Forbes list of the world's highest-paid musicians
![Forbes logo](http://webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca/web/20240306110013im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Forbes_logo.svg/200px-Forbes_logo.svg.png)
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] Although Forbes named Rihanna as the world's richest female musician, she has never topped any annual earnings list. Most of her wealth does not come from her realized income, but from the stock value of her cosmetics company, Fenty Beauty.[12]
Highest-paid musicians by year[edit]
![](http://webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca/web/20240306110013im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/U2_montage.jpg/170px-U2_montage.jpg)
![](http://webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca/web/20240306110013im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Michael_Jackson_Dangerous_World_Tour_1993.jpg/170px-Michael_Jackson_Dangerous_World_Tour_1993.jpg)
![](http://webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca/web/20240306110013im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Madonna_Rebel_Heart_Tour_2015_-_Stockholm_%2823051472299%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/170px-Madonna_Rebel_Heart_Tour_2015_-_Stockholm_%2823051472299%29_%28cropped%29.jpg)
*
|
Indicates the year's highest-paid celebrity (all fields of entertainment) |
Year | Musician | Nationality | Earnings | Adjusted earnings (in 2022 dollar) |
Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | Bruce Springsteen | ![]() |
$56 million | $144 million | [13][14] |
1988 | Michael Jackson * | ![]() |
$97 million | $240 million | [15][16] |
1989 | Michael Jackson * | ![]() |
$125 million | $295 million | [17][18] |
1990 | Michael Jackson | ![]() |
$100 million | $224 million | [19] |
1991 | New Kids on the Block * | ![]() |
$115 million | $247 million | [20][21] |
1992 | New Kids on the Block | ![]() |
$62 million | $129 million | [22] |
1993 | Guns N' Roses | ![]() |
$53 million | $107 million | [23][24] |
1994 | Pink Floyd | ![]() |
$62 million | $122 million | [25][26] |
1995 | The Beatles | ![]() |
$130 million | $250 million | [27] |
1996 | The Beatles | ![]() |
$130 million | $243 million | [28] |
1997 | The Beatles | ![]() |
$98 million | $179 million | [29] |
1998 | The Rolling Stones | ![]() |
$57 million | $102 million | [30] |
1999 | Backstreet Boys | ![]() |
$60 million | $105 million | [31] |
2001 | The Beatles | ![]() |
$70 million | $116 million | [32] |
2002 | U2 | ![]() |
$69 million | $112 million | [33] |
2003 | The Rolling Stones | ![]() |
$66.5 million | $106 million | [34] |
2004 | Bruce Springsteen | ![]() |
$64 million | $99 million | [35] |
2005 | Madonna | ![]() |
$50 million | $75 million | [36] |
2006 | U2 | ![]() |
$110 million | $160 million | [37] |
2007 | The Rolling Stones | ![]() |
$110 million | $155 million | [38] |
2008 | The Police | ![]() |
$115 million | $156 million | [39] |
2009 | Madonna | ![]() |
$110 million | $150 million | [40] |
2010 | U2 | ![]() |
$130 million | $174 million | [41] |
2011 | U2 | ![]() |
$195 million | $254 million | [42] |
2012 | Dr. Dre | ![]() |
$110 million | $140 million | [43] |
2013 | Madonna * | ![]() |
$125 million | $157 million | [44] |
2014 | Dr. Dre * | ![]() |
$620 million | $766 million | [45] |
2015 | Katy Perry | ![]() |
$135 million | $167 million | [46] |
2016 | Taylor Swift * | ![]() |
$170 million | $207 million | [3] |
2017 | Diddy * | ![]() |
$130 million | $155 million | [47] |
2018 | U2 | ![]() |
$118 million | $138 million | [48] |
2019 | Taylor Swift * | ![]() |
$185 million | $212 million | [4] |
2020 | Kanye West | ![]() |
$170 million | $192 million | [49] |
2021 | Bruce Springsteen | ![]() |
