Madonna tops list of Hollywood’s power moms

By Lauren Streib

updated 2:32 p.m. ET May 8, 2009

Madonna just ended one of the most lucrative years in her career. In 2008, she sold close to 1 million albums in the U.S., grossed $105 million on tour and inked several endorsement deals. But the public only has ears for one thing: Mercy James.

The 3-year-old girl from Malawi, who Madonna wants to adopt despite the reported objections of a Malawi judge, is the most recent example of the public's obsession with the personal lives of celebrities, especially celebrity mothers.

The children of stars wield incredible power due to their inherited fame. Their faces sell magazines, their outfits stimulate clothing sales and candid photos of their daily activities makes their parents more relatable. The frenzy has created a subset of female celebrities who are known as much for their family lives as for their lives on screen and stage. It's a tough act for these women at the top of their profession, who must balance their need for media exposure with the desire to raise their kids with some degree of normalcy.

Madonna tops our list of powerful moms in entertainment thanks to unparalleled earnings of $110 million in 2008. As well as her musical success, she endorsed Sunsilk, Louis Vuitton and Vodaphone. She's the mother of three children: David Banda, Lourdes and Rocco.

No. 2 is Reese Witherspoon, who earned an estimated $24 million in 2008. Reese appeared on-screen last year in “Four Christmases” with Vince Vaughn, a film which earned $160 million worldwide. She's also the international spokeswoman for Avon and honorable chair of the company's charitable foundation. She has two children, Ava and Deacon, from her former marriage to Ryan Phillippe.

More from Forbes.com Click links below for slideshows Hollywood power families Hollywood's 10 hardest-working actors 10 top-earning actresses Best paid actors Top Hollywood pay — men vs. women

Gwyneth Paltrow, mother to Apple ( AAPL - news - people ) and Moses ranks at No. 3 with estimated earnings of $20 million last year. Paltrow, the actress turned lifestyle guru, has both children with husband Chris Martin. She had a momentous year in 2008 thanks to the role of Pepper Potts in the comic book film “Iron Man,” which earned $580 million worldwide. Aside from her on-screen career, she endorses Estée Lauder and Tod's and files regular updates to her lifestyle newsletter goop.com.

To compile the list, Forbes considered female stars in entertainment that have at least one child. The stars were ranked on estimated earnings in 2008. Earnings estimates were based on box-office grosses, album sales, salaries and income from endorsement and licensing deals.

Who else is on there? Julia Roberts, mother of three and back on screen with Clive Owen in “Duplicity”; Angelina Jolie, who found time to rake in $14 million while raising her six kids; Kate Winslet, mother of two and the youngest actress to receive six Academy Award nominations; and Faith Hill (three kids with husband Tim McGraw) who returned to the charts with her holiday album “Joy to the World.”

Some savvy moms use the curiosity about their kids to earn extra income. Jessica Alba, No. 13 on our list with estimated earnings of $6 million, sold the first shots of her daughter Honor Marie Warren to OK! Magazine in 2008 for a reported $1.5 million. As well, last year People magazine and Hello! Magazine reportedly paid at least $11 million for the initial pictures of twins Vivienne and Knox Jolie-Pitt.

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