The World's Top 10 Billionaires

#1 Warren Buffett

Age: 77

Fortune: self made

Source: Berkshire Hathaway

Net Worth: $62.0 bil

Country Of Citizenship: United States

Residence: Omaha, Nebraska , United States, North America

Industry: Investments

Marital Status: widowed, remarried, 3 children

Education: University of Nebraska Lincoln, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Columbia University, Master of Science

America's most beloved investor is now the world's richest man. Soared past friend and bridge partner Bill Gates as shares of Berkshire Hathaway climbed 25% since the middle of last July. Son of Nebraska politician delivered newspapers as a boy. Filed first tax return at age 13, claiming $35 deduction for bicycle. Studied under value investing guru Benjamin Graham at Columbia. Took over textile firm Berkshire Hathaway 1965. Today holding company invested in insurance (Geico, General Re), jewelry (Borsheim's), utilities (MidAmerican Energy), food (Dairy Queen, See's Candies). Also has noncontrolling stakes in Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo. Insurance operations flourished in 2007. "That party is over. It's a certainty that insurance-industry profit margins, including ours, will fall significantly in 2008." The Oracle of Omaha issued a challenge to members of The Forbes 400 in October; said he would donate $1 million to charity if the collective group of richest Americans would admit they pay less taxes, as a percentage of income, than their secretaries. Had long promised to give away his fortune posthumously. Irrevocably earmarked the majority of his Berkshire shares to charity in 2006, mostly to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Gift was valued at $31 billion on day of announcement; donation will far exceed that sum so long as Berkshire shares continue to rise.

#2 Carlos Slim Helu & family

Age: 68

Fortune: self made

Source: telecom

Net Worth: $60.0 bil

Country Of Citizenship: Mexico

Residence: Mexico City , Mexico, Latin America

Industry: Communications

Marital Status: widowed, 6 children

Education: NA

Second-richest man in the world this year; even richer than Microsoft's Bill Gates, at least for now, thanks to strong Mexican equities market and the performance of his wireless telephone company, America Movil. The son of a Lebanese immigrant, Slim made his first fortune in 1990 when he bought fixed line operator Telefonos de Mexico (Telmex) in a privatization. In December, America Movil struck a deal with Yahoo to provide mobile Web services to 16 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. A widower and father of six, Slim is a baseball fan and art collector. He keeps his art collection in Mexico City's Museo Soumaya, which he named after his late wife. In recent years, he has donated close to $7 billion worth of cash and stock to fund education and health projects, and to the revitalization of Mexico City's downtown historical district.

#3 William Gates III

Age: 52

Fortune: self made

Source: Microsoft

Net Worth: $58.0 bil

Country Of Citizenship: United States

Residence: Medina, Washington , United States, North America

Industry: Software

Marital Status: married, 3 children

Education: Harvard University, Drop Out

Harvard dropout and Microsoft visionary no longer the world's richest man. Blame Yahoo: Microsoft shares have fallen 15% since the company boldly attempted to merge with the search engine giant to better fight Google for Internet dominance. Gates is preparing to give up day-to-day involvement in the company he cofounded 33 years ago to spend more time focused on his philanthropic endeavors. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has $38.7 billion in assets, donates to causes aimed at bringing financial tools to the poor, speeding up the development of vaccines (for AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis), bettering America's lagging high schools. Sells 20 million Microsoft shares every quarter, proceeds going to private investment vehicle Cascade; more than half of net worth now outside of Microsoft. Company spent $6 billion to land Web ad firm Aquantive last May. Would-be rival to Apple's iPod, the Zune, not yet a hit. Believes Microsoft's far-flung bets, including 10-year affair with Internet-based television, may soon pay off; says next 10 years will be the "most interesting" in software history.

#4 Lakshmi Mittal

Age: 57

Fortune: inherited and growing

Source: steel

Net Worth: $45.0 bil

Country Of Citizenship: India

Residence: London , United Kingdom, Europe & Russia

Industry: Manufacturing

Marital Status: married, 2 children

Education: St Xavier's College Calcutta, Bachelor of Arts / Science

Heads world's largest steelmaker, $105 billion (sales) ArcelorMittal, which accounts for 10% of all crude steel production. Just delivered 580 tons to be used in construction of the World Trade Center memorial in New York. With 44% stake, is the company's largest shareholder. Longtime resident of London is Europe's richest resident.