$435 million | $470 million | [7] |
2022 | Genesis | ![]() |
$230 million | $230 million | [50] |
Group[edit]
![](http://webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca/web/20240306110013im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/The_Beatles_members_at_New_York_City_in_1964.jpg/170px-The_Beatles_members_at_New_York_City_in_1964.jpg)
![](http://webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca/web/20240306110013im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Stones_members_montage2.jpg/170px-Stones_members_montage2.jpg)
![](http://webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca/web/20240306110013im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Eagles_cropped.jpg/170px-Eagles_cropped.jpg)
Year | Music group | Nationality | Earnings | Adjusted earnings (in 2022 dollar) |
Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | U2 | ![]() |
$37 million | $95 million | [13][14] |
1988 | U2 | ![]() |
$42 million | $104 million | [15][16] |
1989 | Pink Floyd | ![]() |
$56 million | $132 million | [17][18] |
1990 | The Rolling Stones | ![]() |
$88 million | $197 million | [19] |
1991 | New Kids on the Block * | ![]() |
$115 million | $247 million | [20][21] |
1992 | New Kids on the Block | ![]() |
$62 million | $129 million | [22] |
1993 | Guns N' Roses | ![]() |
$53 million | $107 million | [23][24] |
1994 | Pink Floyd | ![]() |
$62 million | $122 million | [25][26] |
1995 | The Beatles | ![]() |
$130 million | $250 million | [27] |
1996 | The Beatles | ![]() |
$130 million | $243 million | [28] |
1997 | The Beatles | ![]() |
$98 million | $179 million | [29] |
1998 | The Rolling Stones | ![]() |
$57 million | $102 million | [30] |
1999 | Backstreet Boys | ![]() |
$60 million | $105 million | [31] |
2001 | The Beatles | ![]() |
$70 million | $116 million | [32] |
2002 | U2 | ![]() |
$69 million | $112 million | [33] |
2003 | The Rolling Stones | ![]() |
$66.5 million | $106 million | [34] |
2004 | The Rolling Stones | ![]() |
$51 million | $79 million | [35] |
2005 | Eagles | ![]() |
$45 million | $67 million | [36] |
2006 | U2 | ![]() |
$110 million | $160 million | [37] |
2007 | The Rolling Stones | ![]() |
$110 million | $155 million | [38] |
2008 | The Police | ![]() |
$115 million | $156 million | [39] |
2009 | Rascal Flatts | ![]() |
$60 million | $82 million | [40] |
2010 | U2 | ![]() |
$130 million | $174 million | [41] |
2011 | U2 | ![]() |
$195 million | $254 million | [42] |
2012 | U2 | ![]() |
$78 million | $99 million | [43] |
2013 | Bon Jovi | ![]() |
$79 million | $99 million | [44] |
2014 | Eagles | ![]() |
$100 million | $124 million | [45] |
2015 | One Direction | ![]() |
$130 million | $160 million | [46] |
2016 | One Direction | ![]() |
$110 million | $134 million | [3] |
2017 | Coldplay | ![]() |
$88 million | $105 million | [47] |
2018 | U2 | ![]() |
$118 million | $138 million | [48] |
2019 | Eagles | ![]() |
$100 million | $114 million | [4] |
2020 | Jonas Brothers | ![]() |
$68.5 million | $77 million | [49] |
2021 | Red Hot Chili Peppers | ![]() |
$116 million | $125 million | [7] |
2022 | Genesis | ![]() |
$230 million | $230 million | [50] |
Male[edit]
![](http://webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca/web/20240306110013im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Bruce_Springsteen_-_Roskilde_Festival_2012.jpg/170px-Bruce_Springsteen_-_Roskilde_Festival_2012.jpg)
![](http://webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca/web/20240306110013im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Glasto2023_%28419_of_468%29_%2853009098414%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/170px-Glasto2023_%28419_of_468%29_%2853009098414%29_%28cropped%29.jpg)
