Star Dollars Star Power (original) (raw)
Celebrity is the ultimate asset. In this frantic age of nanosecond attention spans, fame is fortune-not just for the pampered stars but also for the businesses that bank on them. The combined wattage of Julia Roberts, Bruce Willis and Adam Sandler helped launch Joe Roth's new movie studio last year. The worldwide appeal of Britney Spears, 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys gives low-profile mogul Clive Calder powerful leverage in the music business. Derek Jeter isn't the highest-paid player in baseball, but he is the most valuable, given his starring role in the world's hottest media market. Our Celebrity 100 list (p. 144) seeks to quantify such intangibles. We begin by totaling up the top earners in 14 different categories, then factor in media attention and other metrics of fame. That's why Tom Cruise-though he ranks a mere 13th in pay-is number one when magazine covers, media mentions and Internet presence are also tallied. Hollywood stars and athletes dominate the rankings, but celebrity enriches lesser lights as well: chefs, models, authors and even the newest arrival, the noncelebrity celebrity, courtesy of reality television.
Contents
"Real" stars grapple with reality.
By Peter Kafka
Showbiz graybeards stick around.
By Mark Lacter
They're famous and anonymous.
By Kemp Powers
Meet Clive Calder, recluse/mogul.
By Peter Kafka and Brett Pulley
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