#5 Mukesh Ambani

Age: 50

Fortune: inherited and growing

Source: petrochemicals

Net Worth: $43.0 bil

Country Of Citizenship: India

Residence: Mumbai , India, Asia & Australia

Industry: Manufacturing

Marital Status: married, 3 children

Education: University of Bombay, Bachelor of Chemical Engineering
Stanford University, Master of Business Administration

Asia's richest resident heads petrochemicals giant Reliance Industries, India's most valuable company by market cap. His fortune is up $22.9 billion since last year, making him the world's second biggest gainer in terms of dollars. The biggest gainer was his estranged brother Anil, who ranks 6th in the world just behind his older brother. The sons inherited their fortune from their late father, renowned industrialist Dhirubhai Ambani. But they couldn't get along and in 2005 their mother brokered a peace settlement breaking up the family's assets. Mukesh is using some of his money to build a 27-story home.

#6 Anil Ambani

Age: 48

Fortune: inherited

Source: diversified

Net Worth: $42.0 bil

Country Of Citizenship: India

Residence: Mumbai , India, Asia & Australia

Industry: Diversified

Marital Status: married, 2 children

Education: University of Bombay, Bachelor of Arts / Science
University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, Master of Business Administration

The year's biggest gainer, Anil Ambani, is up $23.8 billion in the past year, and is closing gap with estranged brother, Mukesh, who ranks one spot ahead of him in the world at number five. The sons inherited their fortune from their late father, renowned industrialist Dhirubhai Ambani. But they couldn't get along and in 2005 their mother brokered a peace settlement breaking up the family's assets. A marathon runner, his biggest asset is his 65% stake in telecom venture Reliance Communications. He recently raised $3 billion from the highly anticipated initial offering of his Reliance Power, the biggest in India's history. Despite the hype, the stock tumbled 17% immediately after its February listing. In a bid to appease investors, company's board recently approved the issue of bonus shares. Still feuding with brother Mukesh: battling him in court over a gas-supply agreement.

#7 Ingvar Kamprad & family

Age: 81

Fortune: self made

Source: Ikea

Net Worth: $31.0 bil

Country Of Citizenship: Sweden

Residence: Lausanne , Switzerland, Europe & Russia

Industry: Retailing

Marital Status: married, 4 children

Education: NA

Peddled matches, fish, pens, Christmas cards and other items by bicycle as a teenager. Started selling furniture in 1947. Now his company Ikea, which sells hip designs for the cost conscious, is one of the most beloved retailers in the world, with an almost cultlike following. Ikea now has stores in 40 countries, from Sunrise, Florida, to Guangzhou in China. As egalitarian as his brand, Kamprad avoids wearing suits, flies economy class and frequents cheap restaurants. Has been quoted as saying that his luxuries are the occasional nice cravat and Swedish fish roe. Says his home is furnished mostly with his own Ikea products. Last May was awarded the Global Economy Prize by the University of Kiel for his contributions to society.

#8 KP Singh

Age: 76

Fortune: inherited and growing

Source: real estate

Net Worth: $30.0 bil

Country Of Citizenship: India

Residence: Delhi , India, Asia & Australia

Industry: Real Estate

Marital Status: married, 3 children

Education: NA

Singh is now the world's richest real estate baron after listing his real estate development company DLF in 2007. The offering helped triple his fortune to $30 billion this year, up from $10 billion. A former army officer, known as K.P., he joined his father-in-law's Delhi Land & Finance in 1961. Singh later built DLF City in Gurgaon, his showpiece township on the outskirts of Delhi, by acquiring land from farmers. Over time, he transformed it into one of India's biggest real estate developers. Group plans to raise another $1.5 billion by listing a subsidiary in Singapore. A keen golfer, he now leaves son Rajiv, daughter Pia to run operations.

