MUMBAI: Johnny Depp has been voted as the number one ‘Money-Making Star of 2007’ in Quigley Publishing Company’s 76th Annual Poll. This poll is an annual survey of motion picture exhibitors conducted since 1932. It votes for the top ten stars who generate the maximum box-office revenue in the preceding year for their theatres.

Depp, who starred in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, has repeated his 2006 performance. In 2005, he was placed only second to Tom Cruise.

This time round Will Smith, who starred in I Am Legend, finished second followed by George Clooney (Michael Clayton and Ocean’s Thirteen) and Matt Damon (The Bourne Ultimatum and Ocean’s Thirteen). The list further includes Denzel Washington (The Great Debaters and American Gangster) at fifth position while Russell Crowe ( American Gangster and 3:10 to Yuma) was placed sixth.

Interestingly, Tom Cruise, who remained in the top ten for a record 20 times since 1983 fared at number seven followed by Nicholas Cage, Will Ferrell  and Tom Hanks respectively. This is the first year in 24 years, since 1983, that exhibitors have not included a female star in the Top Ten.