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Forbes list of the world's highest-paid musicians

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The highest-paid musicians[1][2][3] in the world have been reported annually by Forbes since at least 1987. For measurement, the magazine used pretax earnings—before deducting fees for agents, managers or lawyers.[4] Most of the lists were estimated within a June-to-June scoring period, except for 1999, 2021, and 2022 when a calendar year period was used instead.[5][6][7]

U2 became the annual highest-paid musician five times, more than any other act. They were also the highest-paid music group in a record eight different years. Michael Jackson became the first musician to earn over $100 million in a year (1989),[8] and has become the highest-paid male soloist a record seven times. Dr. Dre currently holds the record for the highest annual earnings for a musician, collecting $620 million in 2014, mainly through the sales of his headphone-manufacturing company, Beats Electronics.[9]

Madonna is the first woman in music to earn $100 million for a year (2009) and has become the highest-paid female musician a record 11 times. Taylor Swift remains the female musician with the highest annual earnings ever with $185 million in 2019, breaking previous record set by herself in 2016 with $170 million.[10][11]

Highest-paid musicians by year

[edit]
U2 became the annual highest-paid musician a record five times and the annual highest-paid music group a record eight times.
Michael Jackson became the annual highest-paid musician three times and the annual highest-paid male solo musician a record seven times.
Madonna became the annual highest-paid musician three times and the annual highest-paid female musician a record eleven times.
Key
*
 Indicates the year's highest-paid celebrity (all fields of entertainment)
Highest-paid musicians of the year
Year Musician Nationality Earnings Adjusted earnings
(in 2023 dollar) 		Ref.
1987 Bruce Springsteen United States $56 million $150 million [12][13]
1988 Michael Jackson * United States $97 million $250 million [14][15]
1989 Michael Jackson * United States $125 million $307 million [16][17]
1990 Michael Jackson United States $100 million $233 million [18]
1991 New Kids on the Block * United States $115 million $257 million [19][20]
1992 New Kids on the Block United States $62 million $135 million [21]
1993 Guns N' Roses United States $53 million $112 million [22][23]
1994 Pink Floyd United Kingdom $62 million $127 million [24][25]
1995 The Beatles United Kingdom $130 million $260 million [26]
1996 The Beatles United Kingdom $130 million $253 million [27]
1997 The Beatles United Kingdom $98 million $186 million [28]
1998 The Rolling Stones United Kingdom $57 million $107 million [29]
1999 Backstreet Boys United States $60 million $110 million [30]
2001 The Beatles United Kingdom $70 million $120 million [31]
2002 U2 Ireland $69 million $117 million [32]
2003 The Rolling Stones United Kingdom $66.5 million $110 million [33]
2004 Bruce Springsteen United States $64 million $103 million [34]
2005 Madonna United States $50 million $78 million [35]
2006 U2 Ireland $110 million $166 million [36]
2007 The Rolling Stones United Kingdom $110 million $162 million [37]
2008 The Police United Kingdom $115 million $163 million [38]
2009 Madonna United States $110 million $156 million [39]
2010 U2 Ireland $130 million $182 million [40]
2011 U2 Ireland $195 million $264 million [41]
2012 Dr. Dre United States $110 million $146 million [42]
2013 Madonna * United States $125 million $164 million [43]
2014 Dr. Dre * United States $620 million $798 million [44]
2015 Katy Perry United States $135 million $174 million [45]
2016 Taylor Swift * United States $170 million $216 million [3]
2017 Diddy * United States $130 million $162 million [46]
2018 U2 Ireland $118 million $143 million [47]
2019 Taylor Swift * United States $185 million $220 million [4]
2020 Kanye West United States $170 million $200 million [48]
2021 Bruce Springsteen United States $435 million $489 million [7]
2022 Genesis United Kingdom $230 million $239 million [49]

