Kenenter: 2010 Forbes Chinese Celebrities List: Jackie Chan is No. 1

2010 Forbes Chinese Celebrities List: Jackie Chan is No. 1

4/29/2010 12:42:00 PM

Yesterday, Forbes announced its "2010 Forbes Chinese Celebrities List" for the 7th year in a row. For the first time, the list this year includes celebrities from all 3 regions of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan; the order of the standings is based on the amount of money the celebrities made in the past year as well as the frequency of exposure in the media. The “overall” list takes into account artists from all 3 regions combined.

With his international superstar status, constant media exposure, and close to 200 million Yuan [Chinese Yuan / Renminbi] in earnings last year, 56 year old martial arts star Jackie Chan took the No. 1 spot overall. Last year, Jackie was the first celebrity to hold a concert at China’s Olympic venue “Bird’s Nest” and his movie "Little Big Soldier" broke the 150 million Yuan mark at the box office.

Coming in at 2nd place overall is Taiwan singer Jay Chou, who made close to 120 million Yuan. His strategy last year of branching out into other areas (singing, acting, as well as directing) paid off, taking the #2 spot and also ending up #1 in the “Singers” category among all 3 regions combined. His ex-girlfriend Jolin Tsai took the No. 7 spot, earning 46.5 million Yuan last year.

The No. 3 spot went to Hong Kong artist Andy Lau, whose ‘secret marriage’ situation was a huge focus in the entertainment industry last year. Add to that his unceasing workload throughout the year, which brought in earnings of 86.2 million Yuan.

Mainland actress Zhang ZiYi took the No. 5 spot overall, primarily due to her constant exposure in various media outlets last year. The ‘charity money’ scandal as well as other high profile situations caused her to be on numerous magazine covers last year, though it also brought with it a lot of public criticism. This year, she has taken a more low profile approach to avoid further criticism and scandal, however her earnings were not affected much, coming in at 69 million Yuan, which was only 9 million Yuan less than what she made the previous year. On the mainland China list, Zhang ZiYi came in at No. 2, behind basketball star Yao Ming.

In addition to taking the No. 1 spot on the mainland China list, Yao Ming came in at No. 4 overall with 250 million Yuan in earnings, though compared to the previous year’s 350 million Yuan, the amount is significantly less. Olympic sprinter Liu Xiang’s foot injury prior to the Beijing games caused him to sit out most of the year, taking him from No. 5 the previous year (130 million Yuan in earnings) to the No. 9 spot this year, with only 64.6 million Yuan in earnings. Olympic diver Guo Jing Jing took the No. 50 spot with earnings of 15 million Yuan.

As for Hong Kong’s “Four Heavenly Kings”, with Andy Lau taking the No. 3 spot overall, the other 3 “Kings” also made it into the Top 100. Aaron Kwok took the No. 15 spot with earnings of 36 million Yuan and Jacky Cheung took the No. 32 spot with 32.5 million Yuan. Leon Lai came in at No. 76 with earnings of 6.75 million, which was the least among the “4 Kings”.

With his starring role in the box office hit "Ip Man", not only did Donnie Yen’s popularity sore, he also gained many endorsement deals as well as film projects, giving him the No. 8 spot on the overall list with 86 million Yuan in earnings.

As for other film/movie stars: action film star Jet Li took the No. 24 spot with 95 million Yuan in earnings; returning to the Asian film market, actor Chow Yun Fat came in at No. 23 with 80 million Yuan; Tony Leung and his wife Carina Lau took the No. 37 and No. 41 spots with 18.6 million Yuan and 21 million Yuan respectively. Mainland actress Tang Wei, who was banned in China after her seductive role opposite Tony Leung in "Lust, Caution", was “unbanned” last year and was able to make it to the No. 96 spot with 5 million Yuan in earnings. Another mainland actress, Vicky Zhao – who just gave birth to a daughter – came in at No. 20 with earnings of 19.6 million Yuan.

Singer/Actress Charlene Choi, who launched a solo career last year, came in at No. 52 overall with earnings of 17.5 million Yuan.

The list is pretty impressive. Here is the partial breakdown from ranking:

#1. Jackie Chan (actor)
#2. Jay Chou (singer, actor, director)
#3. Andy Lau (actor, singer)
#4. Yao Ming (athlete)
#5. Zhang Ziyi (actor)
#6. Zhao Benshan (actor)
#7. Jolin Tsai (singer)
#8. Donnie Yen (actor)
#9. Liu Xiang (athlete)
#10. Fan Bing Bing (actor)
#11. Lin Chiling (actor, model)
#12. Eason Chan (singer, actor)
#13. Lu Chen (magician)
#14. Nicholas Tse (singer, actor)
#15. Aaron Kwok (singer, actor)
#16. Li Yuchun (singer)
.
#18. Zhou Xun (actor)
#19. Huang Xiaoming (actor)
#20. Vicki Zhao (actor, singer)
. .
#23. Chow Yun Fat (actor)
#24. Jet Li (actor)
#25. Zhang Yimou (director)
. . .
#32. Jacky Cheung (singer, actor)
. . .
#37. Carina Lau (actor)
.
#39. Faye Wong (singer)
. .
#41. Tony Leung (actor)
. .
#49. Joey Yung (singer)
#50. Guo Jingjing (athlete)
.
#52. Chalene Choi (singer)
#53. Gong Li (actor)
. .
#61. Rainie Yang (singer, actor)
#72. Ethan Ruan (actor, model)
#76. Leon Lai (actor, singer)
#77. Jerry Yan (actor)
#90. Joe Cheng (actor, model)
#91. Vic Zhou (actor)
#96. Tang Wei (actor)

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