The entertainment industry is driven by a constant game of one-upmanship: Who has star power and who doesn't are questions that drive decisions about what gets made and how many people pay attention.
This year, Jennifer Lawrence established herself as the most-liked human in Hollywood, equally adept at carrying blockbusters and leading awards contenders. Along with other celebrities this year (Aziz Ansari, Viola Davis), she also used her success to push forward conversations in the media about topics like the gender pay gap and diversity.
This ranked list, voted on by Business Insider's entertainment section, identifies the entertainers (plus a few top executives) who are most successful right now, in pure dollar sums, but also in terms of their relevance and ability to drive their industries forward. We considered earnings information where available, and culled opinions from sources throughout the industry.
When we think of the future of movies, TV, and music, we think of these people.
SEE ALSO: Meet Jennifer Lawrence's small but powerful squad that's taking over Hollywood
30. Trevor Noah
Replacing Jon Stewart on “The Daily Show” is a harrowing feat in itself. While Noah hasn’t been able to meet or beat Stewart’s ratings, he has been able to find a younger audience in record time. That’s a plus in the extraordinarily difficult race to reach millennials. And as long as he sticks to his own style, Stewart fans will either learn to love him or make room for a wholly-new audience unique to Noah.
29. Selena Gomez
The trajectory of a former Disney child idol isn't easy, to say the least, but Gomez is braving it as well as one can. While she has fumbled with her music career in the past, she made clear with this year's pointedly titled "Revival" (and its catchy single, "Good for You") that she's here to stay.
She's also made off-the-wall career choices like a striking role in "Spring Breakers" that have widened her core audience. Gomez is also the rare pop star who seems genuinly likeable and worth rooting for.
28. Stephen Colbert
Thanks to Stephen Colbert, there’s a choice aside from the celebrity-obsessed antics that have taken over late-night television. By focusing less on going viral and more on substantive talk, Colbert expands his guests to politics (and not just the presidential candidates) and the tech world. He may not be be No. 1 in ratings, but he’s often No. 2, and that’s just after a few months.
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