Taylor Swift, Kylie Jenner, Kanye West make Forbes’ list of 100 highest-paid entertainers

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

  1. Damilola
    July 12, 08:18 Reply

    Congrats to all of em.

    Reputation is the 13th highest grossing tour of all time, not the highest.

    • Yazz
      July 12, 12:09 Reply

      The number thirteen always follows miss swift everywhere
      Born on a 13th sef .

  2. Share
    July 12, 16:51 Reply

    And how is this post relevant to a queer blog? ?

    • Stretchy
      July 12, 21:08 Reply

      Can you just not step on his (pinky’s) gown. You need to calm down. ?

  3. Bee
    July 13, 13:12 Reply

    I love Taylor but capitalism.

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