#9 Oleg Deripaska

Age: 40

Fortune: self made

Source: Russian Aluminum

Net Worth: $28.0 bil

Country Of Citizenship: Russia

Residence: Moscow , Russia, Europe & Russia

Industry: Diversified

Marital Status: married, 2 children

Education: Moscow State University
Plekhanov Academy of Economics

Former metals trader survived the gangster wars in the post-Soviet aluminum industry. His holding company, Basic Element, now owns Russian Aluminum (UC Rusal), automobile manufacturer GAZ, aircraft manufacturer Aviacor and insurance company Ingosstrakh. In 2006 Rusal, SUAL and Glencore International, of Switzerland, merged their aluminum assets into the United Company Rusal, the world's largest aluminum producer. Married to a relative of Yeltsin, Deripaska has been busy expanding UC Rusal's activities in Russia and abroad, moving it into aluminum production in Nigeria and China. To integrate vertically, has signed agreements to produce coal in Kazakhstan and invest in a nuclear power plant in eastern Russia. Attempting to get a stake in Norilsk Nickel, which co-owner (and fellow billionaire) Vladimir Potanin is fighting.

#10 Karl Albrecht

Age: 88

Fortune: self made

Source: Aldi

Net Worth: $27.0 bil

Country Of Citizenship: Germany

Residence: Mulheim an der Ruhr , Germany, Europe & Russia

Industry: Retailing

Marital Status: married, 2 children

Education: NA

Germany's richest man. After World War II Karl and his younger brother, Theo, developed their mother's corner grocery store into discount supermarket giant Aldi, which now has more than 8,000 stores and $67 billion in sales. They eventually split ownership and management of the chain into North and South regions. Now retired, Karl used to manage more profitable southern half of Aldi's business in Germany. Fiercely private: Little known about him other than that he apparently raises orchids and plays golf.

Top 10 Fitness Models

1) Chellss

Chellss Dutch fitness model compete in events around the world and in 2006 she placed No. 1 at the Dutch Nationals Figure Championship. She has also appeared in the pages of such glossies as Ebony-Fitness, Aktueel and Muscle and Fitness. Chellss is a ripped beauty who is on her way to achieving greater recognition, but she’s clearly one of the industry’s up-and-coming bright spots and poised to make a name for herself elsewhere.

2) Annette Milbers

Annette Milbers may have one of the best bodies in the world, but not many people know of her. Annette Milbers already the winner of a number of fitness competitions like the Northern Fitness Championships and the Faremon Model Search. And even though she’s relatively unheralded outside the world of health and fitness modeling, this blonde hard-body has what it takes to make the leap to majority recognition.

3) Jennifer Nicole Lee

Jennifer Nicole Lee is Winner of the 2004 Miss Bikini America and 2006 Miss Muscle and Fitness pageants, Jennifer Nicole Lee (or “The Tigress” as she’s known) is a certified fitness Hattie. After dropping an astounding 70 pounds, Jennifer Nicole Lee modeled for Maxim, Body Fitness International and FHM, began a fitness consultancy business and created and hosted six top-selling fitness DVDs. JNL has successfully upped the MILF ante for women around the world.

4) Amy Weber

Amy Weber is a fitness model and actress who is best-known for her titillating spreads in Playboy magazine. She has also take place on a number of television programs, including Baywatch, Pacific Blue and 7th Heaven, and her wonderful physique has graced the covers of Stun!, Women’s Health Fitness and Iron Man Magazine — all firmly establishing her as a bona fide hard-bodied goddess and fitness model.

5) Jennifer England

Jennifer England is a bikini model-turned-actress whose roles ever feature her in, weirdly enough, a bikini. Jennifer England may not fit into the fitness model niche, but her extraordinarily fit physique earns her a place on this list. To her credit, Jennifer England had parts as a stunt double in Dodgeball and Smokin’ Aces, and continues to seek a special role that will show her other less obvious talents.

6) Carmen Garcia

Carmen Garcia One of the most sought-after fitness models, she has been seen on the pages of FHM, Low Rider, Planet Muscle, Oxygen, and American Curves, amongst others. Carmen Garcia also the spokeswoman for her own line of sports wear. As a certified trainer and fitness consultant, it is Carmen Garcia’s goal to help people get into shape, but it doesn’t take more that one look at this warm Spaniard to get people feeling good about them.

7) Tiffany Yee

Tiffany Yee is a previous Broncos cheerleader, ex- Soul Train dancer, fitness model and, most notably, winner of the 2008 Ms. Fitness USA pageant. Tiffany Yee also established a record as being the oldest women to get the Ms. Fitness USA title. A 39-year-old mother of three, she definitely earns her MILF status and her photos are a testament to that.

