U2 have been ranked as fourth most powerful celebrities on the planet in the annual Forbes Top 100 list published today.
The Dubliners were not ranked in last year's list but this time around are surpassed in celbrity influence
U2 playing at Croke Park last year.
by only actor Tom Cruise, rockers The Rolling Stones and broadcaster Oprah Winfrey.
Earnings of 67 million dollars from blockbuster The War of the Worlds and prolific publicity surrounding his whirlwind romance with actress Katy Holmes helped secure Cruise the top spot that he last held in 2001.
U2's fourth place is largely thanks to singer Bono's continuing high-profile battle against poverty in Africa.
The highest placed sportsman is golfer Tiger Woods at five, and Dan Brown is rewarded for the phenomenal success of his Da Vinci Code with 10th place.
Harry Potter Creator JK Rowling is at 19, X Factor host Simon Cowell comes in at 29, and model Kate Moss confirms an amazing comeback from drug-taking allegations by securing her highest placing yet at 77.
England soccer captain David Beckham, however, slips 17 spots to 43.
The cast of hit TV series the Sopranos are in ninth place while the cast of Desparate Houswives came in 34th place. Angelina Jolie in 36th place lost out to love rival Jennifer Aniston who came in one place ahead in 35th.