I don't really see what power Beyonce has. Her dad has power and Jay-Z has power. Honestly, what has Beyonce created beyond her music?
For her to rate above Will Smith who has not only starred in blockbuster, but has also a movie producer is really weird.
There is just no catching up to Oprah in terms of money, power, and respect!

I still don't understand the Tiger Woods appeal. I really don't see him enough anywhere to think that he's powerful or absurdly rich, but whatever. Kudos to him.

Let someone beat Oprah for a change. If only for the sake of controversy.

@SweetDiva: Bey has power because she has Stans that will buy her "fashion line," get the Bey phone, get the L'Oreal hair color and lipstick, the silk front, Comcast, Amex, etc.

Brad also out-earns Angelina but gotta give her points for nesting the $22 million dollar babies.

Shockingly, I like or love everyone on this list.

If you're talking money alone, I would definitely reorganize this list. Sting shouldn't be above Will. Will and JK should be in the top 5. Becks and Bey definitely should stay next to each other because people will buy anything he does an ad for. …and though Brad isn't doing Blockbusters anymore, his 44 year old booty is still selling jeans like hot cakes for the 11th year in a row in Japan.

I think Beyonce's power is manifested, not in the consumer Stans, but primarily through all those endorsements that Daria named, as well as by being cast as leads in at least 3 movies (although not possessing the best acting chops).

Advertisers, companies, producers, and magazines like Forbes both increase and believe in her power to sway the masses.

That being said, I find these subjective lists to be more for the purpose of magazine sales and watercooler talk than anything else.

When I think of a powerful person, I think "their words carry weight." I think of influence, like if Beyonce were to get caught up in a scandal, I don't think the stock prices of AMEX or L'oreal will tank. None of that stuff is irrevocably linked to Bey (except House of Doitwrong and that's really Mama Tina's baby).
I think Sting's rank is merited in terms of his career longevity and activism.

Sweetdiva-Bey is also a major international star.

this is dumb. what kind of power (besides money and endorsing brands) does a celeb have? americas obsession with celebs and wannabe-celebes is way overboard. no one in their right mind would waste their time creating lists like this. …"hollywoods 10 best hairdos"…etc.