8) Ashley Lawrence

Ashley Lawrence, aka FemBomb, is a glamour and fitness model with a vast internet existence, and fans are constantly proclaiming her as the next Pamela Anderson. She’s most likely best known for her stint as Howard Stern’s Backyard Wrestling Babe and for her lingerie spreads in Iron Man Magazine. Her rock-hard body, stunning features, 34DDD chest, and virtually topless way of life surely make her a favorite of men all over the world.

9) Kiana Tom

Kiana Tom is an actress, a fitness model, spokesperson, and a ex- Raiders cheerleader, but a good number of people know her as the really hot host of the ESPN2 fitness program Kiana’s Flex Appeal. She’s also been on the cover of Fittness Magazine, and appeared on The Drew Carey Show and in Eminem “Without Me” music video. She increased her celebrity when she posed nude for Playboy in the May 2002 issue.

10) Mary Castro

Mary Castro actress and fitness model with curve in all the right points, Mary Castro has appear the pages of many fitness magazines like Fit Beauties, posed for the Sand Obsession Calendar and has appeared in countless films and television programs (usually as a stripper). Her first important role can be seen in the 2008 film, The Kentucky Fried Horror Show.

Top 10 athletes of 2008

1. Michael Phelps (male, United States)

Michael Phelps of the United States celebrates after his team won the men's 4x100m medley relay final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Aquatics Center, or the Water Cube, in Beijing, Aug. 17, 2008.

The 23-year-old swimmer won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympic Games, not only refreshing his compatriot Mark Spitz's record of taking seven golds in one Olympic Games (Munich 1972), but also setting the total record of gold taking by a single person (14) in the Olympic history.

2. Usain Bolt (male, Jamaica)

Usain Bolt of Jamaica jubilates after the men's 200m final at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 20, 2008. Usain Bolt of Jamaica won the title with 19.30 seconds and set a new world record

The 22-year-old sprinter collected three Olympic gold medals in Beijing from 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100 meters relay races, and simultaneously broke the world records of the three events. He was elected by IAAF as the best male athlete of the year 2008.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo (male, Portugal)

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo poses with the Ballon D'Or trophy ahead of their Champions League soccer match against AaB Aalborg in Manchester, northern England, December 10, 2008.

The 23-year-old football talent scored 42 goals for Manchester United, playing the key role in helping the club grab the titles of the English Premier League and the European Champions League. On Dec. 2, he was elected the best European footballer of 2008.

4. Yelena Isinbayeva (female, Russia)

Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia celebrates after breaking the world record during the women's pole vault final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in this August 18, 2008 file photo. Predictably, Isinbayeva set a world women's pole vault record for the second time in as many Games. Agility, athleticism and artistry fused as Isinbayeva soared 5.05 metres to set her 24th world record

The 26-year-old athlete set the world record of 5.04 meters in the women's pole vault at the IAAF Grand Prix Monaco leg. Then, she retained her Olympic title in Beijing with a new high of 5.05 meters. In November, she was elected by IAAF as the best female athlete of the year 2008.

5. Guo Jingjing (female, China)

Chinese diver Guo Jingjing waves to spactators during the awarding ceremony of women's 3m springboard at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. Guo won the gold medal in the event with a score of 415.35 points

The 26-year-old diver successfully defended her Olympic three-meter springboard sychronized title with her compatriot Wu Minxia, and retained her Olympic three-meter springboard single gold in Beijing. She has become the only athlete to sweep both three-meter springboard sychronized and single titles in two consecutive Olympic Games.

6. Rafael Nadal (male, Spain)

Rafael Nadal of Spain holds his trophy after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in their finals match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London July 6, 2008.

The 22-year-old tennis star claimed the men's singles titles in the French Open, Wimbledon and the Beijing Olympics this year. He also overtook Roger Federer from Switzerland to top the ATP ranking.

7. Kobe Bryant (male, United States)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant stands with his daughter Natalia (L) and holds his other daughter Gianna along with the Maurice Podoloff Trophy after being named the NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP) during a presentation in Los Angeles, California May 6, 2008. Bryant, long regarded as one of the basketball league's top players, wins the award for the first time in his 12-year NBA career.

