Well, she does like to get high! Rihanna flashes some side-boob as she goes parasailing during time off in Monte Carlo

She has made no secret about being in favour of legalising marijuana and she regularly posts pictures of herself enjoying suspicious looking cigarettes. 
But last week Rihanna decided to get high in rather a different kind of way as she literally found herself high above the sea in Monte Carlo.
Showing her fun-loving side the 25-year-old tied up her vest and slipped into a harness as she gave parasailing a go with a pal.

High flying: Rihanna was seen getting her kicks parasailing in Monte Carlo last week

Head back: Rihanna threw her head back to get the full effect of the parasailing

Smiles: The star couldn't stop smiling as she floated above the sea with the help of the parachute

However while she may appear to be fearless most of the time, it looked as if she may have been enjoying a cocktail or two for Dutch courage.

Wearing a pair of black bikini bottoms, which had Charlie emblazoned accross the back, the star looked very laid-back.
Beneath her vest it was unclear whether she was wearing a bikini top as tattoos could be seen but not much else.

Dutch courage: The singer was seen enjoying a cocktail before she got strapped in for the ride

No top: Rihanna didn't appear to be wearing a bikini top beneath her vest

Making the most: Rihanna certainly likes to make the most of any time she has and to try new things

Rihanna spotted in Monte Carlo. The singer was seen drinking cocktail's gaining some dutch courage before trying out some parasailing

  

If you don't want a one piece, or a cut out or some high waisted retro shorts, then keep it simple with the most classic of beachwear - a black bikini with side tie strings. It's easy to wear, there are plenty around to choose from and you'll know you're in fashion when you walk out on the beach.

It's not hard to find out where Rihanna got her little black number from. With 'Charlie' emblazoned across the bottoms (and her bottom) they could only be from New York based luxe swimwear designer Charlie by Matthew Zink. RiRi has also been seen wearing a Charlie one piece swimsuit while on holiday in Monaco. Get yours now by clicking the link (right) to buy.

If you'd rather not pay the shipping charges from the states then check out our UK based picks below. Topshop's string bikini has a cute ruffle but we like Reiss's Nixie bikini with it's beads and bandeau top.

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And as she geared up to get on the harness she simply tied the vest dress up rather than taking it off completely.
Sipping on a fruity looking cocktail in a martini glass, the Diamonds singer showed off her bright red talons.
Her hair, which is currently long, was tied back off her face in a casual plait, so when she headed up in the air no wisps would fall over her face.

Making shapes: Rihanna moved about as she flew about the air making different shapes

Giggles: Rihanna and her pal laughed away as they approached the water

Getting ready: The star's friends looked on smiling as she was about to rise in the air

Once in the air she looked like she was having the time of life, laughing and joking away with a pal, as her legs dangled above the sea.
It certainly looked to be a fun packed mini break as the next day she was joined by her new BFF Cara Delevingne. 
The pair are thought to have blown  £300,000 on hiring a super-yacht to ferry them around the French Riviera, with a further £200,000 set aside for restaurant and nightclub bills.

Shoes off: Rihanna slipped off her pale green sandals as she boarded the speed boat

Getting ready: Rihanna tied her vest behind her back as she got ready to try it out

The whole crew: Rihanna was joined by a number of her friends on the speedboat

But as always Rihanna works as hard as she plays and spent the weekend performing at a couple of festivals. 
On Saturday she delighted Scottish fans as she performed in an oversized tiger-print playsuit at T In The Park Festival.
According to reports, Rihanna arrived at the festival with a 100-strong entourage.

Helping hand: Rihanna was seen getting a hand as she got onto the boat

Ready to go: Rihanna looked excited as she slipped on her life jacket

Hold on: Rihanna used one of the gentleman's backs to help her get out of the boat

A source told the Daily Record: 'They’ve always called the backstage area the artists’ village and this time, with Rihanna and all her crew, it actually was.
'A normal tour can have in excess of 200 people and because T in the Park takes place during her Diamonds World Tour, she decided to bring a large number along.'

Delighting the crowd: Rihanna performed alongside mentor Jay-Z on the final night of the Yahoo! Wireless festival in London

Back to run this town: Rihanna seen arriving back at her hotel in London on Sunday night after her surprise  performance

Pledge your allegiance: Rihanna and Jay-Z at the Olympic Park in London

The following day she made a surprise appearance alongside Jay Z and Justin Timberlake to close the Yahoo! Wireless Festival.
Taking to Twitter after her show stopping performance she tweeted: '#Wireless #LegendzOfTheSummer #OpeningNight #Hov #JT #London you were on one tonight!! One Love!!'

