Nobody would argue that 2010 has been an up-and-down year for Sandra Bullock, given her best actress Oscar for “The Blind Side” followed by her divorce from scandal-plagued husband Jesse James.
But on Tuesday, Bullock landed atop Hollywood’s heap again when financial website Forbes.com named her the highest paid actress of the past 12 months having earned $56 million from two box office hits, romantic comedy “The Proposal” and football film, “The Blind Side.”
Bullock not only received a fee for acting, but also participated in the profits, and for both films, the box office numbers were hefty, according to Forbes.com. “The Blind Side” took in nearly $310 million at global box offices on a budget of around $30 million, while “Proposal” racked up just under $320 million and cost roughly $40 million.
Tied for the No. 2 spot were Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz, both making $32 million. Though Witherspoon has not been on screen since 2008, she received advance paychecks for upcoming films, “How Do You Know” and “Water for Elephants”.
Diaz’s pot of gold was filled with money from the “Knight and Day” and “Shrek” films, which have grossed $2.8 billion at the global box office.
Jennifer Aniston came in at fourth place with $27 million, and “Sex and the City” star Sarah Jessica Parker was No. 5 at $25 million.
To determine actresses’ compensation, Forbes.com talked to talent agents, managers, producers and lawyers and looked at other means of revenue such as perfume and clothing lines and ad campaigns.
Forbes.com based its figures on earnings from June 2009 to June 2010. Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston were the highest paid actresses during a similar period one year earlier.
Sandra Bullock‘s spokeswoman says the actress wants out of a video asking Congress to deliver funding to restore the Gulf Coast until she learns whether the campaign was influenced by oil companies.
The move came after the website DeSmogBlog called the campaign an industry ploy to get support for drilling and taxpayer money to repair wetland damage caused by the BP oil spill.
Women of the Storm, the group that produced the video, lists America’s Wetland Foundation as a partner. As DeSmogBlog points out, the foundation lists BP and other oil companies as sponsors on its website.
Anne Milling, founder of Women of the Storm, tells the AP that the foundation provided experts and information, but says the video was not funded by oil companies.
In the video, Bullock is joined by a bevy of other stars, many of whom hail from Gulf Coast states. Dave Matthews, Harry Shearer, Blake Lively, Peyton Manning and Emeril Lagasse, among others, ask people to “Be the One” to take action to help fund the environmental recovery effort.
“What can you offer?” Bullock asks in the PSA. “Your voice. Speak up!”
Women of the Storm, a nonpartisan group that has spearheaded recovery efforts for past disasters, is hoping to collect one million signatures. Since the video was uploaded to YouTube two weeks ago, just over 121,000 people have signed the petition on restorethegulf.com.
Nobody’s bitch slap leaves a redder mark, than Sandra Bullock’s.
source: Sandra Bullock Wants to Be Removed From Gulf Video [popeater]
Elizabeth Edwards — declaring, “I’m not just a cuckolded wife” — says she can easily relate to actress Sandra Bullock, star of “The Blind Side,” whose divorce from philandering husband Jesse James became final this week.
“I think about Sandra Bullock — who I don’t know at all — what an incredible year she’s had,” Edwards tells NBC Today show host Matt Lauer in an interview that aired Wednesday.
“She won the Academy Award for an incredible performance, and more than that, she took that story and integrated that into her own life in this healthy, happy way,” by secretly adopting son Louis in January. “And yet, the stories you hear are not about all those great successes, but about the failure of her marriage.”
Says Edwards: “That’s not who she is… I assume she wants to reclaim who she is in the same way I want to reclaim who I am.”
In the pre-taped conversation, she spoke for the first time about the breakup of what once was considered a devoted, loving family. It was part of a media blitz to promote the paperback version of her 2009 memoir, “Resilience,” with a new epilogue that came out Tuesday.
Edwards writes that she has one simple, powerful wish: to survive the incurable breast cancer that now has spread to her spine, skull and legs, for at least eight years to see her youngest child finish high school.
Mothering her own three children — Jack, 10; Emma Claire, 12 and Cate, 28 — at least until 2018 would allow Edwards, 60, “to finish the one job I know I did better than any other,” she writes in the epilogue.
