This post is written as part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst 2006. If you think that Britney Spears makes too much money, cast your vote.
Poor Britney Spears, picked on for her parenting gaffes and apparent lack of social graces. But award-winning pop singer and dancer Spears has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide, making her one of the most successful female artists ever.
Born in Mississippi, she rose to prominence as a member of the New Mickey Mouse Club, such hit songs as "Oops, I Did It Again," and for her very successful Pepsi commercials, which reportedly earned her more than $7 million. In 2003 Forbes called her the most powerful celebrity in the world. Antics such as appearing nude on magazine covers, appearing seemingly nude in public performances, and her infamous kiss with Madonna during the 2005 MTV Music Video Awards have brought her criticism from the parents of her legions of preteen fans, many of whom look to her as a role model; Spears has denied being a role model.
In early 2004 she was very briefly married to a childhood friend, and then married dancer Kevin Federline later that year. Spears and Federline had two children before Spears filed for divorce in late 2006. Despite her break to have a family, the Britney Spears brand continued to prosper, with a highly popular perfume, Curious, released in 2004, which reportedly made about $100 million. A Britney Spears best-of album was also released in 2004, and a comeback album is reportedly planned for release in 2007.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-15-2006 @ 4:55PM
William V. Powers said...
While I am an older man with differing taste than pop I do believe her comeback, so long as the music she releases is reasonably comparable to her previous releases and so long as it grows abit without losing it's core.
Irregardless (is too a word:)of her recent antics I think her taking a modest break will benefit her long term. I think popular musicians who never step away from the scene make a mistake in that they can not be missed if never gone. Considering her youth (mid twenties), for instance I believe she is about the age now Madonna was when she released her FIRST record, should she achieve even half the sales of other top acts ( Madonna, Joel, Stones, Jackson, Carey,etc.) from here out until she is approaching her fifties and beyond she will be the #1 selling artist of all time bar none.
12-16-2006 @ 12:39PM
Leigh Heier said...
I've always been aBritney fan, I just love her she is a pure doll and I'm glad she is getting rid of that bum kev,you go chick your the best and don't let anyone tell you any different. love you all the way and all your records,children are the best.
12-16-2006 @ 1:21PM
Elizabeth said...
I'm not a Kevin Federline fan, but he should get half of what she made during the marriage. Period!
12-16-2006 @ 8:53PM
Bryan said...
People may make fun of her all the time and thinking that she crys everyday about it but really, she is just laughing all the way to the bank. While some are makeing britney hate sites she is counting her dough. I have much rspect for her and I without a doubt she will make a huge comeback.
12-16-2006 @ 10:08PM
D said...
i agree with number 2! but i think Kevin should get NOTHING in the divorce.not a freeking penny. hes a player.
12-19-2006 @ 3:39PM
Martin said...
$7 million, Maybe she can stay home and take care of her baby now. Or take Paris shopping for some panties.
12-19-2006 @ 9:01PM
Jean said...
Yo, am I an idiot too? Am I really only the 7th response? Thank goodness - trailer trash, GO HOME!
Please, parents, control your kids' spending habits. You're endangering the lives of Britney's and Kevin's trailer trash kids by giving them cash to buy cars. The rest of you, who can't afford cars, will not endanger the lives of your kids by driving without seatbelts, nor spilling them on the pavement outside fancy establishments, nor abandoning them for several nights in a row whilst out partying (sp?) without underwear - breath.
Trailer trash - no - unsophisticated trash, Britney: do not exploit the youth who admire you (god knows why) any longer. Take your money and run - AWAY!!! - Geez, maybe Namibia . . . !!!!
Be gone, oh, slut and slut admirers.
(From one who is sick of it all . . . - Britney and fans, this is NOT funny.)
12-19-2006 @ 9:08PM
Jean said...
#8. Hey Brit - Oprah had 76 responses, I think Jumper and Cruise had 19 - 25 answers. Does it mean that because I was the 7th response, you're HISTORY!
Actually, I'm sorry to say that because I think CRUISE is slime - even more than you, Paris and Oprah combined. OR not. And mostly, I'm so, so sorry I'm even spending time responding to this all.
Never Again. Hope you all turn your dumb LUCK around and contribute something to this world we call LIFE.
Signed, just someone who reads newspapers and listens to the news. (All filled with this garbage, and perhaps I'm venting tonight. Thanks for listening!) NEVER AGAIN WORTH MY TIME.
12-19-2006 @ 10:40PM
Jean said...
Okay, website . . . Britney fans, Paris fans, Cruise fans and Oprah fans:
Merry Christmas. Oops! I mean Happy Holidays. Oops: maybe I mean Happy Hanukah!~ Geez, and next week I'll have to say "Happy Kwanza"?
Has this world gone mad!!! Why do we respect (that is, spend money on) personalities such as yourselves when we should spend it on ourselves, our kids, our neighbors - the needy (the really needy, not you four)!!!!!
God (whoever you are or represent), help us all.
Meanwhile, Merry Christmas, one and all. And, please, by that I mean Happy Hanukah, Kwanza, etc., and et al.!
12-28-2006 @ 10:46AM
bob said...
"""" LEAVE IT TO BEAVER """""
BRITTANY... PLEASE A COUPLE LAST SHOTS FOR THE NEW YEAR. 2007 WON'T BE THE SAME NOW THAT YOU'VE DISCOVERED VICTORIA SECRETS NEW PANTY LINE !
12-28-2006 @ 11:16AM
siobhan said...
If every celebrity with their $ would just contribute a 10th of their time alone bringing awareness to social injustices the world would be better off. Please Britney, Paris, et al go visit Darfur, Ethiopia and help.
12-28-2006 @ 2:32PM
steve said...
Britney, please go away. Kevin, Paris, Lindsey, Angelina, Brad, and all the rest - please go away. You are living proof that talent and hard work are not needed to achieve fame and fortune, only a good marketing team. I am sick to death of seeing your photos plastered all over TV and the supermarket checkout tabloids. Once you are gone, the tabloids will vanish, and the TV shows that glorify you will vanish, and then the real people with real talent, who are unable to emerge because of your insipid dominance, will be able to come forward and give us real entertainment.
12-30-2006 @ 11:25PM
Charles Butler said...
Britney Spears is a very sexy lady and she knows it. She has learned how to use her body to get cash and become very rich. Going out into public wearing miniskirts without any panties underneath the minidress or skirt and dressing very sexual and sleazy to hypnotize boys and set a standard for girls to follow. Doing all of this she( like dumbass Charles Barkley) says that she IS NOT a rolemodel! She is a liar because she is.
I feel sorry for all the girls with brains as well as those who refuse to conform to the shallow values of this sick culture. And I feel sorry for the parents in our crazy culture. Whether she is an overpaid celebrity or not she is a rolemodel for all girls to follow and she has set the standard for them to follow. She knows whether you are skinny or fat, ugly or hot if you dress sexy you will get laid. Knowing this, the media holds her and other women such as Anna Nicole Smith as rolemodels for women to follow. Because of this and many other reasons the media is the enemy within this great and wonderfull country.