Highest-paid musicians: Top 26 in the world
Here’s who’s making the big bucks (and who is making the biggest bucks of all, with a few ties).
Katy Perry
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The final leg of her "Prismatic World Tour" and endorsement deals helped Perry earn $41 million.
Dr. Dre
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Dr. Dre released his last album, "Compton," in August 2015 and was a producer on the hip-hop group N.W.A.'s biopic "Straight Outta Compton," which earned him $41 million.
Bigbang
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The South Korea-based boy band made its "MADE 2015-16 World Tour" in support of its album "MADE," which helped the K-pop quintet earn $44 million.
Toby Keith
Credit: Richard McLaren
With such sources of income as his I Love This Bar and Grill restaurant chain, the release of his album "35 MPH Town," heavy touring and endorsement deals, Keith was able to generate $47.5 million.
Foo Fighters
Touring (including shows where frontman Dave Grohl performed seated, due to a broken leg after he was injured during a concert, helped the Grammy-winning rock band land earnings of $48.5 million.
Muse
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The Grammy-winning trio toured in support of their album "Drones," selling hundreds of thousands of tickets; the band made $49 million.
Luke Bryan
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His album "Kill the Lights" and its supporting concert tour, in tandem with endorsement deals helped Bryan earn $53 million.
Jay Z
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It wasn't his music career (or marriage to pop star Beyonce), but instead his business endeavors and entertainment company (Roc Nation) that generated the bulk of the $53.5 million earned by Shawn "Jay Z" Carter.
The Weeknd
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The Weeknd (born Abel Tesfaye) earned $55 million, via such revenue points as his multiplatinum-scoring album "Beauty Behind the Madness" (Recording Industry Association of America certified sales of 3 million units) and endorsement deals.
U2
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The concert industry trade publication Pollstar reports that U2's last concert tour ("Innocence + Experience") grossed more than $150 million, which helped the band -- members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and winners of 22 Grammy Awards -- earn $55 million.
Kenny Chesney
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Concert ticket sales, endorsement deals and his Blue Chair Bay brand of rums helped Kenny Chesney earn $56 million.
Justin Bieber
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His "Purpose" album, touring in support of his music and endorsement deals were sources of income for Justin Bieber, who earned $56 million.
Paul McCartney
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He may be closing in on his 75th birthday (June 18), but age hasn't stopped McCartney from touring and selling hundreds of thousands of concert tickets; his MPL Communications holding company owns the rights to copyrighted materials from several notable composers (including himself). The former Beatle earned $56.5 million.
Bruce Springsteen
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The concert industry trade publication Pollstar said Springsteen and The E Street Band are at the top of the pack of its "Year End Top 100 Worldwide Tours" chart (grossing more than $263 million), helping the Grammy-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer earn $60.5 million.
Calvin Harris
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Forbes said Calvin Harris (born Adam Wiles) is the highest-paid DJ in the world, an achievement aided by his frequent work in Las Vegas luxury hotel nightclubs; his income is listed at $63 million.
Rolling Stones
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Touring has proven to be quite lucrative for icons The Rolling Stones, who continue to sell thousands of concert tickets (in spite of the fact that most of the band's main members are more than 70 years old), grossing more than $90 million on tour in 2016, while earning $66.5 million.
AC/DC
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The Grammy Award-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted band AC/DC was on tour in 2016 when lead singer Brian Johnson, left, revealed he was advised to stop performing by physicians (or risk total deafness), but the band continued on with Axl Rose (of Guns N' Roses) serving as the front man, and ended up with $67.5 million in earnings.
Garth Brooks
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The concert industry trade publication Pollstar reports that Garth Brooks' most recent tour grossed $97 million in 2016, helping the Grammy Award-winning country star earn himself $70 million.
Rihanna
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The Grammy-winning pop star's music has sold millions of units, which in combination with her endorsement deals, helped land Rihanna an income of $75 million.
Madonna
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The concert industry trade publication Pollstar states that Madonna's concert touring grossed more than $82 million in 2016, and more than $88 million in 2015 -- those sums, along with her Material Girl clothing line helped the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer earn an income of $76.5 million.
Adele
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Adele's "25" was the best-selling album of 2016 (an impressive feat, considering it was also the best-selling album of 2015); she also grossed more than $167 million touring over the same year -- two reasons she was able to make $80.5 million.
One Direction
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The boy band was on hiatus most of 2016, but their 2015 tour grossed more than $158 million, helping the quartet still manage $110 million in income.
Taylor Swift
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With endorsement deals and a 2015 touring gross of more than $250 million among her sources of revenue, Forbes reports that Taylor Swift is the highest-paid musician -- as well as the highest-paid celebrity -- of 2016, earning $170 million.