That was fun: After the ride Rihanna grinned as she made her way off the boat

Drink up: Rihanna was seen enjoying a couple of fresh and fruity looking cocktail

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Diane Kruger cuts an uncharacteristically unglamorous appearance as she goes make-up free while running errands

When it comes to red carpet appearances, few manage to pull off all-out glamour better than Diane Kruger.
So it was certainly more than a little uncharacteristic to see the actress cut such an unkempt appearance while out in Hollywood on Friday.
The 37-year-old actress went make-up free as she ran errands, with her blonde hair hastily swept back into a messy updo.

Make-up free: Diane Kruger displayed her cosmetic-free but still flawless complexion as she ran errands in Hollywood on Friday

And despite boasting a still flawless complexion, Diane looked worlds apart from her usually primped and preened appearance.

Normal look: Diane always looks incredible as she does her own make-up for red carpet events

German-born actress Diane also went for a casual look when it came to her outfit, opting for a white T-shirt with a red heart face, with jogging bottoms and flip flops.
Her appearance was certainly a long way from the glamorous look Diane boasted on the red carpet for the series premiere of FX show The Bridge earlier last week.
With her blonde hair carefully styled in loose waves, Diane looked completely flawless as she posed up for photographers alongside boyfriend Joshua Jackson.
The stunning actress kept her make-up simple with a subtle smokey eye, rose pink lipstick and a strong brow.
In a interview recently, Diane revealed that she does her own make-up when it comes to red carpet events,. because she knows what best suits her.
She said: 'I feel that less is more, especially on the red carpet. I used to have my make-up done, but I would look at pictures and not recognise myself. I want to look like myself.
'Even though it’s a special occasion, I still want to look like me; I don’t want to be this done-up doll. I think that too much make-up takes away from your individuality. Luckily, I love make-up and I used to model, so I feel confident doing it myself.'

Dressed down: Diane, who usually favours little shorts and crop tops for her outings, wore a printed T-shirt and jogging bottoms as she headed out

And asked what her top make-up tip was, Diane credited her always flawless complexion to always having concealer to hand.

She said: 'For someone who doesn’t wear a lot of make-up, I own an obscene amount of the stuff. I am always trying new products and doing photoshoots and I love to experiment and try new colours. But the one thing I always travel with is my concealer.

'No matter what I do – whether it’s playing up my eyes or creating a bold lip – the skin is the most important thing. It has to look flawless and have an even tone.'

Red carpet glamour: Earlier last week, Diane looked stunning as she was joined by boyfriend Joshua Jackson e at the series premiere of FX's The Bridge

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He's big in Japan then! Benedict Cumberbatch seems overwhelmed as he's greeted by sea of excited fans at airport

He's one of England's fastest rising stars, but it seems that he already has A-list status over in Japan.
Benedict Cumberbatch seemed a little overwhelmed as he touched down in Tokyo's Narita airport on Monday to find a sea of screaming fans waiting for him.
In scenes that were reminiscent of a One Direction visit, the 36-year-old actor chatted to the waiting crowd, some of whom had camped out overnight to get a glimpse of him.
Scroll down for video

A-list Welcome! Benedict Cumberbatch proved just how popular he is in Japan as he touched down in Tokyo to be greeted by a sea of fans on Monday

The usually shy star, who is notoriously private, seemed to take the staggering welcome in his stride despite looking a little shocked.
Not wanting to let his dedicated fans down, he stopped to talk to them en mass as he emerged through the arrivals gate.
The humble actor thanked the fans and put his hands together and bowed before having a little fun by controlling their screams with his hands.

Lapping it up! The actor seemed overwhelmed by the response, but decided to have some fun with the crowd

Addressing the crowd: The humble star took time out to talk to the patient crowd en mass, thanking them for coming

He then said: 'I just want to say to all of you - I'm sorry I can't come round and meet you all individually, I know how long some of you have waited here and I'm very, very touched.
'When I get home, my mum and dad don't even come and see me at the airport, so to have all of you here is so amazing.
'Now please all go and see the film that I'm here to promote - Star Trek Into Darkness, thank you,' he added. 

'Thank you all' Benedict Cumberbatch addresses waiting fans in...

Phenomenon: While he is popular in the UK, Benedict has an A-lost status over in Japan

Adoring fans: Some of the crowd had camped out overnight at the airport to catch a glimpse of their idol

Hot property: Thanks to BBC show Sherlock, which is huge in Japan, Benedict has obtained a huge fanbase

While the BBC's Sherlock might be something of a hit in the UK, but it has become a phenomenon over in Japan, turning Benedict into an instant superstar.
The actor spoke out about his enormous fanbase, who call themselves Cumberbitches, earlier in the year after another mind-blowing trip to Japan.
'I was mobbed at the airport in Japan, which was not my usual sort of thing,' he told Now Magazine.
'It's not what I expect when I arrive at the airport. It was amazing. Lots of fans turned out when we were recording in Tokyo,' he added.

