Oprah, Forbes ranks as most powerful celebrity

The doyenne of daytime television reigns supreme. O's global empire spans books, magazines and movies in addition to the eponymous talk show that started it all. Syndication remains her bread and butter (if the newly slim star still ate carbs, that is). The nine figures she takes home for her own show are topped with a healthy portion of revenue from Harpo's Dr. Phil spinoff.

The top ranking is based on income over the past 12 months as well as web references, press clippings, broadcast mentions and major magazine covers devoted to the celebrity, Forbes said on its website.

Winfrey, the 54-year-old high priestess of US daytime television, beat out golfer Tiger Woods in second place and Hollywood heavyweight Angelina Jolie in the list.

Forbes reported that Winfrey earned 275 million dollars between June 2007 and June 2008, while Woods pocketed 115 million.

While Jolie earned a fraction of those sums -- 14 million dollars according to Forbes -- the actress came out on top for the number of web hits, securing her place in the top 10.

In fourth place was singer Beyonce Knowles, who finished three places above husband hip-hop mogul Jay-Z, with earnings of 80 million dollars and third overall for the number of web hits.

English football superstar David Beckham's move to the US Major League Soccer team the Los Angeles Galaxy helped catapult him into the top 10, taking fifth place with earnings of 50 million dollars, ahead of actor Johnny Depp in sixth.

In eighth place just behind Jay-Z, British supergroup The Police muscled their way into the top 10 after a year that saw the band reunite for a successful concert tour.

J.K. Rowling, the billionaire author behind the "Harry Potter" books, was in ninth, earning more than any other celebrity on the list over the same period with a mammoth 300 million dollars.

As actor Brad Pitt -- Angelina Jolie's partner -- rounded out the top 10, the upper echelons were notable for some famous absentees.

Rock legends Madonna, The Rolling Stones and Elton John had all fallen out of the top 10, as had actor Tom Cruise.