Few can deny that Angelina Jolie is one of the most powerful women in Hollywood. Though her last big movie in 2010, The Tourist, with Johnny Depp, was not the kind of money-spinner it was expected to be, Jolie still can get away with demanding upwards of $15 million for a movie. The movie Maleficent, Disney’s remake of the classic Sleeping Beauty, starring Jolie as the evil witch, is proof of the fact that she is much sought after, despite the heavy paycheck.

$33 Million in Annual Earnings

No wonder then, that she tops the Forbes list of Hollywood’s top-earning actresses. Her estimated income during the period June 2012 to June 2013 is a whopping $ 33 million! With this, she has surpassed her own income in the previous year by $13 million. Her earnings are $7million more than the actress in the second position, Jennifer Lawrence, a sure indication of Jolie’s superior position in Hollywood.

Health Issues

What is commendable is that she has managed to retain her position despite some setback on the health front, where she had to deal with the revelation that she was carrying a gene that exposed her to a high risk for contracting breast cancer. Due to this, she was away from the limelight for some time. However, she bravely opted to go in for a preventive double mastectomy and bounced right back into the number one position. Not only that, she bravely chose to talk about the mastectomy, about what went into taking the decision to go ahead with it, despite the issue being considered slightly controversial by some. Her revelation was considered very brave by some, very honest by some, though it also set off a series of debates. All this just goes to prove how much power she wields to affect and influence people around her. No wonder she is one of the most powerful women in the world.

Humanitarian Causes

Her influence is not restricted to just movies; she is also involved in various humanitarian causes and works actively with refugees and is also a former Goodwill Ambassador for the UNHCR. She has been voted as the “most beautiful woman” in the world, on several occasions. She has also figured twice in the Time 100, a list of the most influential people in the world. This positive influence she wields over people across nations is probably what makes her a popular choice for mega budget endorsement deals like the one she has bagged from Louis Vuitton. This deal, reportedly worth $10million, for a single advertising campaign, alone forms a big chunk of her income. In the past, she has also endorsed St. John and Shiseido. Apart from acting and endorsements, another facet of her creative streak was also seen in her directorial venture, “In the Land of Blood and Honey”, a wartime drama, released in 2011. Another movie, “Unbroken”, is expected to release in end 2014.

The Other Contenders

In the Forbes’ list, she is followed by Jennifer Lawrence in second position, Kristen Stewart in the third position. Kristen Stewart, last year’s number one, despite having age on her side, has been dethroned by Jolie this year. In fourth place is Jennifer Aniston, followed by Emma Stone in the fifth place.