list. At the top of this year’s 100: Jennifer Lopez, who was settling nicely into obscurity as that lady on Eric Cartman’s hand in an old episode of ‘South Park’ before ‘American Idol’ rocketed her back to prominence. Former American Idol winner Taylor Hicks also made the list, coming in at number 4,544,022 between Burnsy and the golden voiced homeless guy.
Tiger Woods managed to hang on as this year’s highest ranking sports celebrity, coming it at number 12. The only other sports guy in the top 25 was LeBron James at number 15, despite Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal coming it at numbers 2 and 3 in “Press Rank” behind Lady Gaga. I don’t know how much of this list is based on math and how much of it is based on people at Forbes trying to name 100 celebrities, so bear with me.
Here’s a full list of the sports personalities who ranked this year:
12. Tiger Woods
15. LeBron James
27. Kobe Bryant
31. Roger Federer
32. David Beckham
33. Manny Pacquiao
40. Peyton Manning
44. Cristiano Ronaldo
47. Rafael Nadal
48. Phil Mickelson
50. Lionel Messi
52. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
60. Tom Brady
63. Alex Rodriguez
71. Maria Sharapova
77. Serena Williams
87. Li Na
It should be noted that Manny Pacquiao is one spot ahead of Ellen Degeneres, which should make him happy.
When you get to the bottom of the list it gets amazing, by the way. The biggest knockout blow is 90, 91 and 92 being Jeff Dunham, Larry The Cable Guy and Skrillex respectively. One of the biggest surprises to me was Bon f**king Jovi ranking at #25, ahead of Howard Stern and Ryan Seacrest. I know the teenage version of him plays lacrosse, but I had no idea he was still bringing in 38 millionaires more press and cash than Alex Rodriguez.