The book’s final “next chapter” explains her decision to split from her law school sweetheart and former North Carolina Democratic senator. She is divorcing John Edwards, two time White House contender and her husband of nearly 33 years, over his long affair with Rielle Hunter, who bore him a daughter, now two years old.
Man, I really feel sorry for Elizabeth — first her husband of 30+ years fails her, then she gets diagnosed with cancer.
source: Elizabeth Edwards on Splitting From John and Relating to Sandra Bullock [politics daily]
Forbes have released their annual 100 of the most powerful and highest earning celebrities in the world, when compiling the list they looked at how much the celebrities earned and how much star power they have based on media exposure. The list is based from June 2009-June 2010. Here’s the top 15, the full list is after the jump below:
#1 Oprah Winfrey ($315), 2009 Rank: 2
News that this coming season of The Oprah Winfrey Show will be her last helped the self-made billionaire garner more media attention than any other member of the Celebrity 100. Her Harpo production company, which spawned the careers of Dr. Phil, Rachel Ray and Dr. Oz, will introduce interior designer Nate Berkus this fall. Months later, the list’s top-earner will add the lifestyle-themed Oprah Winfrey Network in partnership with Discovery Communications to her media empire.
#2 Beyoncé Knowles ($87), 2009 Rank: 4
One half of the most famous couple in hip-hop, Beyoncé continues to expand her business empire beyond music. Endorsement deals with companies ranging from Nintendo to L’Oreal and her growing House of Dereon fashion line bring in millions of dollars per year on top of the $86 million she grossed from a 93-stop world tour.
#3 James Cameron ($210), 2009 Rank: No Rank
As the director of the highest grossing film of all time, Cameron is definitely “king of the world.” Avatar has earned $2.7 billion at the box office alone and has changed the way Hollywood makes films. In the near future almost every studio blockbuster will be released in 3-D. Cameron is already at work on Avatar 2.
#4 Lady Gaga ($62), 2009 Rank: No Rank
A newcomer to the Celebrity 100, Lady Gaga broke down the door to fame with outlandish outfits and quirky videos, including one that featured her and Beyoncé poisoning an unappreciative boyfriend. Bringing in an estimated $31 million with a 106-date tour that grossed $95 million, Lady Gaga is also a marketer’s dream, teaming up with Polaroid, Virgin Mobile, Monster Cable and Viva Glam.
#5 Tiger Woods ($105), 2009 Rank: 5
Tiger Woods’ fall from global sports icon to tabloid fodder was stunning. He saw Accenture, AT&T and Pepsi drop him as a pitchman, but he remains the highest-paid athlete in the world thanks to huge deals with Nike, Electronic Arts and Upper Deck. Nike built a $650 million (sales) golf business from scratch on Woods’ back. His fledgling golf course design business has been hurt by the economic downturn, as all three courses he’s worked on have experienced major delays.
#6 Britney Spears ($64), 2009 Rank: 13
Not long ago, most of the entertainment world had written Britney Spears off as a celebrity flameout. But over the last year Spears logged the fifth highest-grossing tour in the world, bringing in $130 million in gross box office receipts by playing 98 dates. High-profile endorsement deals with Elizabeth Arden and Candies’ prove that the public expects Spears to stay in the spotlight for good.
#7 U2 ($130), 2009 Rank: No Rank
The world’s biggest rock band, U2 launched a massive world tour in 2009 that has brought in more than $311 million in gross box office receipts. Each tour stop brings in $10 million in gross ticket sales. Add in lucrative merchandise sales, heavy radio play and a steady-selling back catalog, and you have the highest-earning band on the planet.
#8 Sandra Bullock ($56), 2009 Rank: 92
With two hit movies (The Proposal and The Blind Side) and an Oscar win, Bullock should have been sitting on top of the world. She is financially. With $56 million she’s the highest-earning actress. But a messy breakup with cheating husband Jesse James turned her into tabloid fodder. Bullock overcame adversity with news of an adoption and a public return at the MTV Movie Awards.
#9 Johnny Depp ($75), 2009 Rank: No Rank
Depp zooms close to the top of our list this year thanks to his work as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s 3-D update of Alice in Wonderland. The Disney film has grossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office, making Depp the only actor to headline two $1 billion films. Depp also landed a big upfront payday for The Tourist. Costarring Angelina Jolie, the film is a rare case these days of two big stars getting big bucks.