Global success: The BBC show, which will return for its third series this year, seems to have created a winning formula

And Benedict might have to get used to this kind of reception, as his profile is set to rise yet again as he stars in the next two Hobbit films.
His portrayal of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange in forthcoming film The Fifth Estate has already set tongues wagging thanks to the critical response from the man himself, and is set for release this October.
The new series of Sherlock is also rumoured to be making its return in October, although no official date has been announced.

Promo tour: Benedict was in Japan to promote the new Star Trek film Into Darkness

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Beyoncé hangs out by the pool with daughter Blue Ivy on a break from Mrs Carter Show world tour

She may be touring the world as a solo artist, but at least Beyoncé Knowles has her baby daughter to keep her company.
Taking a break from the nightly performances, the mother-of-one spent some quality time with Blue Ivy at the pool of their hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.
Soaking up the sunshine, Beyoncé, 31, and 18-month old Blue looked every bit the loving mother and daughter on Thursday afternoon.

Mother-daughter time: Beyoncé spends time with Blue Ivy during a break from her world tour

Knowles wore her long, blonde-highlighted hair in tight curls and covered up in a blue and green kaftan.
Underneath the singer wore a Aztec print swimming costume, which she put into practice by taking a dip in the waters to cool off under the Miami sun.
Blue wore a yellow T-shirt with orange leggings, but her mother quickly took her bottoms off so she can run around in her nappy, care-free.

The Mrs. Carter Show: The wife of Jay Z showed off her curvy figure in the Aztec print swimsuit

Tribute: The star had taken a minute's silence to commemorate Trayvon Martin at her concert in Nashville, Tennessee

Superstar strut! The singer was seen confidently wandering around the pool in her stand-out swimsuit

Happy families: The singer grinned as she played around in the pool, clearly enjoying her day off

Missing her boo? Jay-Z was in London taking part in Yahoo! Wireless Festival 2013

But while Beyoncé was all smiles with her daughter on Thursday, she wasn't happy when the not guilty verdict was given to George Zimmerman after he killed a young black teenager.
At her concert in Nashville, Tennessee, the superstar said, 'I'd like to have a moment of silence for Trayvon' who was shot and killed while unarmed by a neighbourhood watch patrol officer.
According to attendees at the gig, the stage then grew dark before Beyoncé sang the chorus of I Will Always Love You before transitioning into Halo.

Off they come: Beyoncé takes her daughter's leggings off so she can play around the pool

Hot day: The two were enjoying the sun in Miami together

Same wavelength: During his Wireless performance, Jay-Z also paid tribute to Trayvon Martin

Camerawoman: Beyoncé takes some fun snaps of her daughter by the pool

Day off: The singer has been travelling across the world with her Mrs Carter Show tour

And Knowles wasn't the only musician to use their stage as a platform to share their ill-feelings towards Zimmerman's acquittal.
Nas dedicated one of his songs at Yahoo! Wireless Festival to the departed teenager, followed by Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest who also said their set was a tribute to Trayvon, but also took the opportunity to ask the crowd to 'pray for America'.
Beyoncé's husband Jay-Z shouted 'RIP Trayvon Martin' before changing from a white shirt and Brooklyn Nets cap into a black and white T-shirt which read 'Blame Society'.

Pretty in pink: The hot mama dressed her girl in fuschia

Flower girl: Blue Ivy wore pretty petals in her short curly hair

Purple haze: Beyoncé proved to be a fan of the pretty colour as she wore different accents of lilac, violet and indigo during her poolside visits

Beauty routine: Beyoncé sits outside in the sun to apply some make up at the hotel

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IS RIHANNA NOW OFFICIALLY A LESBIAN? CHECK OUT THESE PHOTOS

The singer was spotted standing with her palm firmly placed on her friend’s bikini-clad backside as they laughed and joked with friends on board a luxury yacht. Rihanna, who was wearing a low-cut black swimsuit, which had her initial R emblazoned on the back, and Cara, 20, who wore a black and white two-piece, were snapped as they partied off the coast of Monaco. They were seen downing shots of what appeared to be tequila. And they also took turns going for a ride on an inflatable rubber ring. Unfortunately for 25-year-old Rihanna, her swimsuit rode up rather a lot as the ring bounced across the sea. And as she was helped back on to the boat she was sporting a Rih-lly painful-looking wedgie

