Stuff to Blog About and More: FORBES 100 Most Powerful Celebrities

Once again, the people at Forbes have come out with a list to forever intrigue us.
This list is Forbes' annual Celebrity 100 ranking of the world's ultra-famous power ranking based on both earnings and fame. Factors in determining the results includemedia metrics like Google hits, press mentions as compiled by Factiva, TV/radio mentions from Lexis/Nexis and the number of times an A-lister appears on the cover of more than 50 consumer magazines.

It is of no surprise that Oprah Winfrey remains No. 1 on the Celebrity 100 . Winfrey earned $275 million before taxes in the past 12 months, and she remains one of the most famous faces in the world.

Golf star Tiger Woods retained the No. 2 spot on the list, raking in $115 million on and off the course, while actress Angelina Jolie soared to the third spot, combining $14 million in earnings with unrivaled levels of fame.

Joining Jolie in the top 10 is boyfriend Brad Pitt, with whom she is expecting twins. Pitt banked $20 million in the past 12 months and was often spotted on the covers of magazines with Jolie as the two traveled the world promoting movies and working for various charities.

Another power couple in the top 10: pop star Beyoncé Knowles (No. 4) and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z (No. 7). Beyoncé had a monster year, pulling in $80 million between a highly successful concert tour, private shows, a fashion line, endorsement deals and film work. Jay-Z left Def Jam Records to sign a $150 million deal with concert promoter Live Nation (nyse: LYV - news - people ). The deal provides the rapper and entrepreneur with money for recording, tours and other entertainment endeavors for the next decade.

Hip-hop impresario 50 Cent was the third-highest earner on the list (he ranked 26th overall), taking in $150 million before taxes. Last summer Coca-Cola (nyse: KO - news - people ) paid $4.1 billion for Glaceau, the beverage company that owns Vitamin Water. The self-admitted former drug dealer owned a small stake in the company.

The highest-ranked actor on the list is Johnny Depp, in sixth place. Depp made $72 million last year, much of it earned on the "back end" of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, which grossed more than $950 million worldwide. Will Smith, ranked 11th, is the highest paid actor in Hollywood, bringing home $80 million, including an estimated $20 million for his role in the upcoming anti-superhero flick Hancock.

This year 27 newcomers make the list. Among them: rock band the Police, who sold $200 million worth of tickets and played to 4 million fans during a massive international tour. Daily Show host Jon Stewart, The Office's Steve Carell and reality-TV personality Lauren Conrad are also notable new members.

forbes.com

FTC: Your Rights: Credit Reporting

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, has prepared a brochure, Your Access to Free Credit Reports, explaining your rights under the FCRA and how to order a free annual credit report.

A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.

How do I order my free report?

You can order your free annual credit report online at annualcreditreport.com, by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

When you order, you need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. To verify your identity, you may need to provide some information that only you would know, like the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.

A Warning About "Imposter" Sites

The FTC advises consumers who order their free annual credit reports online to be sure to correctly spell annualcreditreport.com, or link to it from the FTC's website to avoid being misdirected to other websites that offer supposedly free reports,but only with the purchase of other products. While consumers may be offered additional products or services while on the authorized website, they are not required to make a purchase to receive their free annual credit reports.

For more information on free annual credit reports, read Your Access to Free Credit Reports.