Skip to content
Entertainment
Link copied to clipboard

Swift, Bon Jovi rise on power list, as Pink, Springsteen fall off

How fickle the fortunes of fame can be, at least according to Forbes.

How fickle the fortunes of fame can be, at least according to Forbes.

The business - or should we say the list-making - mag is out with its new rundown of "The World's Most Powerful Celebrities," proclaiming that Lady Gaga has replaced Oprah Winfrey as No. 1, thanks to monstrous media clout, especially online, with 10 million Twitter followers.

Taylor Swift, just 21, the Berks County-born "money-making machine," again tops the local notables, finishing at No. 7, up five spots from last year.

But right behind her were Jersey rockers Bon Jovi, led by ex-Philadelphia Soul owner Jon Bon Jovi, whose Soul Foundation is active in Philadelphia charitable work. Thanks to a world tour, the band collected the fourth most dough among rankees, trailing only Winfrey (No. 2 most powerful), U2 (No. 4) and actor/producer Tyler Perry (No. 19).

Not even among the 100 names last year, Bon Jovi would have the most meteoric rise if not for some upstart named Justin Bieber, 17, who landed at No. 3.

Fellow Jersey rocker Bruce Springsteen fell off the list entirely, after finishing No. 17 last year, and Doylestown-born Pink also disappeared. Bankrolls and buzz for pop stars clearly rise and fall with tours.

Holding steady at No. 14, though, was NBA all-star Kobe Bryant, who led Lower Merion High to a state title. The only higher ranked athletes were golfer Tiger Woods (6) and fellow basketballer LeBron James (10).

Wharton grad Donald Trump rose to No. 17 from 33, and his presidential posturing didn't hurt, because "his mouth keeps him famous," Forbes says. His name may have been removed Monday from the Trump Marina casino in Atlantic City, but Celebrity Apprentice got renewed, and his name's now on such things as golf courses, neckties and bottled water.

Also not budging was No. 22 Steven Spielberg, who lived for a while in Haddon Township as a child.

Another Penn alum, producer Dick Wolf, "the brains behind the Law & Order franchise," wasn't listed last year, but shows up this time at No. 54.

West Philly's Will Smith - once regarded as Hollywood's biggest box-office attraction - is back on the list this year, at No. 65. He was No. 11 in 2009, then vanished for lack of movie-making.

Upper Darby High grad and 30 Rock actress/creator Tina Fey dropped two spots to No. 92, despite the soaring of her memoir, Bossypants, on bestseller lists. But even in 2009, fresh of famously lampooning vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, Fey was only 86.

Others in the Top 10 include singer Elton John (5) and X Factor producer Simon Cowell (9).

For more, go to www.forbes.com.