Who Are the Hottest Stars in Hollywood?

Fame is fleeting, and a star who's totally hot one day may fizzle and fade the next. What happens to our favorite celebrities when the applause dies down, the paparazzi stop following and their names disappear from the tabloids? Don't worry - they've still got all that money. Who's popular enough to command the biggest paychecks? The hottest stars in Hollywood, that's who.

For businesses and individuals, the end of the year often heralds much more than New Year's resolutions and making personal changes. Pretty soon, it's going to be time to square things up with Uncle Sam. Which stars are going to be claiming the most income on their taxes this year?

Highest-Paid Celebrities

Almost always topping the list of Forbes highest-paid celebrities , again reaching the pinnacle in 2008, is Oprah Winfrey. This TV host/producer/magazine mogul/everything else pulled down a staggering $275 million gross in 2008, officially giving her what Hollywood likes to call clout. She's the reigning Queen of TV, and she's got the paycheck to prove it. According to one report , Charlie Sheen is the highest-paid actor in TV for 2008, proving that he can earn enough for two and a half men if needed.

In sports, golf superstar Tiger Woods is still supreme as the highest-paid celebrity in the biz. Woods scored $115 million last year thanks to tour winnings, sponsorships, endorsement deals and investments. For this extremely popular sports hero, it's all just par for the course.

Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z both hit the right notes for the year 2008, both individually climbing to the Top 10 in the famous Forbes list. She pulled in $80 million from concerts, shows, her clothing line, film appearances and endorsements. Oh, yeah, she sells tons of albums, too. Jay-Z earned a paycheck of $150 million through a single deal in 2008. J. K. Rowling stands out on the list as the only author to reach a Top 10 slot, proving that sometimes the pen is mightier than the sword.

Who are the Hottest Stars in Hollywood?

But when it comes to Hollywood, it's those who command the silver screen who also command the silver paychecks. In the year 2008, Angelina Jolie became the highest-paid actress in the movie-making biz with $14 million in earnings, surpassing 2007's top female acting earner Reese Witherspoon. Jolie's husband Brad Pitt also commands a powerful position on the Forbes list , earning $20 million in the calendar year. Will Smith is currently Hollywood's highest-paid male actor. The Hancock star banked $80 million for year after receiving a cool $20 million for his superhero work.