Winfrey's talk show is watched by 30 million viewers each week and is thought to have earned $225m (£123.6m) over the last 12 months.

Forbes rates celebrities' influence according to press coverage, internet presence and estimated earnings between June 2004 and June 2005.

Newcomers to the list include Oscar-winning star Denzel Washington and Will Ferrell, whose $40m (£22m) earnings make him the list's most successful actor.

Among the high-profile absentees are actors Jim Carrey and Tom Hanks and veteran rockers Rolling Stones - ranked fifth last year thanks to their successful world tours.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling is down 16 places from six to 22, while the stars of hit TV series Desperate Housewives enter the chart at 25.

Best-selling author Dan Brown, who wrote The Da Vinci Code, is at number 12.

Friends stars Courtney Cox Arquette and Lisa Kudrow are no longer on the list, leaving Jennifer Aniston the only star of the series to still make the cut at number 37.

She topped the list in 2003.

BBC NEWS.