Mel ousts Jen as world’s most powerful celeb

MEL Gibson has eclipsed Jennifer Aniston as the world’s most powerful celebrity, according to the latest ranking.

The 48-year-old Passion Of The Christ director had a top pay packet of $210 million last year.

The Last Samurai star Tom Cruise was named the most powerful celebrity in 2001 but has been off the list for the last two years. Now he is back at number four while his ex-wife Nicole Kidman doesn't get a look-in on the list, which considers earnings and public exposure.

Number one last year, former Friends star Aniston has dropped to 17 but still hovers above husband Brad Pitt who comes in at 37. Jennifer Lopez and her ex Ben Affleck have fallen off the magazine chart, which comes out on June 28.

The Forbes Celebrity 100 sees Harry Potter creator JK Rowling ranked the sixth most powerful celebrity. The once-penniless single mother has sold more than 250 million copies of her five Potter books.

England captain David Beckham's star status has propelled him from 56th place to 22nd in the annual list.

And ageing rockers the Rolling Stones are right up there at number five.

The band are up five places from last year, after boosting their mammoth tour revenue with a best-selling DVD. Catherine Zeta Jones is at number 56 and has outdone husband Michael Douglas who does not even make the list.

When it comes to earnings alone, Jim Carrey is the highest ranking actor taking $66m, Cameron Diaz is the top earning actress at $32.5m, and the Olsen Twins the top child stars at $28m. Gisele is the top earning model at $10m, and former US president Bill Clinton the top earning speaker at $6.3m.

Tiger Woods, the top athlete at $80.3m, comes second on the overall list, and talk show queen Oprah Winfrey comes third.

Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp makes his debut at number 10.

Reality show stars The Osbournes are absent despite riding high at number 12 last year. Rapper Eminem has also been dropped.