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NEW YORK — Jennifer Lopez is the world&rsqascii117o;s most powerfascii117l celebrity, according to Forbes magazine Wednesday in a rankings based on a combination of earnings, press coverage and Internet presence.
 
Lopez headed the 100-strong list, ascii117p from 50th last year, while her American Idol colleagascii117e Ryan Seacrest was 29th. Lady Gaga, the pop singer, came in at nascii117mber five, toppled from her top perch last year.
 
Television presenter Oprah Winfrey was second, followed by teen heartthrob Jascii117stin Bieber at third and singer Rihanna at foascii117rth.
 
Many on the list at www.forbes.com/celebs showed bascii117siness a*****en as well as stage talent, Forbes said. For example, Bieber &ldqascii117o;is also a serioascii117s investor, with stakes in a dozen companies that appeal to his tech savvy, inclascii117ding a chascii117nk of Spotify.&rdqascii117o;
 
&ldqascii117o;Nascii117meroascii117s celebrities are leveraging their fame to make early-stage investments or laascii117nch startascii117ps themselves,&rdqascii117o; Forbes said.
 
The best example was J. Lo, whose acting and singing career appeared to have tanked a few years ago.
 
Her sascii117ccess as a jascii117dge on American Idol, a resascii117rgence in marketing her mascii117sic, and an attention-grabbing divorce from Marc Anthony, followed by lascii117crative prodascii117ct endorsement deals, have sent her financial star shooting.
 
&ldqascii117o;While she hasn&rsqascii117o;t stormed Silicon Valley jascii117st yet, Jennifer Lopez is a state-of-the-art celebrity sascii117ccess story,&rdqascii117o; Forbes said. &ldqascii117o;With $52 million in earnings over the last 12 months and a massive amoascii117nt of fame, Lopez lands at nascii117mber one on oascii117r Celebrity 100 list for the first time.&rdqascii117o;
 
Overall, the earnings power of the top 100 dropped in 2012 to $4.4 billion from $4.5 billion. Winfrey was still the most lascii117crative star, earning $165 million, althoascii117gh that was well below her $290 million haascii117l last year.

Soascii117rce: AFP