Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama (smarter.com)

This year, according to Forbes’ list of “The World’s Most Powerful Women,” First Lady Michelle Obama is sitting in the first position.

Mrs. Obama beats several famous names in media and entertainment industry, including Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, Beyonce Knowles and Ellen DeGeneres.

On the annual list that was released late Wednesday, Forbes didn’t calculate her and her husband’s personal wealth or money earned in the last year, choosing instead to list in that category the country’s national budget, which is $3.5 trillion.

Meanwhile, talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey, who usually at the top of (almost) every Forbes’ list, now sitting in third place. Winfrey is worth $2.7 billion and earned $315 million in the past year, but beyond wealth Forbes takes into account executive position, creative influence and entrepreneurship.

Not far behind from Winfrey, is sensational singer Lady Gaga, at No. 7. The “Bad Romance” earned $62 million in the past year and, according to Forbes, “single-handedly reinvigorated pop music and pop culture.” Next in media, at No. 9, is Beyoncé Knowles, who earned $87 million and whose music is a favorite of Michelle Obama’s, according to Forbes.

Former “American Idol” judge DeGeneres is 10th on the list and earned $55 million. Forbes noted that she recently gave a $30,000 college scholarship to a gay teenager who challenged a high school policy against same-sex prom dates. One spot after DeGeneres is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who would be in line for the presidency after Vice President Joe Biden.

Sarah Palin, who Forbes puts in the media category, is No. 16. Her title is “political maverick and commentator,” but unlike most others on the list, her entry doesn’t include a “money” category. Instead, she gets a “media buzz” category, which says she has 2.3 million Facebook friends and that if you search for her name online you’ll get 44 million results.

Other media personalities on the list include Angelina Jolie (No. 21), Katie Couric (No. 22), Arianna Huffington (No. 28), Madonna (No. 29) and Sarah Jessica Parker (No. 45).

Congrats, Michelle Obama! :)

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