The 30-year-old basketball star led the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Western Conference champions last season, receiving the NBA MVP award for the first time in his career. At the Beijing Olympics, he led the U.S. team to the top podium which they missed for eight years.

8. Lewis Hamilton (male, Britain)

McLaren's Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain drinks before the Brazilian F1 Grand Prix in Sao Paulo November 2, 2008.

The 23-year-old Formula One driver became the youngest-ever F1 world champion this year with a total of 98 points.

9. Iker Casillas Fernandez (male, Spain)

Spain's Iker Casillas holds up the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after their Euro 2008 final soccer match victory over Germany at the Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna, in this June 29, 2008 file photo.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper and the captain of Spain led his team to the top podium in the European soccer championship this year. It was the first time for Spain to take the crown in 44 years.

10. Dayron Robles (male, Cuba)
Cuba's Dayron Robles poses as he celebrates his 110-metres hurdles world record during the Golden Spike World Athletics Tour meeting in Ostrava June 12, 2008.

The 22-year-old sprinter ran in 12.87 seconds in the men's 110 meters hurdles at the IAAF Grand Prix in the Czech Republic in June, breaking the world record of 12.88 seconds set by Chinese talent Liu Xiang. Then Robles was crowned at the Beijing Olympics. In November, he received the IAAF high performance award of the year.

Top 10 Beautiful Women

1) Eva Mendes

Short Bio

Although she was born in Miami, Eva Mendes grew up in Los Angeles following her parents’ divorce. She was “discovered” by an agent who saw her in the background of a neighbor’s photograph. Her big break came with 2001’s Training Day, and ever since then Eva Mendes has been steadily -- and flawlessly -- rising to the top.

Although she began 2008 at the Cirque Lodge rehab facility in Utah, Eva Mendes emerged to have a solid year. Her films included The Women and Frank Miller’s The Spirit, and as the new face of Calvin Klein Fragrances, she shot a promo deemed to be too sizzling for American television.

In 2009, she’ll star in Bad Lieutenant opposite Nicolas Cage, and she’ll also play a drug smuggler bent on revenge in Queen of the South.

Why She's No.1?

“You can’t take your eyes off her.” For every cliché, there is an example that makes it true, and for this one it’s quintessential girlie-girl and diosa latina Eva Mendes. From head to toe, her beauty is unique, dramatic and urgent. When on-screen, she doesn’t need to do much before we’ve willingly handed over to her our complete and devoted attention, to the exclusion of the rest of the world.

In short, the more of her we see, the more we want. It’s no surprise, then, that Eva Mendes is the Most Desirable Woman in the World.

2) Megan Fox

Short Bio

Megan Fox’s star is rising higher and glowing more brightly each and every day. She made her very modest film debut in 2001’s direct-to-video Holiday in the Sun, only to follow that up with a bang alongside Lindsey Lohan in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. A recurring role on television’s Hope & Faith, coupled with a starring role in the 2007 blockbuster Transformers, have positioned this luscious, engaging blue-eyed brunette as a star on the cusp of explosive brilliance -- a budding supernova on the Hollywood skyscape.

Why She's No.2?

Although just 22 years old, Megan Fox impresses us to no end, from her staggeringly killer body and her daydream-inducing supermodel face to quotes like this: “I guess I’m boring… I don’t go to clubs or do drugs or fall out of cars drunk.” You can call that professional, sexy, even anti-Lohan, but it’s definitely not boring, and it’s why she made the No. 2 spot on our Top 99.

With two Transformers sequels, the flick Jennifer’s Body with Amanda Seyfried and an adaptation of the comic book Fathom in the pipeline, Megan Fox is poised to conquer the world, and she will do it in her own way, on her terms.

3) Marisa Miller

Short Bio

How hot is Victoria’s Secret Angel Marisa Miller, and how highly regarded is she in the industry? The president of Limited Brands, owners of Victoria’s Secret, called her “one in a billion” and “the quintessential California beach girl,” while Maxim compared her to the otherwise incomparable Cindy Crawford.

Marisa Miller is a favorite among AskMen readers, and has ranked highly on our Top 99 list three years in a row: No. 14 (2006), No. 12 (2007), and No. 9 (2008).

Why She's No.3?

