Actress Fan Bingbing tops Forbes China celebrity list

HONG KONG - Fan Bingbing is still the biggest.

For the third year running, Forbes China magazine has put the 33-year-old on top of its annual Celebrity 100 list, released on Monday.

The Chinese actress is ahead of celebrities such as Jay Chou, Nicholas Tse, Andy Lau and Jackie Chan, having earned the most in the past year - 128 million yuan (S$27.6 million) - said the magazine.

She also gained from media and Web exposure via her eye-popping turn as a cleavage-baring empress in the serial The Empress Of China as well as her appearances as a judge on talent show Amazing Chinese.

Taiwan star Chou, 36, is at No. 2, with 101 million yuan earned, helped by media interest in his recent wedding, endorsement deals and Opus tour, Forbes said.

Hong Kong's Nicholas Tse, 34, shot to No. 3 from 16th position last year on account of his well received cooking show Chef Nic and news of his reunion with singer Faye Wong.

Noteworthy was Hong Kong singer-actor William Chan's entry at No. 70, after gaining popularity in last year's Swords Of Legends serial.

The former Sun Boy'z member has been the butt of Internet jokes ever since 2009, when actor Huang Xiaoming said "I don't know who William Chan is" to questions that he had come in between Chan, 29, and his then girlfriend Angelababy. Now Huang may have to eat his words.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong's G.E.M, who broke out in China's singing contest I Am A Singer in 2014, rocketed to No. 11 from No. 91 on last year's list.

And two Heavenly Kings slipped - Andy Lau, with an income of 70 million yuan, fell for the first time since 2010 out of the top three slots to rank eighth, while singer Jacky Cheung was nowhere on the list, said Apple.

Forbes China Celebrity List: Top 10

1. Fan Bingbing

2. Jay Chou

3. Nicholas Tse

4. Jackie Chan

5. Huang Xiaoming

6. Sun Li

7. Vicki Zhao

8. Andy Lau

9. Li Yifeng

10. Eason Chan

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