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Brazilian Woman Who Sold Virginity For $780,000 Says She Was Scammed

Remember the Brazilian woman who made headlines last October for auctioning off her virginity? Well, Catarina Migliorini now claims she was scammed by the documentary maker who set up the entire affair. And she questions whether the Japanese man “Natsu” who reportedly paid $780,000 for her virginity really exists, as she has not seen a penny.
Organized by Australian documentary maker Justin Sisely, the plan was to have Natsu and Migliorini Be Intimate in a plane midair between Australia and the U.S. in a bid to avoid prostitution laws. The filmmaker planned to film the couple before and after the deed for a documentary called “Virgins Wanted”.
The incentive for Migliorini was the money and fame, and the incentive for the Sisely was to sell his documentary like hotcakes.
“I was misled by Mr. Justin Sisely,” Migliorini tells Huffington Post. “I believe he is trying to defraud me and others.”
She claims that when she went to meet the 53-year-old Japanese millionaire, Natsu, in a Sydney, Australia restaurant, he didn’t match the description Sisely gave her. Nor did they ever Be Intimate.
Migliorini says Sisely was delusional in thinking he could pay for a plane for the couple to Be Intimate because he didn’t even have enough money for a car during her two months say in Sydney, reports Huffington Post.
She also charges that Sisely didn’t cover her travel expenses nor give her the money promised — specifically, 20 per cent of documentary sales and the full $780,000 auction bid.
Sisely denies her accusations and says, “We have the footage to prove otherwise,” in reference to her Being Intimate. He also says she is responsible for two breaches in contract.
The documentary will debut in October at MIPCOM, an entertainment trade fair in Cannes, France.
What are your thoughts on this bizarre set of events? Who are you more inclined to believe?

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Kate Middleton Leaves Kensington Palace for Bucklebury to Avoid Scorching Temperatures

Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Pregnant in the heat! With scorching summer temperatures in effect, Kate Middleton left London's Kensington Palace for some R&R at her parent's house in Bucklebury, Berkshire, on Friday, July 12, a source confirms to Us Weekly.
"It was just too warm in Nott Cott," the insider tells Us, referring to the couple's Nottingham Cottage residency, which lacks air conditioning. (On Saturday, July 13, England's highest 2013 temperature of 89.4 degrees was recorded). "She decided to spend the weekend with mum and dad. Much more comfortable."
Indeed, her parents' residence boasts a pool, BBQ patio, and many cool rooms to relax in. While the 31-year-old mom-to-be waits to go into labor (her due date was July 11), the insider tells Us that "protection officers are visible from the street."
While The Duchess of Cambridge cools off in Bucklebury, Prince William and Prince Harry are competing for the Jerudong Trophy at the Cirencester Polo Club on Sunday, July 14, to raise money for his charities Centrepoint, WellChild, Child Bereavement UK. The doting Duke of Cambridge will play on the same team alongside his brother and is prepared in case his wife needs him immediately.
"William is relaxed," an aide tells Us, adding that a helicopter is not on standby. "Should Kate go in to labor he will go straight to London with a police escort."
And if she doesn't? "He will drive to Bucklebury and stay the night at the Middleton's house with Kate," the source explains.

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Beyonce Asks for a Moment of Silence During Show for Trayvon Martin

Beyonce performs on her "Mrs. Carter Show World Tour 2013", on Saturday, July 13, 2013 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. Credit: Robin Harper/Invision for Parkwood Entertainment/AP Images

As celebrities took to Twitter to express their shock and disappointment over the Trayvon Martin case verdict on Saturday, July 13, in which George Zimmerman was found not guilty of second-degree murder and was acquitted of manslaughter, Beyonce took a moment to remember the 17-year-old Florida native who was fatally shot.
(During the Feb. 26 altercation, Zimmerman, 29, a neighborhood watch volunteer, claimed he shot Martin in self-defense after the youth, who was unarmed, knocked him to the ground, punched him, and slammed his head against the sidewalk. The fatal shooting sparked a heated debate about racial profiling around the country.)
At the singer's Mrs. Carter Show World Tour stop in Nashville on July 13 -- which started about 30 minutes after the verdict was reached -- the 31-year-old gave a powerful tribute to the late teen, telling the crowd, "I'd like to have a moment of silence for Trayvon." As the lights went dark, she sung the chorus of "I Will Always Love You" before singing her own song "Halo.
Beyonce wasn't the only Knowles family member to speak out following the verdict, as her little sister, Solange, organized a peaceful protest in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Sunday, July 14, to fight for justice in Martin's honor.
"We have to somehow turn this anger & pain into peaceful productivity," the 27-year-old tweeted following the verdict. "Our voices have to be heard & we have to do the work!!! Is this not what our ancestors, grandfathers and fathers fought for."
After the rally, Solange wrote to her followers, "Thank you to everyone who came out to support Brooklyn 4 Trayvon rally! This was just a start to a long journey of justice and equality!"
Following the verdict and public outcry for justice, President Barack Obama also released a statement, telling the nation that Martin's death was a tragedy for America. "The death of Trayvon Martin was a tragedy. Not just for his family, or for any one community, but for America," the POTUS wrote. "I know this case has elicited strong passions. And in the wake of the verdict, I know those passions may be running even higher.”
The president continued, “But we are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken. I now ask every American to respect the call for calm reflection from two parents who lost their young son … We should ask ourselves, as individuals and as a society, how we can prevent future tragedies like this. As citizens, that’s a job for all of us. That’s the way to honor Trayvon Martin."

