The World’s Highest-Paid Musicians
Have you ever wondered how much your mega-stars of music make? Well, so has Forbes.
They have now published their put annual list of The World's Highest-Paid Musicians . . . and not surprisingly, U2 came out on top. Again.
From May of last year to last month, U2 raked in $195 million, which is up from the $130 million that they pulled down the year before, when they were also ranked #1.
BON JOVI came in second with $125 million.
Forbes calculates their numbers by compiling pre-tax profits on stuff like concert dates, merchandise sales, licensing fees, music sales, and publishing royalties . . . but almost everyone on the list made the bulk of their money from touring.
Here's the complete list:
1.) U2 . . . $195 million
2.) Bon Jovi . . . $125 million
3.) Elton John . . . $100 million
4.) Lady Gaga . . . $90 million
5.) Michael Bublé . . . $70 million
6.) Paul McCartney . . . $67 million
7.) Black Eyed Peas . . . $61 million
8.) Eagles . . . $60 million
9.) Justin Bieber . . . $53 million
10.) Dave Matthews Band . . . $51 million
11.) Toby Keith . . . $50 million
12.) Usher . . . $46 million
13.) Taylor Swift . . . $45 million
14.) Katy Perry . . . $44 million
15.) Brad Paisley . . . $40 million
16.) Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers . . . $38 million
17.) Jay-Z . . . $37 million
18.) A five-way tie between AC/DC, Diddy, Beyoncé, Tim McGraw and Muse . . . $35 million
23.) Rascal Flatts . . . $34 million
24.) Kenny Chesney . . . $30 million
25.) Rihanna . . . $29 million
(--For a little more information on each musician's earnings, hit up Forbes.com's slideshow, beginning here.)