Angelina Jolie is the covergirl for the much-anticipated publication, which hits newsstands today June 16, 2006 - but it's Cruise's movie successes and his romance with Katie Holmes that propels him to the top, with an estimated $67 million fortune.
It is the second time Cruise has topped the list, but his reappearance in number one spot came as a surprise in light of recent bad press over his controversial Scientology beliefs and exaggerated display of love for Holmes in the infamous Oprah Windfrey couch-jumping exhibition. However, movie earnings and column inches in the press have re-earned him the title five years after he first snatched it. A Forbes wealth expert says, "He is the only celebrity to ever make the number one spot twice. "In a weak year for Hollywood, Tom Cruise is the only film star to make it to the top ten."
It's not a good year for Cruise's best pals Julia Roberts and Oprah Winfrey - Roberts slipped off the list for the first time since 1999, while Oprah dropped from last year's top spot to number three. The annual ranking of fame and fortune also wasn't kind to feuding Lindsay Lohan and Hilary Duff, who both slide off the Celebrity 100 list after making it last year. Mel Gibson, Madonna and Will Ferrell also disappear from the 2006 list. The big musicians on the power chart include the Rolling Stones at number two, U2 at number four, rapper 50 Cent (number eight) and former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney (number 14).
The top ten most influential celebrities are as follows:
1. TOM CRUISE
2. THE ROLLING STONES
3. OPRAH WINFREY
4. U2
5. TIGER WOODS
6. STEVE SPIELBERG
7. HOWARD STERN
8. 50 CENT
9. CAST OF THE SOPRANOS
10. DAN BROWN
