The Ten Most Powerful Boomer Celebs

We get a flood of daily news about celebrities: they’re breaking up, walking the red carpet, starring in a new movie or releasing a new CD. But how much is hype? How many celebrities have a ton of money and/or influence? Forbes.com crunched the numbers, taking into account not only their 2011 salaries but also mentions in the press and number of Facebook and twitter followers. (That's why some celebs who make less than others are higher on the list.) The result: a list of the 100 most powerful celebrities, and while Number 1, Jennifer Lopez, isn’t a boomer (she’s just 42), there are other celebs in our generation who rank high. And they’re not all the people you’d expect. Take a look and see how they rank:

Oprah Winfrey

Rank on list: #2. No surprise here. Even after her show has ended, Oprah remains a force through her magazine, related shows like “Dr. Oz,” and a radio contract with Sirius. Her yearly earnings ($165 million) are very high. However, those earnings dropped by an equally staggering $125 million – the income she had while her show was still being broadcast. And she’s facing some challenges in keeping her OWN TV network going.

Tom Cruise Rank on list: #9. Although Cruise, 49, went through a bad patch a while back (remember the time he sofa-stomped on Oprah’s show?), he’s recovered. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, earned $700 million worldwide. It will be interesting to see whether his next movie, “Rock Of Ages,” will come close to that record. His 2011 salary: $75 million.

Steven Spielberg Rank on list: #10. You’d think he’d be higher, right? But while he remains one of the most consistently influential moviemakers around, Spielberg, 65, didn’t have a boffo year at the box office. The Adventures of TinTin and War Horse both got Oscar nominations, but fell short of financial expectations. Still, $130 million for a year’s work in 2011 would make most people very happy.

Donald Trump Rank on list: #14. Does anyone remember when he actually sold real estate? Trump, 65, has become such a brand through his “Celebrity Apprentice” show that he now rakes in cash through books, neckties and cologne (for men, of course). He’s made noises about getting into politics, too. His take-home: $80 million last year.

Elton John Rank on list: #17. At 65, John isn’t slowing down one bit. Not only does he have a newborn son, Zachary, but he also did over 100 performances last year. And his animated movie, “Gnomeo and Juliet,” brought in $200 million. The bottom line for him: $80 million.

Simon Cowell Rank on list: #18. His “American Idol” has been a gold mine, drawing in millions of viewers, spawning desperate imitations and, not incidentally, creating a few stars. But Cowell, 52, isn't infallible: His new show, “The X Factor,” hasn’t been nearly as successful. The result: a mere $90 million in 2011.

Rush Limbaugh Rank on list: #19. Whether you agree with him or not, you have to admit that Limbaugh, 61, has one of the most devoted fan bases in the country. That’s probably got something to do with why he survived the furor surrounding his attacks on Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown student who wanted the school to provide health insurance for birth control. Advertisers left, but the fans stayed. Who knows what the lessened revenue may mean in the long run, but one thing’s for sure: The audience will be there. And to advertisers, that means everything. Take-home pay last year: $69 million.

Paul McCartney Rank on list: #21.Back in 1964, when all those girls were screaming themselves hoarse over the Beatles, whoever thought McCartney, the group’s official heartthrob, would still be touring nearly half a century later? But McCartney, 69, is still pulling them in on the road, and releasing albums that are snapped up by devoted followers. His earnings in 2011 totaled $57 million.

Glenn Beck Rank on list: #23. A conservative-talk powerhouse, Beck, 48, now has his own Internet-only channel, with 300,000 viewers at last count. Add to that his radio show, “The Glenn Beck program,” and spinoffs ranging from websites to a political comedy act, and you’ve got a guy who’s almost as powerful as Rush Limbaugh. Last year Beck’s earnings totaled $80 million.

Bon Jovi Rank on list: #25. That's the group, not the lead singer. The Jersey rockers, who have been together for 29 years, last year earned more than Lil Wayne, Kim Kardashian and Kate Moss combined. That would be $60 million for the band.