![](http://webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca/web/20240306110013im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Garth_Brooks_KCHD_2022.jpg/170px-Garth_Brooks_KCHD_2022.jpg)
Year | Musician | Nationality | Earnings | Adjusted earnings (in 2022 dollar) |
Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | Bruce Springsteen | ![]() |
$56 million | $144 million | [13][14] |
1988 | Michael Jackson * | ![]() |
$97 million | $240 million | [15] |
1989 | Michael Jackson * | ![]() |
$125 million | $295 million | [17][18] |
1990 | Michael Jackson | ![]() |
$100 million | $224 million | [19] |
1991 | Michael Jackson | ![]() |
$60 million | $129 million | [20][21] |
1992 | Michael Jackson | ![]() |
$51 million | $106 million | [22] |
1993 | Prince | ![]() |
$49 million | $99 million | [23][24] |
1994 | Garth Brooks | ![]() |
$41 million | $81 million | [25][26] |
1995 | Michael Jackson | ![]() |
$67 million | $129 million | [27] |
1996 | Michael Jackson | ![]() |
$90 million | $168 million | [28] |
1997 | David Bowie | ![]() |
$63 million | $115 million | [29] |
1998 | Master P | ![]() |
$56.5 million | $101 million | [30] |
1999 | Lou Bega[a] | ![]() |
$6 million | $11 million | [31] |
2001 | Dr. Dre | ![]() |
$35 million | $58 million | [32] |
2002 | Elton John | ![]() |
$30 million | $49 million | [52] |
2003 | Paul McCartney | ![]() |
$59 million | $94 million | [34] |
2004 | Bruce Springsteen | ![]() |
$64 million | $99 million | [35] |
2005 | Prince | ![]() |
$49.7 million | $74 million | [36] |
2006 | Bruce Springsteen | ![]() |
$55 million | $80 million | [37] |
2007 | Elton John | ![]() |
$53 million | $75 million | [38] |
2008 | Toby Keith | ![]() |
$48 million | $65 million | [39] |
2009 | Bruce Springsteen | ![]() |
$70 million | $95 million | [40] |
2010 | Bruce Springsteen | ![]() |
$70 million | $94 million | [41] |
2011 | Elton John | ![]() |
$100 million | $130 million | [42] |
2012 | Dr. Dre | ![]() |
$110 million | $140 million | [43] |
2013 | Toby Keith | ![]() |
$65 million | $82 million | [44] |
2014 | Dr. Dre * | ![]() |
$620 million | $766 million | [45] |
2015 | Garth Brooks | ![]() |
$90 million | $111 million | [46] |
2016 | Garth Brooks | ![]() |
$70 million | $85 million | [53] |
2017 | Diddy * | ![]() |
$130 million | $155 million | [47] |
2018 | Ed Sheeran | ![]() |
$110 million | $128 million | [48] |
2019 | Kanye West | ![]() |
$150 million | $172 million | [4] |
2020 | Kanye West | ![]() |
$170 million | $192 million | [49] |
2021 | Bruce Springsteen | ![]() |
$435 million | $470 million | [7] |
2022 | Sting | ![]() |
$210 million | $210 million | [50] |
Female[edit]
![](http://webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca/web/20240306110013im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/191125_Taylor_Swift_at_the_2019_American_Music_Awards_%28cropped%29.png/170px-191125_Taylor_Swift_at_the_2019_American_Music_Awards_%28cropped%29.png)
![](http://webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca/web/20240306110013im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/C%C3%A9line_Dion_2012.jpg/170px-C%C3%A9line_Dion_2012.jpg)
![](http://webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca/web/20240306110013im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Beyonc%C3%A9_-_Tottenham_Hotspur_Stadium_-_1st_June_2023_%286_of_118%29_%2852945304172%29_%28high_cropped%29.jpg/170px-Beyonc%C3%A9_-_Tottenham_Hotspur_Stadium_-_1st_June_2023_%286_of_118%29_%2852945304172%29_%28high_cropped%29.jpg)
Year | Musician | Nationality | Earnings | Adjusted earnings (in 2022 dollar) |
Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | Madonna | ![]() |
$47 million | $121 million | [13][14] |
1988 | Madonna | ![]() |
$46 million | $114 million | [15][16] |
1989 | Madonna | ![]() |