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Matthew Morrison Dedicates Song to Cory Monteith Following Actor's Sudden Death

Matthew Morrison is keeping Cory Monteith close to his heart. During his encore engagement of Up Close and Personal with Matthew Morrison at 54 Below in New York City on Sunday, July 14, a source tells Us Weekly exclusively that the singer/actor dedicated a song to Monteith, his Glee costar and close friend, who passed away on Saturday, July 13.
"Matt came out before the show started and said, 'We lost a great young man too soon,'" the source explains. "He said Cory was a beautiful person." Then he told the crowd, "You came out to see a show, I came out to do one, so let's honor Cory with this performance."
Morrison, 34, chose the tune "What I Did for Love" from the Broadway classic A Chorus Line to dedicate to Monteith and struggled to contain his emotions during the performance. "He was very emotional on stage," the source tells Us. "It was difficult for him to get up to perform, but he did not want to disappoint anyone."
The song has a special meaning to the Glee cast, as Monteith's girlfriend, Lea Michele's character on the show, Rachel Berry, performed the ballad during the season two premiere in 2010. (Lyrics include "Love is never gone/As we travel on/Love's what we'll remember/Kiss today goodbye/And point me toward tomorrow/We did what we had to do/Won't forget, can't regret/What I did for love.")
Morrison, who plays Mr. Shuester on the FOX series, worked with Monteith since the show's inception in 2009. Since hearing the news of the actor's tragic death, an insider tells Us Weekly that the singer is distraught over the loss.
"Matt is beside himself," the source explains.
Michele, 26, Monteith's girlfriend of one year, declined to comment following the tragedy. Her rep told Us in a statement, "We ask that everyone kindly respect Lea's privacy during this devastating time."
Monteith, a Canada native, was visiting his mom in the Vancouver area at the time of his death. On July 13, police announced during a press conference that the actor was pronounced dead on the scene in his hotel room at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver. Foul play is not suspected and a autopsy will be done on Monday, July 15.
"We are so saddened to confirm that the reports on the death of Cory Monteith are accurate," the actor's rep said in a statement to Us. "We are in shock and mourning this tragic loss."

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Four U.S. team sports stars place in Forbes Celebrity 100

The NFL rules the sports world, particularly the American portion of it — but according to an annual ranking of celebrity clout by Forbes magazine, the stars of the country's most powerful sports league ride the bench.
The 2013 version of the Forbes Celebrity 100, released late last month and printed in the magazine's July 15 edition, includes two NFL players. No surprise that they're both quarterbacks, both Super Bowl winners and recent recipients of lucrative contract extensions: the New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees at No. 50, and the New England Patriots' Tom Brady at 65.

