'Forbes' Annual Rich Ladies List Reveals Madonna's Massive Orphan-Purchasing Financial Reserves
It's always exciting when Forbes puts together a Hollywood list, for you know the wealth-obsessed monthly will eschew such abstract variables as "heat," "power" and "it-ness" for the very quantifiable metric of net worth in U.S. dollars. The "Forbes Top 20 Richest Women in Entertainment" report is a potent reminder that one needn't be in possession of a dangling manhood in order to amass a massive show business fortune (though the occasional eating disorder certainly doesn't appear to hurt). Your top ten:
1. Oprah Winfrey: Net Worth (in $ millions): 1,500
2. J.K. Rowling: 1,000
3. Martha Stewart: 638
4. Madonna: 325
5. Celine Dion: 250
6. Mariah Carey: 225
7. Janet Jackson: 150
8. Julia Roberts: 140
9. Jennifer Lopez: 110
10. Jennifer Aniston: 110
Not too many shocks there, though readers might be surprised to learn that #13 Judge Judy has managed to turn catchphrases like "I'm the boss, applesauce" into $90 million worth of designer benchwear, and that #16 Gisele Bundchen—estimated at $70 million—probably wasn't dating Leo for his money. But that's chump change to reigning rich lady Oprah Winfrey, whose $1.5 billion effectively slides her safely into "richer than God" territory, a logical supplantation following her official takeover of His Messianic duties after the entire God operation was folded into Harpo Productions in the first quarter of 2006.