Group

[edit]
The Beatles became the annual highest-paid musician four times and the annual highest-paid music group four times.
The Rolling Stones became the annual highest-paid musician three times and the annual highest-paid music group five times.
Eagles became the annual highest-paid music group three times.
Highest-paid music groups of the year
Year Music group Nationality Earnings Adjusted earnings
(in 2023 dollar) 		Ref.
1987 U2 Ireland $37 million $99 million [12][13]
1988 U2 Ireland $42 million $108 million [14][15]
1989 Pink Floyd United Kingdom $56 million $138 million [16][17]
1990 The Rolling Stones United Kingdom $88 million $205 million [18]
1991 New Kids on the Block * United States $115 million $257 million [19][20]
1992 New Kids on the Block United States $62 million $135 million [21]
1993 Guns N' Roses United States $53 million $112 million [22][23]
1994 Pink Floyd United Kingdom $62 million $127 million [24][25]
1995 The Beatles United Kingdom $130 million $260 million [26]
1996 The Beatles United Kingdom $130 million $253 million [27]
1997 The Beatles United Kingdom $98 million $186 million [28]
1998 The Rolling Stones United Kingdom $57 million $107 million [29]
1999 Backstreet Boys United States $60 million $110 million [30]
2001 The Beatles United Kingdom $70 million $120 million [31]
2002 U2 Ireland $69 million $117 million [32]
2003 The Rolling Stones United Kingdom $66.5 million $110 million [33]
2004 The Rolling Stones United Kingdom $51 million $82 million [34]
2005 Eagles United States $45 million $70 million [35]
2006 U2 Ireland $110 million $166 million [36]
2007 The Rolling Stones United Kingdom $110 million $162 million [37]
2008 The Police United Kingdom $115 million $163 million [38]
2009 Rascal Flatts United States $60 million $85 million [39]
2010 U2 Ireland $130 million $182 million [40]
2011 U2 Ireland $195 million $264 million [41]
2012 U2 Ireland $78 million $104 million [42]
2013 Bon Jovi United States $79 million $103 million [43]
2014 Eagles United States $100 million $129 million [44]
2015 One Direction United Kingdom / Ireland $130 million $167 million [45]
2016 One Direction United Kingdom / Ireland $110 million $140 million [3]
2017 Coldplay United Kingdom $88 million $109 million [46]
2018 U2 Ireland $118 million $143 million [47]
2019 Eagles United States $100 million $119 million [4]
2020 Jonas Brothers United States $68.5 million $81 million [48]
2021 Red Hot Chili Peppers United States $116 million $130 million [7]
2022 Genesis United Kingdom $230 million $239 million [49]

Male

[edit]
Bruce Springsteen became the annual highest-paid musician three times and the annual highest-paid male solo musician six times.
Elton John became the annual highest-paid male solo musician three times.
Garth Brooks became the annual highest-paid male solo musician three times.
Highest-paid male solo musicians of the year
Year Musician Nationality Earnings Adjusted earnings
(in 2023 dollar) 		Ref.
1987 Bruce Springsteen United States $56 million $150 million [12][13]
1988 Michael Jackson * United States $97 million $250 million [14]
1989 Michael Jackson * United States $125 million $307 million [16][17]
1990 Michael Jackson United States $100 million $233 million [18]
1991 Michael Jackson United States $60 million $134 million [19][20]
1992 Michael Jackson United States $51 million $111 million [21]
1993 Prince United States $49 million $103 million [22][23]
1994 Garth Brooks United States $41 million $84 million [24][25]
1995 Michael Jackson United States $67 million $134 million [26]
1996 Michael Jackson United States $90 million $175 million [27]
1997 David Bowie United Kingdom $63 million $120 million [28]
1998 Master P United States $56.5 million $106 million [29]
1999 Lou Bega[a] Germany $6 million $11 million [30]
2001 Dr. Dre United States $35 million $60 million [31]
2002 Elton John United Kingdom $30 million $51 million [51]
2003 Paul McCartney United Kingdom $59 million $98 million [33]
2004 Bruce Springsteen United States $64 million $103 million [34]
2005 Prince United States $49.7 million $78 million [35]
2006 Bruce Springsteen United States $55 million $83 million [36]
2007 Elton John United Kingdom $53 million $78 million [37]
2008 Toby Keith United States $48 million $68 million [38]
2009 Bruce Springsteen United States $70 million $99 million [39]
2010 Bruce Springsteen United States $70 million $98 million [40]
2011 Elton John United Kingdom $100 million $135 million [41]
2012 Dr. Dre United States $110 million $146 million [42]
2013 Toby Keith United States $65 million $85 million [43]
2014 Dr. Dre * United States $620 million $798 million [44]
2015 Garth Brooks United States $90 million $116 million [45]
2016 Garth Brooks United States $70 million $89 million [52]
2017 Diddy * United States $130 million $162 million [46]
2018 Ed Sheeran United Kingdom $110 million $133 million [47]
2019 Kanye West United States $150 million $179 million [4]
2020 Kanye West United States $170 million $200 million [48]
2021 Bruce Springsteen United States $435 million $489 million [7]
2022 Sting United Kingdom $210 million $219 million [49]

