Move over Oprah, there is a new powerful celebrity in town and she is Lady Gaga. For years Oprah has been on top of Forbe's most influential celebrities list but this year she had to step aside despite making about tree times what Lady Gaga made last year.
These days that means mastering social media. Lady Gaga topples Oprah Winfrey from her No.1 spot on our list, which she's given up for only the third time in seven years.
Gaga is there not just because of the
more after the jump
$90 million she earned with a monster tour, but also because of her 32 million Facebook fans and 9.5 million Twitter followers -- aka Little Monsters -- who helped move 1 million digital downloads of her recent single "Born This Way" in only five days. They're also happy to buy the MAC makeup, Monster headphones, and Virgin Mobile phones she features in her videos
Oprah doesn't fall far though. The daytime talk maven, who earned $290 million last year, comes in second. Winfrey's earnings sank $25 million partially due to a reduced payday at SiriusXM.
She still earns big from her syndicated show and from the stars she's spawned, including Dr Phil (No. 18) Rachael Ray and Dr. Oz. Winfrey's earning power will take a bigger hit next year, when her syndicated show ends and she concentrates all her efforts on the struggling OWN network.
Maybe it would help if Oprah took a lesson from No. 3 Justin Bieber. The Biebs debuts on our list at the tender young age of 17, with $53 million earned over the last 12 months thanks to concerts, music sales, and a 3-D documentary movie that grossed $100 million at the global box office.
If this were 10 years ago Bieber would still be paying his dues in small clubs and schools, but thanks to the Internet, he's a sensation. His first hit song, "Baby," has been viewed 500 million times, a YouTube record.
FORBES’ CELEBRITY POWER LIST 2011 TOP 20
1. Lady Gaga
2. Oprah Winfrey
3. Justin Bieber
4. U2
5. Sir Elton John
6. Tiger Woods
7. Taylor Swift
8. Bon Jovi
9. Simon Cowell
10. Lebron James
11. Angelina Jolie
12. Katy Perry
13. Johnny Depp
14. Kobe Bryant
15. Leonardo DiCaprio
16. Black Eyed Peas
17. Donald Trump
18. Dr. Phil McGraw
19. Tyler Perry
20. Sir Paul McCartney
2. Oprah Winfrey
3. Justin Bieber
4. U2
5. Sir Elton John
6. Tiger Woods
7. Taylor Swift
8. Bon Jovi
9. Simon Cowell
10. Lebron James
11. Angelina Jolie
12. Katy Perry
13. Johnny Depp
14. Kobe Bryant
15. Leonardo DiCaprio
16. Black Eyed Peas
17. Donald Trump
18. Dr. Phil McGraw
19. Tyler Perry
20. Sir Paul McCartney
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