Marisa Miller began 2008 by landing the coveted spot on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and she’s been nothing short of a phenomenon ever since. Victoria’s Secret made her an Angel, and she was the face and body of no less than three of the famed lingerie company’s highly successful 2008 product launches.

However, Marisa Miller’s appeal is more than skin deep -- her awareness of just where modeling fits in the grand scheme of things (not high) is endearing, and her service as an ambassador for the American Cancer Society is admirable indeed.

4) Keeley Hazell

Short Bio

Keeley Hazell comes from a working-class suburb of London and barely finished high school. To most people, that biography would be a precursor to an ordinary career, but she just happens to be blessed with 32DD-26-32 measurements and seemingly limitless ambition. She rode those assets to fame and fortune, starting off as a topless Page 3 girl in England’s tabloid newspaper The Sun and moving on to acting gigs, video game voice work and even a fledgling music career.

Why She's No.4?

We’d like to sit here and say that Keeley Hazell’s tireless environmental campaigning and work with breast cancer awareness are what garnered her a spot on this list. Those are admirable pursuits, but one look at this buxom beauty makes it abundantly clear why she sits where she does. Part of her charm is how comfortable she is with her obvious physical talents -- Keeley Hazell doesn’t shy away from the undeniable truth. Instead, she embraces her beauty and has fun with it. Her bubbly personality has carried her far, and we all hope it continues to do so for some time yet.

5) Anne Hathaway

Short Bio

2001’s The Princess Diaries first introduced us to the wide-eyed, girl-next-door beauty of Anne Hathaway, and for a few years her films maintained her exclusively PG appeal. In 2005, she took that image to task with multiple nude sex scenes in Havoc and Brokeback Mountain before returning to more mainstream films like The Devil Wears Prada and Get Smart. In 2008, she wowed the critical world with her performance in Rachel Getting Married, and in early 2009 she helped Bride Wars pull in big bucks at the box office.

Also in 2008, Lancôme made Anne Hathaway the face of their Magnifique fragrance, further solidifying her image as a classic modern beauty.

Why She's No.5?

Anne Hathaway made herself a whole lot more desirable in 2008 when she broke off her relationship with shady Italian real estate developer and reputed mafia money launderer Raffaello Follieri.

Anne Hathaway's brilliant work in 2008’s Rachel Getting Married could mean we’ll be seeing her onstage on Oscar night this year. She also scored commercial success with her role alongside Kate Hudson in Bride Wars, and though this production seems to be her last release for this year, she'll be taking on some interesting roles in 2010, including that of the White Queen in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.

6) Alessandra Ambrosio

Short Bio
Among the top-earning models in the world, Alessandra Ambrosio knew early on that she wanted to be a model, taking classes in her native Brazil for years before landing her first modeling job: the cover of the Brazilian Elle -- not a bad start.

Were it not for a certain Katherine Heigl, Alessandra Ambrosio would have been AskMen.com’s No. 1 Most Desirable Woman in 2008. Still, landing at No. 2 that year (and No. 6 the year before) testifies to the appreciation and esteem our readers have for this stunning South American supermodel.

Why She's No.6?

In the first part of December 2008, and for the eighth year in a row, Alessandra Ambrosio brought her Angel game to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, igniting the catwalk with her unique look, a cross between the shy, doe-eyed ingenue and a woman on the verge of total world domination.

However, for Alessandra Ambrosio, this year differed considerably from all the years past -- just three months before walking the runway for Victoria's Secret, she had given birth to her first child.

7) Scarlett Johansson

Short Bio

Scarlett Johansson’s transformation from talented child actress to gorgeous leading lady seems to have happened overnight, as it’s impossible to remember a time when she wasn’t an object of our desire. Her career-defining role alongside Bill Murray in 2003’s Lost in Translation paved the way for high-profile gigs in films like 2004’s In Good Company and 2006’s The Prestige, yet there’s little doubt that her best work has emerged as a result of her current stint as legendary filmmaker Woody Allen’s latest muse (which has afforded her the opportunity to work side-by-side with such notable names as Hugh Jackman and Jonathan Rhys Meyers in films like Match Point, Scoop and Vicky Cristina Barcelona). Next up for Scarlett is a role in He's Just Not That Into You.

Why She's No.7?