#10 Madonna ($58), 2009 Rank: 3
The Material Girl isn’t quite ready to cede her spot in pop music’s hierarchy to Lady Gaga or Britney Spears just yet. The 52-year-old singer had the fourth highest-grossing tour of 2009, bringing in $6 million a night and $138 million overall. An episode of the Fox hit sitcom Glee, which featured cast members singing several of her songs, added to her already high profile and cushioned her significant earnings from publishing royalties.
#11 Simon Cowell ($80), 2009 Rank: 25
Cowell made perhaps the biggest decision of his life this year when he ended his Idol run in favor of producing his own talent show, The X Factor, in America. Cowell, who also produces America’s Got Talent, says The X Factor format is his favorite. It won’t compete against Idol.
#12 Taylor Swift ($45), 2009 Rank: 69
The most-played artist on the radio in 2009, Swift’s 100 live dates during the last 12 months grossed $54 million. She’s one of the few artists who can still convince millions of fans to legally buy music–her Fearless album topped the 2009 sales charts, moving 3.2 million units, while fans downloaded another 12 million tracks from iTunes and Amazon. Large endorsement deals with Sony and CoverGirl helped her bottom line, too.
#13 Miley Cyrus ($48), 2009 Rank: 29
The teen star behind Disney’s lucrative Hannah Montana franchise has now matured into a serious entertainment draw, averaging a nightly gross box office of $1.2 million across 57 tour dates. A starring role in the movie The Last Song, heavy radio play for her hit “Party in the U.S.A.” and her cut from all of those Disney shirts with her face on them add up to a large bump over her earnings from last year.
#14 Kobe Bryant ($48), 2009 Rank: 10
Kobe Bryant signed a three-year, $83.5 million extension in April with the Los Angeles Lakers that will make him the highest-paid player in the NBA. He will be only the second player in NBA history with a $30 million salary (Michael Jordan in the late ’90s was the first). His salary this past year was $23 million. Bryant led the Lakers to their fifth title since 2000. Everybody likes a winner: Bryant’s jersey is the NBA’s top seller in the U.S., China and Europe.
#15 Jay-Z ($63), 2009 Rank: 32
Jay-Z likes to say he’s not a businessman; he’s a business, man–and it’s not idle boasting. The rapper-turned-mogul retains his crown as hip-hop’s cash king thanks to a new album and investments in the 40/40 nightclub chain, the Broadway show “Fela!” and the New Jersey Nets basketball team. Jay-Z’s biggest boost comes from his Blueprint 3 tour, which grossed over $1 million per concert this year. He still makes less than wife Beyoncé.
There’s some surprises on the list but for me I fully expected Oprah Winfrey to be back on top, I just didn’t think Angelina Jolie would fall from being on top last year down 17 spots this year.
The Jesse James and Sandra Bullock debacle finally (hopefully) has come to an end. TMZ reports that the Travis County, TX county clerk’s office has filed the final documents, and Sandra is now legally free to complete her single parent adoption of baby Louis Bardo Bullock.
Bullock filed for divorce against Vanilla Gorilla back in April, stating that the marriage “has become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities.” That translates into “I want to divorce this bag of douche because he has been sticking his penis into STD filled sewers during our entire marriage and I am sick of bathing in bleach.”
Source: Sandra Bullock/Jesse James Divorce Final [TMZ]
Happy Friday! For today’s top ten celeb quotes of the week, we’ve got Paula Deen fondling abtastic hottie, The Situation, John McCain’s sympathy for Snooki and “True Blood” newbie Joe Manganiello talking about a sock to cover his junk. Enjoy!
“Who did your hair, Crisco?”
– Paula Deen, during her backstage brush with Jersey Shore’s Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and his abs!, at the CMT Awards
“How about Diddy dog food: Make your dog yap to a rap.”
– Diddy, joking about his next possible business venture, on Nightline
“I had to represent ‘California Gurls’ by wearing Daisy Dukes and a bikini on top – California girls aren’t just all naked!”