In all, 17 athletes are represented, led by tennis star Roger Federer at No. 8. Justin Bieber is No. 9
LeBron James of the NBA champion Miami Heat is the highest-ranked team sport athlete at 16th; Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers is, coincidentally, No. 24.
Eight athletes worldwide make the list ahead of Brees. They are Tiger Woods at No. 15; David Beckham at No. 19; Cristiano Ronaldo at No. 31; Lionel Messi at No. 39; and Usain Bolt at No. 48.
Also on the list: Rafael Nadal at No. 51; Phil Mickelson at No. 52; Serena Williams at No. 56; Maria Sharapova at No. 62; Manny Pacquiao at No. 78; Brady's wife Gisele Bundchen at No. 81; Floyd Mayweather at No. 88; and Danica Patrick at No. 91.
The American team sport performers — there were four, the aforementioned two each from the NFL and NBA — play in leagues with salary caps, likely the biggest drag on the measured income. Between salary restraints, lesser endorsements and the NFL's propensity for promoting teams over individuals, Brees (listed at $51 million for June 2012-13, thanks largely to his new contract and $37 million signing bonus a year ago) and Brady ($38 million) lag far behind James ($60 million).
NFL players never heavily populate Forbes' list — in fact, for several years, none made the cut. In 2011, Brady and Peyton Manning appeared, and repeated last year (Manning was 40th, Brady 60th). Ironically, the emergence of this exclusive group coincides both with the seasons following the lockout and new labor agreement, and with new contracts for stars at the league's glamour position with a combined 40 seasons and eight Super Bowl appearances.
Forbes' annual list, compiled since 1999, is not a strict numerical, objective ranking; the highest earner is not automatically on top of the list. Technically, it's a "power" rating, and income is only part of the equation, although, the magazine explains, "earnings carry the most rate." The formula, it says, takes into account "entertainment-related earnings plus media visibility (exposure in print, television, radio and online)."
It includes celebrities from every area of entertainment, although it noted that it reworked the formula to de-emphasize reality-show personalities.
Oprah Winfrey topped the list after coming in second the previous two years.

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Homes Of The World's Most Powerful Celebrities In 2013

Taylor Swift has been busy. When the country music diva released her fourth studio album in October, it sold 1.2 million copies in the first week. Pile on a tour and hefty endorsement deals with Diet Coke, Sony SNE -0.05% and Covergirl, and Nashville’s country-pop princess grossed $55 million in the 12 months ending in June. She’s been investing a good chunk of the proceeds in real estate, snapping up multimillion-dollar estates from coast to coast with cold hard cash.
In April, Swift dropped an estimated $17 million for a sprawling Rhode Island mansion called High Watch. Perched on five acres in tony Watch Hill, the Cape Cod traditional encompasses 11,000 square feet of living space including seven bedrooms and nine baths, and boasts 700 feet of beach frontage.
She bought the property weeks after flipping an estate in Massachusetts’ Hyannis Port, a Cape Cod address just down the way from ex-boyfriend Connor Kennedy’s family compound. Bought in November for $4.8 million, she sold it for $5.7 million, making a quick profit of almost a million dollars.
Then there’s the 2,800-square-foot Cape Cod style house in Beverly Hills, Calif., that Swift picked up in 2012 for just under $4 million. In Nashville, Tenn., her home base, she owns a penthouse condo and the Northumberland Estate, just outside the city, which she reportedly bought for her parents.
Sound like a lot of house hopping? For mere mortals maybe, but Swift, who ranks fifth on FORBES’ annual Celebrity 100 list, is just doing what comes naturally for the world’s most powerful celebrities.

 

Every year Forbes releases its Celebrity 100 list, a ranking of America’s top stars as measured by both earnings and fame. With the help of Realtor.com, Trulia.com, Zillow and others, we’ve dug through listings and property records to uncover where these actors, singers, athletes and public personalities bed down for the night. We included homes bought and sold in the past year as well as a few long-term nests of the stars. 
Every year Forbes releases its Celebrity 100 list, a ranking of America’s top stars as measured by earnings and fame. With the help of Realtor.com, Trulia TRLA +2.05%.com, Zillow Z +4.18% and others, we’ve dug through listings and property records to uncover where these actors, singers, athletes and public personalities bed down for the night. We included homes bought and sold in the past year as well as a few long-term nests. Perhaps not surprisingly, most are located in the Los Angeles area.

 

 

