Celebrity Stats

You kinda had a hunch, but not its official: Oprah Winfrey is the richest woman in entertainment, according to Forbes magazine. The plucky talk show host and media mogul has earned an estimated $US1.5 billion during her lifetime. The Oprah success story is so remarkable, I could cry! Talk about the obstacles she’s had to overcome: Being utterly poor, Black, and a woman.

Runner up to Miss Winfrey on Forbes’ new Rich 20 List is J K Rowling. The British author - and creator of Harry Potter - has a lifetime earnings of $US1 billion.

That’s it for the billion dollar ladies. Only two women have earned more than $US1 billion. All the rest in the Forbes Rich 20 List are mere millionaires.

Lifestyle guru Martha Steward came in third on the Forbes list with career earnings of $US638 million.

Following is the full list of the top 20 and their earnings:
1 - Oprah Winfrey $US1.5b
2 - J K Rowling $US1.0b
3 - Martha Stewart $US638m
4 - Madonna $US325m
5 - Celine Dion $US250m
6 - Mariah Carey $US225m
7 - Janet Jackson $US150m
8 - Julia Roberts $US140m
9 - Jennifer Lopez $US110m
10 - Jennifer Aniston $US110m
11 - Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen $US100m
12 - Britney Spears $US100m
13 - Judge Judy (Sheindlin) $US95m
14 - Sandra Bullock $US85m
15 - Cameron Diaz $US75m
16 - Gisele Bundchen $US70m
17 - Ellen DeGeneres $US65m
18 - Nicole Kidman $US60m
19 - Christina Aguilera $US60m
20 - Renee Zellweger $US45m