Legally loaded! DYNAMO REESE'S SUPER-RICH LIFE

America's sweetheart used her smarts to become the wealthiest actress in Hollywood. Here's how pushing women-led stories has paid off

When Reese Witherspoon sold a majority share of her multimillion-dollar production company Hello Sunshine last year, it hardly registered among movie buffs around the world.

Behind the scenes she might be one of the most interesting powerbrokers Hollywood has ever seen, but to her fans Reese will always be the toy-dog-toting, high-heeled, pink-lipsticked heroine Elle Woods, who runs circles around her law-school colleagues in Legally Blonde.

It might be 21 years since the comedy was released, but stereotype-defying Elle continues to be one of the most powerful characters Reese has played for one good reason. “Like her, I don't like to be underestimated,” says the actress, 45.

Once, like Elle, Reese was written off as just another disposable actress with an almost-expired shelf life. These days, no one would dare to imagine she couldn't shoot for the stars. She already has!

Following the partial sale of Hello Sunshine, the mother-of-three is now the highest-ranking female entertainer on Forbes' list of the world's super-rich, with earnings of around $170 million in the past year alone.

The secret to her success can be summed up in one phrase: woman power.

A few short years ago, despite having a stellar career and an Oscar for Walk the Line, she noticed there were limited opportunities for actresses of her age.