The hottest neighborhoods among the Tinseltown elite are Beverly Hills’ Trousdale Estates and Hollywood Hills’ Bird Streets, two side-by-side communities perched high in the hills above Sunset Boulevard. “The reason that they are so much in demand right now is the view,” says Sally Forster Jones, an L.A.-based Coldwell Banker Previews International real estate agent who has helped broker deals for the likes of Barbra Streisand, Candy Spelling, Jessica Biel and Arnold Schwarznegger. “Celebrities, particularly, really want a drop-dead view and they will go to any lengths to get it. Price is less material than having the view.”
Actress Jennifer Aniston (No. 64 on the Celeb 100) has been a fan of the area for years. In 2011, she renovated and sold a Trousdale Estates abode known as Ohana for $35 million. In 2012, after scooping up a sprawling A. Quincy Jones-designed Bel Air estate for $21 million, she rented out another Trousdale Estates home for a reported $40,000 per month while remodeling the new purchase. Between her Ohana sale and the Bel Air purchase, the A-lister is also said to have briefly rented an Oriole Drive spread, according to the Real Estalker. (A flock of avian-named roads in the area has earned it the nickname of the Bird Streets.)
Other stars nestled in these hills include Celebrity 100 listmakers Ellen DeGeneres (No. 10) and Leonardo DiCaprio (No. 21). Degeneres and wife Portia de Rossi picked up a Trousdale Estates spread last year after selling a sprawling Beverly Hills compound to television host Ryan Seacrest (No. 26) for $37 million. DiCaprio has owned a place in the Bird Streets since his breakout role in the movie Titanic. DiCaprio also owns a penthouse condo in Manhattan’s Battery Park City and two homes in Malibu, including a three-structure compound in celebrity-studded Malibu Colony that he’s trying to sell for $18.9 million.
Certain aesthetics and amenities are must-haves among the rich and famous. Modern architecture has been the most popular, says Forster Jones.  Huge windows, sleek lines and open floor plans that incorporate indoor-outdoor living are ideal. Screening rooms are a must as are exercise rooms.
But no features are more prized – and certainly more necessary — than those centered around privacy. In Los Angeles, that means estates sitting at the end of long gated driveways, tucked behind hedgerows and trees, preferably in exclusive communities guarded by security officers. High-tech security systems are necessary, as the recently released movie The Bling Ring (based on true events in which teenagers looted celebrity homes) so aptly illustrates.
In New York City, it means an apartment in a highly exclusive building boasting a small number of units (meaning less neighbors), top-notch security, and discreet entrances, be it via an on-premises parking garage or a private elevator. In Midtown Manhattan, addresses like 15 Central Park West, the Time Warner TWX +0.05% Center, and new up-and-coming mega towers One57 and 432 Park Ave have lured celebrity residents. Downtown in the West Village, arguably the most sought-after neighborhood among A-listers, townhouses on quiet tree-lined streets have been popular and ritzy boutique developments like up-and-coming 150 Charles Street have attracted a number of famous buyers.
“Celebrities need several things to make their existence more pleasurable, starting with an on-site garage or a private driveway,” says Dennis Mangone, a managing director for Douglas Elliman Real Estate who works in New York and Miami. Mangone has brokered deals for celebrities ranging from Beyonce (No. 4) to Rosie O’Donnell, for whom he just sold a Miami Star island estate for $16.5 million and recently listed a $11 million New York penthouse. “When you look at the townhouse Madonna bought several years ago, she was only looking at houses with garages because she can’t get into a car in the street,” he adds.
Madonna, indeed. The pop icon, No. 5 on FORBES’ list, has been busily trimming her property portfolio this year. Having plunked down $32.5 million in 2009 on a triple-wide Georgian-style townhouse – with two garages – on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, she listed her duplex co-op apartment in Manhattan’s Harperley Hall for $23.5 million in November. It sold last month for a discounted $16 million. On the West Coast, she’s also offloading a Beverly Hills estate for $22.5 million. After quietly shopping the 1.25-acre French country estate as a so-called pocket listing, the 17,000-square-foot home officially debuted on the Multiple Listing Services earlier this year.
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Rihanna returns and Usain Bolt debuts on Forbes’ Celebrity 100 list

 

NEW YORK, United States, Wednesday July 3, 2013 – It’s that time of year again when Forbes magazine shifts its focus slightly away from net worth towards overall fame with its annual Celebrity 100 list.
While celebrity earnings over the last 12 months are factored into the equation, Forbes also tallies how often each celebrity is mentioned in print and on TV, and gauges the strength of their Internet presence and how they’re viewed by consumers.
The resulting list this year saw Barbadian superstar Rihanna return to the rankings in 13th place while Jamaican sprint icon Usain Bolt made his debut on the list at number 48.
The “We Found Love” girl took home US$43 million last year, but shone brighter than most celebrities for her press and social media rankings, at number one and two, respectively.
The overall ranking was nevertheless a marked drop for Rihanna who last year was named by Forbes as the fourth most powerful celebrity of 2012, with earnings of US$53 million between May 2011 and May 2012.
Meanwhile, Jamaica’s “lightning” Bolt made his debut on the list this year with US$24 million, making him among the top 40 highest paid athletes in the world.
The world’s fastest man, who acquired legendary status as the “double-triple” Olympic medallist, earns little in prize money, but cashes-in through endorsements, appearance fees and sponsor bonuses for record race times.
Heading this year’s list, Oprah Winfrey returned to the top of Forbes’ annual Celebrity 100 ranking after two years in second place.
The media mogul led a female-dominated top 10 that also comprised Lady Gaga (second), Beyonce (fourth), Madonna (fifth), Taylor Swift (sixth) and Ellen DeGeneres (10th).
Winfrey made an estimated US$77 million between June 2012 and June 2013, down from last year’s US$165 million. While she wasn’t the highest earner on Forbes’ list, her money mixed with fame scored in metrics like press mentions and social networking power to push her to the top spot.
The four men who made it to the top 10 were director Steven Spielberg (third), rock band Bon Jovi (seventh), tennis player Roger Federer (eighth), and pop star Justin Bieber (ninth).
This year Forbes added a marketability score for each celebrity, based on opinion polling over 40 different attributes for 6,600 different celebrities. Will Smith, Jennifer Aniston and Sandra Bullock emerged the most marketable celebrities on that list.
Last year’s overall winner, Puerto Rico-born Jennifer Lopez, fell to 12th place on the 2013 list. With American Idol behind her, Lopez didn’t carry the same buzz as a year ago, but still managed to pull in US$45 million from a major concert tour and endorsement work