Though she’s no stranger to eliciting the lust of male fans, Scarlett Johansson’s two cinematic outings in 2008 proved effective in heightening her already astronomical appeal. Her role alongside Natalie Portman in the bodice-ripper The Other Boleyn Girl proved that she could step into the shoes of a period character while also maintaining her innate sensuality, although there’s little doubt that it was her work in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona that left us hot and bothered. Her steamy sex scenes with costars Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem instantly became the stuff of cinematic legend, and it subsequently became easy enough to forgive Scarlett Johansson for taking herself off the market by marrying Ryan Reynolds this past September.

8) Rihanna

Short Bio

Petite, cute as a button and enormously talented, this singer has been topping the charts since 2005. Most known for her annoyingly catchy No. 1 hit “Umbrella,” Rihanna (Robyn Rihanna Fenty at birth) has five other chart-topping singles and a robust 11 million albums sold worldwide, including Music of the Sun, A Girl Like Me and Good Girl Gone Bad. Like so many success stories, Rihanna’s big break came almost by accident -- she had recorded a few tracks that somehow fell into the hands of Jay-Z, who soon signed her to Def Jam. And the rest is, as they say, history.

Why She's No.8?

Rihanna has this engaging quality about her that makes her seem very down-to-earth -- you'll hear her giggle in a song, or see her coy smile in a video, and it's almost like she's flirting directly with you. This is one of the main reasons she’s made it so big. And now this Caribbean queen is working with Gucci, so look for her in the world of fashion in the coming months. Of course, she’s about more than cranking out hits and selling purses -- Rihanna works with UNICEF and runs a charitable foundation that benefits terminally ill children. She’s almost too good to be true.

9) Kristen Bell

Short Bio

Though she’s been working steadily for almost a decade now (her filmography lists over 30 movies and television shows), Kristen Bell has only recently stepped into the public’s consciousness thanks to her work in several high-profile projects. Though she kicked off her stint on Heroes in 2007, Kristen Bell’s role as Elle Bishop grew increasingly prominent as the series progressed, and this, coupled with her scene-stealing work in the comedy hit Forgetting Sarah Marshall, was instrumental in her 2008 rise from anonymous starlet to bona fide “It” girl.

Why She's No.9?

With her role on Heroes, Kristen Bell -- alongside Hayden Panettiere and Ali Larter -- successfully infused a geek-oriented program with unexpected jolts of sensuality (until her character was killed off). She undeniably possesses the kind of looks one generally associates with a fashion model, yet she can also come off as an approachable, girl-next-door sort. It’s a dichotomy that served her well when it came time to play a vixen in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, as she managed to ingratiate herself with audiences despite the fact that her character so heartlessly (and memorably) broke up with Jason Segel’s hapless Peter Bretter. And with a number of promising projects on the horizon for 2009 -- including a starring role in the Jon Favreau-penned romantic comedy Couples Retreat -- Kristen Bell’s star will only continue to rise in the months ahead.

10) Kate Beckinsale

Short Bio
Though her days as just another struggling actress are long behind her, Kate Beckinsale’s drop-dead gorgeous looks have generally prevented her from being taken seriously as an actress -- something that certainly changed in 2008. Her heartbreaking work in the critically acclaimed drama Snow Angels earned her some of the best reviews of her career, while the political thriller Nothing But the Truth placed Kate Beckinsale firmly at the forefront of well-deserved Oscar-nomination rumors. It’s an impressive turnaround for an actress previously best known for her work within the action genre, thanks to her roles in such popcorn-friendly endeavors as 2003’s Underworld and 2004’s Van Helsing.

Why She's No.10?

Kate Beckinsale’s determination to reinvent herself as a serious actress has paid off in spades: Before its distribution was cut short because the studio behind the film was forced to file for bankruptcy, her performance in Nothing But the Truth was generating serious Oscar buzz. She hasn’t completely turned away from the big-budget shoot-‘em-ups that turned her into a star, however. Whiteout, set for release in 2009, casts the actress as a U.S. Marshall on the hunt for a vicious killer in Antarctica, where her investigation is about to become a whole lot harder as the sun prepares to set for six months straight. She’ll also be seen alongside Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore and Sam Rockwell in the ensemble drama Everybody’s Fine. There’s little doubt that Kate Beckinsale has firmly established herself as that rare beauty who can actually act