The Hollywood Reporter polls industry insiders and mines the data to assemble the second annual list of the artists and executives with the clout to make the world laugh, delivering eyeballs to film and TV and billions in arena grosses.

Replacing Jon Stewart on 'The Daily Show' seemed like a suicide mission, but nearly four Trump-filled years in, the biracial South African star has become a best-selling author and a household name in U.S., all while keeping up a grueling stand-up schedule: “When there's no conflict, pain or tragedy, I don't know what to do."