Taylor Swift, Kylie Jenner, Kanye West make Forbes’ list of 100 highest-paid entertainers
Usually when you see Taylor Swift, Kanye West and the Kardashian-Jenner clan mentioned together, it’s about a feud — but this time, it’s because these celebrities have all reached a major peak in their careers. They’ve made Forbes’ list of the 100 highest-paid entertainers.
At the top of Forbes’ list, which was released Wednesday, is 29-year-old Taylor Swift. What got her there was her 2018 Reputation world tour, which grossed just over $266 million — making it the highest-grossing tour ever. Swift’s upcoming album, Lover, due out this summer, may just help her onto next year’s list.
Swift’s 2018 earnings amounted to $185 million, according to Forbes. Instead of measuring net worth, the magazine looked at “front of the camera” stars around the globe and measured their pre-tax earnings between June 1 2018, and June 1, 2019.
Kylie Jenner ranks second on the list after Swift. The 21-year-old sold $360 million worth of Kylie Cosmetics in 2018, giving her annual earnings of $170 million. Jenner also made headlines earlier this year when Forbes said she was on track to become the world’s youngest “self-made” billionaire.
Jenner’s brother-in-law and Swift’s foil, Kanye West, takes the No. 3 spot. West’s Yeezy shoe line raked in an estimated $1 billion in sales over the past 12 months, Forbes reports. This is where the rapper makes most of his money; the Adidas partnership pays him a per-shoe royalty of 15% on wholesale. He also owns his Yeezy clothing company.
West’s wife and Jenner’s half-sister, Kim Kardashian, also made the list at No. 26 with $72 million in annual earnings.
Following Kanye West at No. 4 on the list is soccer star Lionel Messi, who is currently making $80 million annually with FC Barcelona through the 2020-2021 season. Next is singer Ed Sheeran, whose past tour grossed over $600 million worldwide over two years. Then comes another soccer star, Cristiano Rinaldo, who actually took a pay cut with a four-year deal worth $64 annually.
Jay-Z, who Forbes recently named as hip-hop’s first billionaire, made the list with his wife, Beyoncé. The couple ranked together at No. 20 after their On the Run II stadium tour earned them an estimated $5 million a night.
Last on the list of 100 highest-paid celebrities is Celine Dion, who still took in $37.6 million over the past 12 months, according to Forbes. In between Swift and Dion are a wide array of stars from Dr. Phil to Dwayne Johnson, Lewis Hamilton to Judge Judy.
Forbes mentions that while two powerful women — Swift and Jenner — are the highest paid celebrities, only 16 women made the list overall, and pay inequality is rampant everywhere.
Below is the list of the top ten highest earning celebrities.
1 Taylor Swift – $185 M
2 Kylie Jenner – $170 M
3 Kanye West – $150 M
4 Lionel Messi – $127 M
5 Ed Sheeran – $110 M
6 Cristiano Ronaldo – $109 M
7 Neymar – $105 M
8 The Eagles – $100 M
9 Dr. Phil McGraw – $95 M
10 Canelo Alvarez – $94 M
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5 Comments
Damilola
July 12, 08:18Congrats to all of em.
Reputation is the 13th highest grossing tour of all time, not the highest.
Yazz
July 12, 12:09The number thirteen always follows miss swift everywhere
Born on a 13th sef .
Share
July 12, 16:51And how is this post relevant to a queer blog? ?
Stretchy
July 12, 21:08Can you just not step on his (pinky’s) gown. You need to calm down. ?
Bee
July 13, 13:12I love Taylor but capitalism.