Actor TOM CRUISE is the most powerful celebrity in the world, according to FORBES MAGAZINE.

Forbes's annual listing, now in its third year, uses a tricky formula to rate celebrities based on their earning power (i.e., dollars (pounds) in the bank) and star power (name recognition). The latter includes a tally of how many articles they were featured in, TV and radio appearances and Web searches.

By Forbes's calculations, in 2000, Cruise, 38, graced the cover of 11 magazines, generated 139,000 Web hits and earned $43.2 million (£28.5million), outpacing the rest of the celebrity world. JULIA ROBERTS, 33, who ranked first last year, dropped

to 16th, with earnings of $18.9 million (£12.4million) - despite her Golden Globe-winning, Oscar-nominated turn in ERIN BROCKOVICH. (PDD/WNWCYA)

Source: WENN