Jessica Simpson, budding billionaire?

Simpson's silver sequin dress -- your holiday party look for just $148? (Photo courtesy Jessica Simpson Collection)

It turns out that while the tabloids were busy dishing up low blows about whether or not Jessica Simpson was pushing maximum density, she was laughing all the way to the bank.

Simpson may be the celebrity brand to beat going in to 2011. In 2010 alone, Simpson-branded products pulled in a jaw-dropping $750 million in profits. Kind of makes Kim Kardashian's $6 million look like chump change, eh?

Simpson -- the erstwhile singer, actress, reality TV show star and tabloid staple who was once jeered for her fashion missteps -- apparently has a talent for turning out jeans, shoes, swimwear, watches and perfumes that consumers can't resist.

"She is the girl next door and has great product that surrounds her," Vince Camuto, founder and CEO of Camuto Group, which is Simpson's licensee, told WWD. "People like her. People look at her as a style icon."

Simpson is reportedly on track to hit $1 billion in sales next year when she launches a new line of jackets, knits and dresses. According to The Daily Mail, Simpson's denim collection is "already stocked in 650 department stores across the U.S., including Macy’s, Dillard's and Belk, where 600 people once queued to see the star make a personal appearance."

And, everything from boots to luggage is available on Simpson's Web site. Which is awesome because now I don't have to scour the malls for Jen's Christmas present.

Sources: Us Weekly, Daily Mail