Female

[edit]
Taylor Swift became the annual highest-paid musician twice and the annual highest-paid female musician four times.
Celine Dion became the annual highest-paid female musician four times.
Beyoncé became the annual highest-paid female musician four times.
Highest-paid female musicians of the year
Year Musician Nationality Earnings Adjusted earnings
(in 2023 dollar) 		Ref.
1987 Madonna United States $47 million $126 million [12][13]
1988 Madonna United States $46 million $119 million [14][15]
1989 Madonna United States $43 million $106 million [16][53]
1990 Madonna United States $62 million $145 million [18]
1991 Madonna United States $63 million $141 million [19][20]
1992 Madonna United States $48 million $104 million [21]
1993 Madonna United States $37 million $78 million [22][23]
1994 Barbra Streisand United States $57 million $117 million [24][25]
1995 Barbra Streisand United States $63 million $126 million [26]
1996 Mariah Carey United States $32 million $62 million [27]
1997 Celine Dion Canada $65 million $123 million [28]
1998 Celine Dion Canada $55.5 million $104 million [29]
1999 Shania Twain Canada $48 million $88 million [30]
2001 Britney Spears United States $38.5 million $66 million [31]
2002 Mariah Carey United States $58 million $98 million [32]
2003 Cher United States $33.1 million $55 million [33]
2004 Celine Dion Canada $28 million[b] $45 million [34]
2005 Madonna United States $50 million $78 million [35]
2006 Celine Dion Canada $40 million $60 million [36]
2007 Madonna United States $72 million $106 million [37]
2008 Beyoncé United States $80 million $113 million [38]
2009 Madonna United States $110 million $156 million [39]
2010 Beyoncé United States $87 million $122 million [40]
2011 Lady Gaga United States $90 million $122 million [41]
2012 Britney Spears United States $58 million $77 million [42]
2013 Madonna * United States $125 million $164 million [43]
2014 Beyoncé United States $115 million $148 million [44]
2015 Katy Perry United States $135 million $174 million [45]
2016 Taylor Swift * United States $170 million $216 million [3]
2017 Beyoncé United States $105 million $131 million [46]
2018 Katy Perry United States $83 million $101 million [47]
2019 Taylor Swift * United States $185 million $220 million [4]
2020 Ariana Grande United States $72 million $85 million [48]
2021 Taylor Swift United States $52 million $58 million [7]
2022 Taylor Swift United States $92 million $96 million [49]

Highest-paid musicians by decade

[edit]

2010s

[edit]
Dr. Dre became the highest-paid musician of the 2010s decade.
Top 10 highest-paid musicians of the 2010s decade[56]
Rank Musician Nationality Earnings Adjusted earnings
(in 2023 dollar)
1 Dr. Dre United States $950 million $1,132 million
2 Taylor Swift United States $825 million $983 million
3 Beyoncé United States $685 million $816 million
4 U2 Ireland $675 million $804 million
5 Diddy United States $605 million $721 million
6 Elton John United Kingdom $565 million $673 million
7 Jay-Z United States $560 million $667 million
8 Paul McCartney United Kingdom $535 million $638 million
9 Katy Perry United States $530 million $632 million
10 Lady Gaga United States $500 million $596 million

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Male soloists were largely absent in 1999. Lou Bega was only ranked 76th on the overall celebrity earnings list.[50]
  2. ^ Although Forbes listed Celine Dion and Cher each with rounded earnings of $28 million in 2004, the former was ranked higher than the latter.[54][55]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Greenburg, Zack O'Malley (June 15, 2011). "The World's Highest-Paid Musicians 2011". Forbes. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  2. ^ Greenburg, Zack O'Malley (December 4, 2018). "The World's Highest-Paid Musicians Of 2018". Forbes. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "Taylor Swift Is Officially the Highest-Paid Musician in the World". Fortune. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e 06:30am EST. "The World's Top-Earning Musicians Of 2019". Forbes. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Forbes.com: Forbes Celebrity 100". Forbes. Archived from the original on May 21, 2009. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
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  8. ^ McAleer 1991, p. 82
  9. ^ "Highest annual earnings for a musician ever". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  10. ^ Glenday 2015, p. 167
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  12. ^ a b c d "Of the Show Biz Rich, Bill Cosby Is Top Star". Los Angeles Times. September 7, 1987. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
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  14. ^ a b c d "A NEW, OLD LOOK FOR THE RIVIERA – Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune. September 22, 1988. Archived from the original on July 30, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
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  40. ^ a b c d Fried, Melanie (July 19, 2010). "U2, Beyonce, Britney Make Forbes 'Top-Earning Musicians' List". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
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  42. ^ a b c d Billboard, Jason Lipshutz (November 29, 2012). "Dr. Dre Is Forbes' 2012 Highest-Paid Musician". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  43. ^ a b c d "Madonna named highest-earning musician in 2013". the Guardian. November 21, 2013. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  44. ^ a b c d "Dr. Dre is Forbes' top-earning 2014 musician". San Diego Union-Tribune. December 11, 2014. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  45. ^ a b c d Greenburg, Zack O'Malley. "The World's Highest-Paid Musicians Of 2015". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  46. ^ a b c d Penrose, Nerisha (December 7, 2017). "Diddy, Beyonce, & Drake Top Forbes' Highest-Paid Musicians of 2017 List". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
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  48. ^ a b c d Mamo, Heran (September 2, 2020). "Kanye West, Ariana Grande & More Musicians Crowned Forbes' 100 Highest-Paid Celebrities of 2020". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
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  54. ^ "Celine Dion > Pay Rank 35". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 9, 2008. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  55. ^ "Cher > Pay Rank 42". Forbes. Archived from the original on March 23, 2007. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  56. ^ "From Taylor Swift To Dr. Dre: The 10 Top-Earning Musicians Of The Decade". Forbes. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
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