Beyonce Tops Forbes' 15th Annual Celebrity 100 List

Beyoncé Knowles topped Forbes’ 15-th annual Celebrity 100 ranking of the world’s most powerful celebrities for the first time since she debuted on the list in 2004.  

LeBron James, the NBA’s top player, who just opted out of his contract with the Miami Heat to explore other options, moved up to No. 2 from the 16th spot last year.  

Rapper Dr. Dre , who moved up from the 63rd spot to number three, earned USD 620 M in 2014, which is more money earned in the past 12 months than any other celebrity in the history of the Forbes Celebrity 100 list. This is mostly thanks to the sale of his headphone and music streaming brand Beats to Apple for USD 3 B, earlier this year.

Media personality Oprah Winfrey  fell to fourth place from the top spot last year, primarily because the three people ranked above her on this year’s list currently have more influence and power.  

TV host Ellen DeGeneres  is a returnee to the list, and moved up from the tenth spot, rounding out the top five.

This year, once again, musicians ranked high on the list. Thirteen of the top 25 on the list were musicians, including Beyoncé Knowles (No. 1), Dr. Dre (No. 3), Jay Z (No. 6), Rihanna (No. 8), Katy Perry (No. 9), Bon Jovi (No. 13), Bruno Mars (No. 13), Miley Cyrus (No. 17), Taylor Swift (No. 18), Lady Gaga (No. 19), Kanye West (No. 20), Calvin Harris (No. 21) and Bruce Springsteen (No. 25).

Notable newcomers to the 2014 list include musicians Bruno Mars (No. 13), One Direction (No. 28), Pharrell Williams (No. 38), Avicii (No. 47); actors Bradley Cooper (No. 48), Matthew McConaughey (No. 52), Vin Diesel (No. 66); television actors Jon Hamm (No. 89), Bryan Cranston (No. 88), Kevin Spacey (No. 74); personality Jimmy Fallon (No. 45)...