How the 'Tom Cruise cake' has become Hollywood's ultimate status symbol

Tom Cruise notoriously gifts a 'coconut cake' to a long list of famous pals, but one celebrity was struck off the list in recent years.

While some aspire to win Oscars and Grammys, the real turning point in the career of someone in the spotlight is receiving a coconut cake from Tom Cruise at Christmas.

The long-standing tradition has become well-known in the celeb sphere and receiving one in the post has almost become a badge of honour.

The cake is a $126 white chocolate and coconut Bundt cake, which is made in Doan's Bakery in California every year.

Kirsten Dunst & Jesse Plemons are just one celeb couple who receive the cake year after year.

Dunst worked with Cruise in 1994's Interview with the Vampire, and has been receiving the famous gift every year since.

But her husband Plemons also gets gifted a cake now, explaining this year that they can 'double up' their portions.

Glen Powell also makes the cut, after working with Cruise on Top Gun: Maverick.

Glen Powell shared a picture of the famous cake. (Instagram/@glenpowell)

The star even hosts a party for his friends to come over and enjoy the treat.

Speaking with Jennifer Hudson on her talk show, he said: "It is the most delicious cake you've ever had.

"I have a Cruise Cake Party. And I'll invite people over to try a bite or two ... [they] can't get greedy.

"I really have to limit people. I can't let them come back for seconds."

Powell revealed he was still on the list this year, with a pic of the cake making his Instagram story.

Hayley Atwell, who worked with the actor on Mission: Impossible, shared a snap of the beautifully wrapped cake in 2023.

The actor is generous with his famous friends. (Mike Coppola/WireImage/Getty Images)

She even shared the message that comes with the cake from Cruise himself, which reads: "Warmest wishes to you this holiday season, Tom Cruise."

Tom Hanks has described the cake as being 'so great you can really only have it once a year'.

Elle & Dakota Fanning are also on the list, and Dakota once noted that she also receives a birthday gift from the generous actor.

Top Gun: Maverick star Jon Hamm, has also previously noted that he is 'very proud' to be on the cake list.

Graham Norton didn't even realise that he was on the guest list, as he revealed that his crew tuck into it.

Speaking on his show, he claimed: "I was talking about you being on the cake list and somebody said 'Oh, yeah, we get a cake from Tom every year,' and I went, 'Do we? I've never seen the bloody cake.'"

But while Cruise makes new additions to the list every year, he also - unfortunately for them - makes cuts.

And Brooke Shields was one of the people to be struck off the list.

Speaking to People magazine, she said: "I was on the list for a while. I had a good 10-year run, and I got the coconut cake every year, which I was very happy [about]."

But the actress isn't exactly sure what happened between the two.

"And then the cake stopped," she added.

"I want to get back on that cake list. It's the best cake."