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Each year, Forbes publishes its “The Celebrity 100” list of the “World’s Most Powerful Celebrities,” and in doing so, gives us all a peek at the salaries of celebrities – numbers that are staggering. In fact, with a net worth of $2.7 billion (which also qualified her to be on Forbes’ “World Billionaires” list), Oprah’s assets are valued at more than some countries’ gross domestic product revenues. No joke – Aruba’s GDP, according to the CIA’s World Factbook website data, is just under $2.3 billion.

Aside from fame and fortune, what’s the one thing Oprah and the other celebs on the list have in common? They all have help. After all, what would Oprah be without her Harpo production company? Would Jessica Simpson’s clothing line have taken off without top-notch design talent? We think not.

The rich-and-famous may be the ones gracing magazine covers, grabbing headlines and doing all the talk shows, but they depend on a shadow support staff comprised of a wide variety of professionals and experts, all working on their behalf. So, while we might not all be so lucky as to rake in the salary figures of the celebs, there are ways we common folk can still get in on the action. We’re not saying you’ll land a gig working for one of these moguls anytime soon, but the list can be your inspiration for, well, reaching for the stars. Read on to learn more about the salaries of the celebs, as well as the folks whose work helps get them – and keep them – in the spotlight.

Oprah Winfrey

Estimated annual income: $315 million

Money source: Oprah’s empire spans TV, books, magazines, and movies.

Couldn’t do it without:

• TV producers: Responsible for everything from arranging the talent that appears on her show to researching show topics and more, these behind-the-scenes folks keep The Oprah Winfrey Show up-and-running.
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics national average salary estimate for producers and directors: $86,870.
• Magazine Editors: Whether it’s picking out the “10 best scarves for spring” or profiling a small business owner in Haiti, magazine editors manage all of the content that fills the glossy pages of Oprah’s magazine.
  • BLS salary estimate for editors: $58,440

Beyoncé Knowles

Estimated annual income: $87 million

Money source: Singer, actress, House of Dereon owner, L’Oreal spokesperson

Couldn’t do it without:

• Choreographers: That “Single Ladies” dance number didn’t write itself. Choreographers Frank Gatson and JaQuel Knight composed the dance for this music video; choreographers can be found working in a number of environments including theatres, dance schools, television studios, and more.
  • BLS salary estimate for choreographers: $42,130
• Marketing Managers:  Beyoncé’s multi-million dollar deal with L’Oreal cosmetics was no doubt the brainchild of a marketing manager. These individuals look for opportunities to promote their brands, and then work with advertising executives to get the job done.
  • BLS salary estimate for marketing managers: $97,260

Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter

Estimated annual income: $63 million

Money source: Rapper, former CEO of DefJam and Roc-a-Fella Records, owner of Manhattan’s 40/40 club, as well as the New Jersey Nets NBA team; estimated net worth $450 million.

Couldn’t do it without:

• Sound Engineering Technicians: Focused on mixing, synchronizing, and polishing the sound of a single track or an entire record, sound engineers work closely with artists and producers like Jay-Z to create a finished product.
  • BLS Salary Estimate: $53,940
• Bouncers: Like any trendy nightclub, Jay-Z’s 40/40 club is complete with a velvet rope and well-trained security at the door to keep the operation running smoothly.
  • BLS salary estimate for security guards (tips for cutting the line not included): $26,430

LeBron James

Estimated annual income: $50 million

Money source: Hoops star turned the ad world’s MVP (Nike alone pays him more than $10 million a year)

Couldn’t do it without:

• Personal Chef: LeBron’s 6-foot, 8-inch, 250 lb. body is a well-oiled (and well-fed) machine. His personal chef, Brandon Taylor, plans LeBron’s menu, looking at food as LeBron’s fuel. Super Premium, we’d guess?
  • BLS salary estimate: $44,240
• Stylist: Whether it’s for a magazine cover or walking into the arena, LeBron has to look good, and does so with the help of his stylist, Rachel Johnson.
  • BLS salary estimate for fashion designers: $74,410

Donald Trump

Estimated annual income: $50 million

Money source: Real estate, NBC’s The Apprentice; net worth of $2 billion, reportedly.

