Hayek dismisses outrageous fortune reports

Mexican big-screen siren Salma Hayek has dismissed as nonsense reports that she has a US$100 million ($160 million) fortune, and said if she did she would retire and use the money to help the poor.

Media in Mexico and Latin America reported that the Oscar-nominated actress had been ranked by Fortune magazine as the second-richest Latin American in Hollywood, with nearly half as much money as singer Jennifer Lopez.

"It's a huge lie. It's very, very far from reality. I don't have that amount of money," said Hayek.

"Somebody sent me [the report] and I laughed. It's a bit like a joke. Obviously I have never earned $100 million and I wouldn't even want to," she said.

A spokesman for Fortune said he was not aware the magazine had published such a list. "It seems somebody got their facts mixed up."