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Former child actor Gaby Hoffmann says she's broke

As a child, actress Gaby Hoffmann had roles in a number of box office hits, including Field of Dreams, Uncle Buck and Sleepless in Seattle.
But she left the business when she got older, making time for college and a normal adult life. Now, Hoffmann, 31, is back with a crop of art-house films and she's opening up about the current state of her life, including her finances.
During an interview with The New York Times, Hoffmann, whose mother was friends with Andy Warhol and whose father was a soap star, reveals that she only has a few thousand dollars in her bank account.
She starts the conversation about her finances by acknowledging her conflicted appreciation for one of the wealthiest stars on the planet.
"I love Beyoncé. I do. But I was walking down the street and saw this huge billboard for the documentary she made about herself called, Life Is But a Dream," Hoffmann recalls to the interviewer. "Underneath the billboard is this homeless guy, then there's me with $2 in my bank account, and I'm thinking, Life is but a dream? I mean, I love you, B, but really?"
Hoffmann later explains that "$2" is merely a euphemism for $4,000, which she concedes is a significant amount of money.
"It's just not that much if you don't know where the next $4,000 is coming from," she adds. "I have a teacher friend who gets nervous when there's $200 in her account. But at least she knows that in a week, she'll get another paycheck. I have no idea."

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The show goes on for Mariah Carey, in Central Park

NEW YORK -- A diva may be measured not just by how she acts under duress, but how she dresses.
Mariah Carey, who last Sunday injured her shoulder while shooting a music video, turned up Saturday night at Central Park's Great Lawn in a dazzling, form-fitting white gown by Natalia Danilova -- and matching sling. Carey had only recently left the hospital, but she was set to perform as a guest of the New York Philharmonic at the Major League Baseball All-Star Charity Concert, benefiting relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy.
Carey made her first entrance a few minutes late, leaving the Philharmonic and its music director/conductor Alan Gilbert to cool their heels after performing Randy Newman's suite from the 1984 baseball-themed film The Natural. But the singer was gracious, noting what an honor it was to perform with the orchestra.
"I'm not in the best of health here," she said, pointing to her "fanciful" sling: "It was us getting creative." As a finishing touch, she draped it in a feather stole -- by Gucci, no less. "Is this working? Do we like it?" she rhetorically asked the crowd, who roared its approval.
Carey sang two numbers before intermission, a husky, impassioned My All and Looking In. She noted that the latter was a more obscure entry from her 1995 album Daydream: "This requires a bit more stability than I have right now," she said, then started in her airier voice, later encouraging "people who know it" to "sing along."
Ending the mini-set in equally dramatic fashion, she asked her fans to "wait for me. I love you madly. I love you madly."
When she returned, Carey was all in black, sling included. "I'm sorry if I was a little emotional before," she said. "I'm in a tiny bit of pain."
A spokesperson for Carey said that the singer was "actually in a lot of pain," with "bruised ribs, dislocated shoulder, temporary nerve damage in her arm." But she rallied again, delivering her current single #Beautiful in a robust alto embellished with her trademark coloratura high notes near the end.
She again thanked the Philharmonic, and another supporting musician: her longtime colleague and former fellow American Idol judge Randy Jackson, who was playing guitar.
The concert, which fans attended for free -- sponsors provided the funds to Sandy Relief -- also featured a guest appearance by former New York Yankees manager Joe Torre, who narrated Casey At the Bat accompanied by the Philharmonic. Other musical selections nodded to baseball and/or New York, among them a sumptuous piece from Leonard Bernstein's On The Town and a suite from the recent Jackie Robinson tribute movie 42.
Carey, a native New Yorker herself, wrapped the concert with a song she said felt appropriate, Hero. "God bless you," she told the crowd and, not to be upstaged, exited before a fireworks display brought the evening to a close.

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