Couldn’t do it without:

• Architects: Buildings don’t stand on money alone, and architects and structural engineers design and plan the construction of Trump’s development projects.
  • BLS salary estimate for architects: $78,880
• Real Estate Lawyers: Real estate transactions of all types involve a lot of paperwork – and when working on projects as big as Donald Trump’s, attorneys play a large role in making sure all of the legal documents and contracts are in order.
  • BLS salary estimate for lawyers:  $129,020

Miley Cyrus

Estimated annual income: $48 million

Money source: The Hannah Montana empire, which includes the show, movies and merchandise, as well as her own clothing line at Walmart and her own record sales

Couldn’t do it without:

• Musicians: Sure, Miley is front-and-center in her performances, but her “Party in the U.S.A.” wouldn’t be half as much of a party without her backup musicians.
  • BLS hourly wage estimate for musicians: $21.24
• Camera Operators: Whether perched on a crane gathering concert footage, or on the set of one of her movies, camera operators have been there at every step of Miley’s career.
  • BLS salary estimate for camera operators: $49,590

David Beckham

Estimated annual income: $44 million

Money source: Professional athlete with endorsement deals, including Adidas and more

Couldn’t have done it without:

• Athletic Trainer: Running up and down a soccer field is enough to keep anyone in shape, but Beckham’s strength and agility have no doubt been honed and perfected, as well as injuries averted and treated, with the help of athletic trainers.
  • BLS salary estimate for athletic trainers: $44,020
• Paparazzi: David and Posh-Spice wife, Victoria Beckham, make an impossibly hot couple – and one the paparazzi love to photograph. While the paparazzi often get a bad rap, David has photographers to thank for making his face known around the world.
  • BLS salary estimate for photographers: $36,370

Jonas Brothers

Estimated annual income: $35.5 million

Money source: The smiles and songs of this family act have taken the Jonas brothers from Disney Channel fame to selling out stadiums on their most recent concert tour.

Couldn’t do it without:

• Bus drivers: The tour schedules of bands are tight – most stops on their 2009 world tour were only one or two days apart – and it was bus drivers who schlepped the show from place to place.
  • BLS salary estimate for private bus drivers: $37,230
• Computer programmers: The Jonas Brothers, like their fans, have hardly known a life without computers – and also like their fans, they embrace it. With a website, MySpace page, Facebook profile, multiple Twitter feeds and more, this trio has a lot of computer engineers to thank for helping them secure a strong online presence.
  • BLS salary estimate for computer programmers: $74,690

Sean “Diddy” Combs

Estimated annual income: $30 million

Money source: First came his rap hits, then the Sean Jean brand exploded on the scene, and now? Vodka, of course. All of which adds up to an estimated net worth of $475 million.

Couldn’t do it without:

• Personal assistants: An entire MTV reality show was based off of his need for assistants, who are likely tasked with everything from maintaining his schedule to running errands and completing administrative tasks.
  • BLS salary estimate for administrative assistants and executive secretaries: $44,010
• Sales managers: It takes more than an ad campaign to get a product to consumers, and sales managers with Diageo (the maker of Combs’s Ciroc vodka brand) send sales managers to bars, restaurants, and retail stores to get the product on the shelves.
  • BLS salary estimate for sales mangers: $61,400

Jessica Simpson

Estimated annual income: $20 million

Money source: Dogged by poor movie sales for the past several years, Jessica Simpson’s star seems to be fading, but the singer-actress is also owner of a successful fashion line that, to date, is estimated have reached a total of $1 billion in sales.

Couldn’t do it without:

• Fashion Designers: What started out as a trendy line of shoes and accessories bearing the starlet’s name has turned into a booming business (sales are expected to reach $1 billion this year) with everything from jeans to coats and luggage.
  • BLS salary estimate for fashion designers: $74,410
• Public Relations Reps: Somehow Simpson’s slip-ups (mom-jeans anyone?) are spun into adorable, relatable miss-steps – something her PR team has worked hard to achieve.
  • BLS salary estimate for public relations specialists: $59,370