Power couples battle it out for top Forbes listing

Brangelina, Beyoncé and Jay Z, and Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady top Forbes list.

Who is the most powerful Hollywood celebrity couple? At first glance, the question may seem easy to answer.

To each his own, the old English adage says. Yet this seldom applies to Hollywood power couples, who jointly value their net worth and at times share assests. However, according to Forbes, the most popular couples may not be the wealthiest and vice versa.

The top three couples on Forbes' latest list had their individual worth and popularity calculated. This was then combined with their social standing and the top couple for 2011 selected.

First up is Beyoncé and Jay-Z Carter, who are both respected musos in their own right. Beyoncé released her latest album last year and raked in millions. She followed it up with a tour and dropped the bombshell that she was pregnant at the MTV Video Music Awards.

The star’s pregnancy was followed by millions of fans worldwide. When their daughter was born, they continued to stir interest and it was only a matter of time before Blue Ivy’s name was trademarked.

Jay-Z has featured regularly on Richest Rappers lists. He is the owner of a Brooklyn basketball team and he is the co-founder of Roc Nation.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have amassed a considerable amount of wealth between them. Besides pulling in crowds for the films they star in, the two have several acting accolades and are loved by families the world over for their extended and colourful family.

Gisele Bündchen is the highest paid model in the world and has a litany of endorsements to her name. She modelled for Victoria's Secret, Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, and Apple Inc. Her husband, Tom Brady, is a football player for the New England Patriots. In February this year the duo splurged on a $20 million (about R164 million) home.

The richest star couples by the numbers, based on their combined annual earnings for 2011, are:

1. Beyoncé and Jay-Z
Combined annual earnings for last year: $78 million (about R640 million)

2. Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady
Combined annual earnings for last year: $72 million (about R590 million)

3. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Combined annual earnings for last year: $45 million (about R370 million)

Sources: www.forbes.com, www.hollywoodreporter.com, www.therichest.org.za www.abcnews.go.com