The Top 10 Sex Scandals Of 2009

What's a year without a good sex scandal? This year, we've had a bunch, which have run the gamut from sex tapes to infidelity. Here are our top 10.

1. Tiger Woods 9 Mistresses
The most recent news in the world of sex scandals comes from Tiger Woods, who admitted he cheated on wife Elin Nordegren with multiple women. The surprises surrounding this particular situation just keep on coming; so far nine women say they've slept with the married golf star.

2. Mackenzie Phillips and John Phillips
When Mackenzie appeared on the Oprah show in September, she shocked million of viewers by revealing the truth about the rape she had suffered at the hands of her father, lead singer of the Mamas and the Papas. She spoke openly about their incestuous relationship, describing how he used to shoot her up with drugs before having intercourse with her. The viewing public was understandably shocked.

3. Mark Sanford and his Argentinian Mistress
In late June of this year, married South Carolina governor Mark Sanford disappeared; when he surfaced, he revealed that he was not hiking the Appalachian trail, as he'd said he was. Instead, he was in Argentina visiting a woman whom he later called his "soul mate." He and his wife separated, but Sanford remains in public office. What We Learn From Gov. Sanford's Love E-mails

4. Jaycee Dugard and Phillip Garrido
Earlier this year, it was discovered that Jaycee Dugard—missing for over 18 years—was being held captive in the backyard of Phillip Garrido. Garrido and his wife abducted Dugard when she was 11 and, all this time, had been keeping her in a shed behind their house. Garrido fathered two girls with Dugard, whom the couple kept sequestered with their mother in the backyard compound. The Garridos are now facing life in jail. Traveling Minister Likely Headed Back To Jail For Bigamy

5. David Letterman and Stephanie Birkitt
TV host David Letterman loves to poke fun at those celebrities, politicians, and other high-profile figures unlucky enough to be caught in the midst of scandalous affairs. So we all experienced a bit of schadenfreude when he was found to be schtupping Late Show staffer Stephanie Birkitt. But Letterman proved clever enough to poke fun at himself—and his extortionist—effectively quelling any major backlash that might have otherwise occurred. 

6. Carrie Prejean's 8 Sex Tapes
Carrie Prejean's 15 minutes of fame has extended itself tremendously—from proving she was a gay-hater on camera, to admitting the pageant paid for her breast implants, to being dethroned as Miss California, to finally somehow revealing that she has created eight videos of self-satisfaction—this woman seems to love being an object of speculation and derision. How To Make A Sex Tape

7. Roman Polanski's Arrest in Switzerland
Though the crime was committed in the 1970s, Oscar-winning director and American fugitive Roman Polanski was finally taken into custody earlier this year, forcing him to face old statutory rape charges. Way back when, Polanski pled guilty to drugging and raping a minor, but then fled the country after serving only part of his sentence. He is now under house arrest.

8. Rebecca Gayheart and Eric Dane
Gawker first leaked the footage of this couple frolicking topless in a hot tub with female friend Kari An Peniche. Visually it was quite tame, but two girls + a naked McSteamy + a video camera = one racy sex scandal. Threesomes: A User's Guide

9. Silvio Berlusconi's Private Life
Throughout 2009 numerous women claimed that Italy's Prime Minister recruited them for intimate, sometimes paid, evenings. While the PM acknowledged that he's "no saint," the notorious ladies' man hasn't acknowledged any wrongdoing. Nonetheless, news of his romps with escorts and underage women have dominated the headlines in Italy since the scandal broke in June.

10. Josh Duhamel and Alleged Stripper Nicole Forrester 
Although Josh and Fergie refuse to acknowledge the story, Nicole Forrester, a stripper who allegedly gave Duhamel a lap dance and then slept with him, can't stop talking to the press. Is she telling the truth? It kills us to think that the hot Duhamel would need to pay for sex.

What scandal most shocked you this year?