– Katy Perry, on the sparkling ensemble she wore for her MTV Movie Awards performance, to People
“Will you just have my baby, and let’s just get it over?”
- Kid Rock, to Sheryl Crow while hosting the CMT Awards
“If it’s a girl, maybe.”
– Crow, who just adopted a second son
“I would never tax your tanning bed! Pres Obama’s tax/spend policy is quite The Situation. but I do rec wearing sunscreen!”
– Senator John McCain, Tweeting to Jersey Shore’s Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, after the reality star complained about the President’s 10% tanning tax
“I was welcomed into the brotherhood of the sock. When you’re naked on the show, you have to wear a sock, and it’s not on your foot.”
– True Blood newcomer Joe Manganiello, on his nude initiation into the vampire drama, to EW
“I have a major crush on President Obama … I think he is so fine.”
– Glee’s Amber Riley, who met the Commander in Chief during the cast’s trip to the White House, on Lopez Tonight
“Very Sonny and Cher, but Clay and Ruben.”
– Clay Aiken, on his upcoming concert tour with former American Idol castmate Ruben Studdard, on Chelsea Lately
“I will keep doing it until I go to the bathroom and wipe my ears.”
– Joan Rivers, sharing her plan for future plastic surgeries, on The View
“Whoever established the high road and how high it should be should be fired.”
– Sandra Bullock, showing off her humor in her first televised appearance since her marriage scandal, at the MTV Movie Awards
Sandra Bullock made her first appearance since the “Bombshell” was dropped on her life at last night’s Spike TV’s Guys Choice Awards… and she looked stunning.
Bullock was awarded the “Troops Choice” award for Entertainer of the Year.
Sandra, being full of awesome as always, accepted the award with humor and class. In her acceptance speech, she said,
“Let’s be honest here, just for a moment. We’re all going to be honest, right? Did I win this for being entertainer of the year, or did I win this because of the spectacular I.E.D. explosion that became my personal life? No, it’s okay. Because I would do it over and over again if it was to entertain our troops , and our extraordinary troops deserve something much more than some actress in a tight dress talking about herself…”
Jesse James appeared on ABC’s Nightline last night and he claims that he was abused as a child which is part of the reason he ended up cheating on Sandra Bullock.
Jesse claims that being abused by his father as a child left him with abandonment issues which resulted him cheating on his wife because he was ashamed of his abuse. He says that this is another reason he went to seek help in rehab, not just for his cheating on Bullock.
On his dad’s abuse: “I was a terrorized kid, I was petrified of my dad … It wasn’t so much getting the sh– beat out of me or getting my arm broken or getting kicked or whatever or punched, it was the in-between time. It was the fear of that happening again. I grew up with a huge amount of shame and fear and abandonment on my shoulders from a very young age, and I think, you know, the way my mind rationalized [cheating], ‘Well, you know, I might as well do whatever I can to like run her off, ’cause she is going to find out what I am anyway and leave me anyway.’ The struggle within myself for the things that I did … to damage marriage and my life and everything else, it’s all me. I’m doing it because, you know, I’ve basically never felt good enough for anyone.”
On his sex addiction: “I don’t think I have a sex addiction where I’m running around trying to have sex with everyone and I can’t stop. I think I do things to sabotage myself, including having extramarital affairs, texting, over-working myself, injuring myself, doing stunts and stupid things. I do a lot of things in my life that I shouldn’t be doing that aren’t conducive to being a good husband. The affair is just one of them.â€
His father, Larry James, flat out denies these allegations. As does his former stepmother, Janina James Coan, who says that she was appalled by Jesse making these claims. Janina was involved with Jesse’s father since he was 6 but they later divorced, she says the reason he had broken bones is because of his motor-crossing. She also said his father was a lovely person and never did anything to hurt him.
She then says they had a fallen out when he was 16 because his dad found out that Jesse and a friend robbed a Fotomat, his dad then called the cops on him which resulted in Jesse ending up in juvie. But again she denies that his dad abused him.
If Jesse James is making these accusations up then he is even more of a pig than I thought, these aren’t the sort of things you just throw around. If he is telling the truth then it still doesn’t excuse his cheating on Sandra Bullock. Now that he’s given his side of the story he should just fade out of the limelight, but I doubt he is going to let that happen.
