Britney Is Back on Top

Source: Forbes Magazine

Celeb 100 FAQ: Yes, Britney Spears Really Made $64 Million Last Year. Here's How.

The following italicized article is from www.forbes.com:

When Britney Spears popped up at no. 6 on our Celebrity 100 list, we too thought it must be some sort of technical glitch in the number crunching process. What else could explain the placement of the former head-shaving, umbrella-swinging, rehab-visiting pop-tart near the top of a list of the world’s most powerful stars? Could this one-time train wreck really be that rich or that important to the entertainment business?

The answer is yes. The Britney Spears who made our list was not the tabloid target whose frequent meltdowns only two years ago relegated her to our infamy index. Instead, the 28-year-old that clocked in in our top 10 was the chart-topping songstress whose past 12 months included the 5th highest-grossing tour of the year. According to concert trade publication Pollstar, "The Circus Starring Britney Spears" tour grossed more than $130 million. Spears took in still more from tour merchandise and another greatest hits album, "The Singles Collection."

Like her savvier Hollywood cohorts, she has been similarly busy building the Spears brand, extending her fan-base –and wallet—with a host of top-selling Elizabeth Arden fragrances, an endorsement deal for Candie’s and a fashion collection for juniors. She added the latter last month, and will sell her designs exclusively at Kohl’s.

But for her to land as high on the list as she did, she needed to garner as much fame as she did money. She did. In fact, the mother of two ranked third overall in Web mentions (behind Lady Gaga and Beyonce, who banked an estimated $62 million and $87 million, respectively, during the same period) and second in a social media metric that factored in both Twitter and Facebook followings (Gaga has her beat with nearly 10 million Facebook fans).

Still more impressive: in May, Spears overtook Twitter king Ashton Kutcher as the most popular celebrity on Twitter. At last check, she had 5.2 million followers, a group with whom she responds to and frequently updates.

So no, Britney Spears is far from through. If the last year is any indication, she's just getting started.

Source: Forbes

Britney #6 on Forbes Celebrity Hot 100 List

The following italicized article is from www.forbes.com:

Britney Spears - #6

Not long ago, most of the entertainment world had written Britney Spears off as a celebrity flameout. But over the last year Spears logged the fifth highest-grossing tour in the world, bringing in $130 million in gross box office receipts by playing 98 dates. High-profile endorsement deals with Elizabeth Arden and Candies' prove that the public expects Spears to stay in the spotlight for good.

Source: Forbes

Britney #13 On Forbes Most Powerful Celebs Of 2009 List

13. Britney Spears - $35 million

Pay Rank 42
Web Rank 10
Press Rank 16
TV/Radio Rank 11

The tabloids' favorite train wreck has returned to the stage—and the Celebrity 100. After a very public meltdown in 2007, released Circus last November; the album became one of the fastest-selling records of 2008, moving 1.5 million copies in three months. Launched a new tour in March; grossing $24 million with the first 13 concerts.

Source: Forbes

Britney Spears Loses Place In Hollywood's Top Female Earners

The following italicized article is from www.showbizspy.com:

BRITNEY SPEARS is determined to get her career back on track - after losing her place in a select group of Hollywood's richest women.

The pop superstar has been nudged from the top 10 celebrity female earners in a new rich list compiled by Forbes magazine.

Spears made the top 10 last year (07) in a similar study by the publication, but just missed out in the 2008 poll, she was placed 11th on the list with an estimated fortune of $102 million.

The biggest earner on the Forbes list was chatshow queen Oprah Winfrey, who tops the poll with a massive $1.5 billion fortune.

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is second after amassing a $1.1 billion fortune thanks to phenomenal global sales of her beloved books and its movie adaptations.

Other top earners include Madonna with $325 million , Celine Dion with $250 million and singer Mariah Carey, who has earned $226 million (GBP113 million).

Source: Showbiz Spy

The Top-Earning Women In Music

#14 - *Even Britney Spears snagged a spot on our list, though she toured minimally, lip-synching her way through a handful on House of Blues clubs last spring. Despite near-daily public meltdowns culminating in September's humiliating "comeback" performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, the troubled 26-year-old mother of two still managed to eek out $8 million from old hits and surprisingly strong sales of her perfume, Curious, which grossed $55.4 million in 2006.

Source: Forbes