$43 million | $102 million | [17][54] |
1990 | Madonna | ![]() |
$62 million | $139 million | [19] |
1991 | Madonna | ![]() |
$63 million | $135 million | [20][21] |
1992 | Madonna | ![]() |
$48 million | $100 million | [22] |
1993 | Madonna | ![]() |
$37 million | $75 million | [23][24] |
1994 | Barbra Streisand | ![]() |
$57 million | $113 million | [25][26] |
1995 | Barbra Streisand | ![]() |
$63 million | $121 million | [27] |
1996 | Mariah Carey | ![]() |
$32 million | $60 million | [28] |
1997 | Celine Dion | ![]() |
$65 million | $118 million | [29] |
1998 | Celine Dion | ![]() |
$55.5 million | $100 million | [30] |
1999 | Shania Twain | ![]() |
$48 million | $84 million | [31] |
2001 | Britney Spears | ![]() |
$38.5 million | $64 million | [32] |
2002 | Mariah Carey | ![]() |
$58 million | $94 million | [33] |
2003 | Cher | ![]() |
$33.1 million | $53 million | [34] |
2004 | Celine Dion | ![]() |
$28 million[b] | $43 million | [35] |
2005 | Madonna | ![]() |
$50 million | $75 million | [36] |
2006 | Celine Dion | ![]() |
$40 million | $58 million | [37] |
2007 | Madonna | ![]() |
$72 million | $102 million | [38] |
2008 | Beyoncé | ![]() |
$80 million | $109 million | [39] |
2009 | Madonna | ![]() |
$110 million | $150 million | [40] |
2010 | Beyoncé | ![]() |
$87 million | $117 million | [41] |
2011 | Lady Gaga | ![]() |
$90 million | $117 million | [42] |
2012 | Britney Spears | ![]() |
$58 million | $74 million | [43] |
2013 | Madonna * | ![]() |
$125 million | $157 million | [44] |
2014 | Beyoncé | ![]() |
$115 million | $142 million | [45] |
2015 | Katy Perry | ![]() |
$135 million | $167 million | [46] |
2016 | Taylor Swift * | ![]() |
$170 million | $207 million | [3] |
2017 | Beyoncé | ![]() |
$105 million | $125 million | [47] |
2018 | Katy Perry | ![]() |
$83 million | $97 million | [48] |
2019 | Taylor Swift * | ![]() |
$185 million | $212 million | [4] |
2020 | Ariana Grande | ![]() |
$72 million | $81 million | [49] |
2021 | Taylor Swift | ![]() |
$52 million | $56 million | [7] |
2022 | Taylor Swift | ![]() |
$92 million | $92 million | [50] |
Highest-paid musicians by decade[edit]
2010s[edit]
![](http://webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca/web/20240306110013im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Dr._Dre_in_2011.jpg/170px-Dr._Dre_in_2011.jpg)
Rank | Musician | Nationality | Earnings | Adjusted earnings (in 2022 dollar) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dr. Dre | ![]() |
$950 million | $1,087 million |
2 | Taylor Swift | ![]() |
$825 million | $944 million |
3 | Beyoncé | ![]() |
$685 million | $784 million |
4 | U2 | ![]() |
$675 million | $773 million |
5 | Diddy | ![]() |
$605 million | $692 million |
6 | Elton John | ![]() |
$565 million | $647 million |
7 | Jay-Z | ![]() |
$560 million | $641 million |
8 | Paul McCartney | ![]() |
$535 million | $612 million |
9 | Katy Perry | ![]() |
$530 million | $607 million |
10 | Lady Gaga | ![]() |
$500 million | $572 million |
See also[edit]
- Forbes Top 40 – list of highest-paid celebrities (1987–1998)
- Forbes Celebrity 100 – list of most powerful celebrities (1999–2014) and highest-paid celebrities (2015–2020)
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Greenburg, Zack O'Malley (June 15, 2011). "The World's Highest-Paid Musicians 2011". Forbes. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ Greenburg, Zack O'Malley (December 4, 2018). "The World's Highest-Paid Musicians Of 2018". Forbes. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
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Print sources[edit]
- McAleer, Dave (1991). Chart Beats. Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0851129641.
- Glenday, Craig (2015). Guinness World Records 2015. Guinness Publishing.