Katy Perry Tops Taylor Swift & Beyonce On Forbes’ ‘Highest Paid Musician’ List

Published: Wednesday 4th Nov 2015 by Rashad
katy perry taylor swift forbes tgj

Taylor Swift may have swiftly ridden to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 singing about their bad blood, but it appears nemesis Katy Perry will have the last laugh (all the way to bank) as she rides to the top of another tally:  Forbes ‘Highest Paid Female Musicians’ list.

Indeed, as her faithful #Katycats know, the songstress has had a hell of a year from a Super Bowl halftime show headlining kick off to a top-drawing world tour to end, Perry has seemingly been raking in the dough at every turn. But, as the list evidences, she is not alone.

Get into the annual lineup of music’s money-making divas below and see the interesting shakeup from last year’s tally:

Katy Perry – $135 million

Taylor Swift – $80 million

Fleetwood Mac – $59.5 million

Lady GaGa – $59 million

Beyonce Knowles – $54.5 million

Britney Spears – $31 million

Jennifer Lopez – $28.5 million

Miranda Lambert – $28.5 million

Mariah Carey – $27 million

Rihanna – $26 million

Curious about last year’s lineup?  See it here.

Your thoughts?

 

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  1. Cough Cough November 4, 2015

    Mariah is paid honey, YES!

    • Bey_hive militant November 4, 2015

      Agree, Mariah is paid to be a night club singer.

      🙁

      • True That! November 4, 2015

        THIS!!!!

      • Huh?! November 5, 2015

        That s*** wasnt even funny, try again!

      • Missey November 5, 2015

        Every diva on this list looks up to Mariah, Celine and Whitney. They are the Icons.

        Have some respect. 200 million sold, lets see if Taylor with her waterweak vocals, Katy Perry with her tone-deaf vocals and flat backside are still around in 25 years like Celine and Mariah.

      • whaaaaattttt?!!!!! November 5, 2015

        ????????????

    • Queenjanet November 4, 2015

      mariah is a trash waiting to be decomposed in the septic tank.

  2. LOL November 4, 2015

    Rihanna’s position tho…

    😆

    • HailBeysus November 4, 2015

      Rihanna’s position is the ULTIMATE KIIIII HAHAHAHA

  3. Adele’s Family November 4, 2015

    tragic list..i mean these are the peasants of pop today.

    • Queenjanet November 4, 2015

      selling s** is what they do…

      • HailBeysus November 4, 2015

        Bitxh shut up as if Janet Hasn’t sold s** have several seats and stop acting a fool!

  4. TrellBeyLike November 4, 2015

    No new music or tour. Top 5! Queen Bey is paid! Hell everyone on that list is paid. Shout out to my black queens owning their own empires. Beyoncé Janet and Rih!

  5. HailBeysus November 4, 2015

    Poor Taylor isn’t ending the year so great lmao!!! But DAMN MY QUEEN 54 MILLION AND SHE AIN’T DONE SHIIITE THIS YEAR!!!! SO HOW IS FORBES PROJECTING HER NETWORTH TO BE STILL $250 MILLION!!!????

    • November 4, 2015

      Net worth = Assets – Liabilities
      That’s why

      • HailBeysus November 4, 2015

        Yea but I mean in the beginning of 2013 Forbes was projecting her networth to be worth $450 million in 2014. Her net worth was at $350 million in 2013. She had a tour that grossed $229 million another tour with jay that grossed $109 million and a $50 million dallor endorsement deal with pepsi. Now this extra $54 million yet no change in her net worth??? She can’t have that much in liabilities. She should be bankrupt if so lol!

      • HailBeysus November 5, 2015

        I know what a net worth is. But how is Forbes going to say Bey’s net worth was $350 million in 2013 project it to be $450 million in 2014 then come out sayinh it’s $250 million. From 2013 to 2015 she brought in $229 million from a tour another $110 million from another tour a $50 million dallor deal with pepsi and now this extra $54 million. Lets not forget all the magazine covers she did and the singles and albums she sold with “Beyonce”. She can’t possibly have that much liabilities, if she did she would be bankrupt lol! Celebrity net worth still projects her net worth at $350.

  6. TRAVON AUSTIN November 4, 2015

    For those of you that think 15 million of Mariah’s bank is from Vegas. Think again. Her Vegas tour might be a sellout but it has only grossed 16 million for 17 shows. Mariah has released zero music and way less promo than those other that’s. She still is loved and folks she hasn’t even started yet. 2015 MAC collection for christmas, Sold out Christmas shows in NYC, 1million+ Christmas royalties, Hallmark movie as Director, children’s book, multi-million long-term Game of War endorsement, Complete MAC collection in 2016, successful perfume line, extended Vegas residency, music royalties, and 2016 European Tour. Mariah does way less and still makes bank.

  7. Nawwww. November 4, 2015

    J.lo is getting paid more than Riri?

    😆

    • Nothing but love November 4, 2015

      And their both getting paid more than you.

      • Nothing but love November 4, 2015

        *they’re

  8. Kunty Perry November 4, 2015

    Rihanna makes money by popping out her booty in those tacky magazines.

    No wonder… 😀

    • Natasha3 November 5, 2015

      Which also includes your fave, how ironic!!!

  9. Facts ONLY November 4, 2015

    No Ciara Lol, flop. This h*e stay losing.

  10. What now November 4, 2015

    DEAD at the obvious trolling that resides n this post. Anyway, slay b****** slay. I wanna c next year’s list to see how much Adele is estimated to have made… we all know 25 is going to see at least 2 million ww first week, so that list will b hella interesting.

  11. Music all the way November 4, 2015

    Congrtas all…I am surprised Rihanna is in the top 10 considering the only thing she did musically was to released those three singles,,I am even more shocked to see beyonce’s position so high while the only thing she did was to take a vacation with her family or did they count the OTR tour earnings?

    • HailBeysus November 4, 2015

      I don’t see why they would have included it. Seeing as OTR wrapped up 13 months ago, making it over a year ago. These are annual earrings if im not mistaken.

      • Natasha3 November 5, 2015

        They did included OTR, it says so on Forbes site.

    • November 4, 2015

      Last year they estimated earnings during June 2013 to June 2014 so for this year’s list it could be from June 2014 to June 2015 but not sure which reporting period they could have used

  12. Slay_Hive November 4, 2015

    Bey makes money for just existing.. Wow!!????

  13. November 4, 2015

    Lady GaGa – $59 million

    .

    But I thought She was over?
    ,
    Anyways this just just an estimation only they know how much they have earned this past year
    And damn at Fleetwood Mac legendary group still slaying in the 2010s

  14. JJFan1814 November 4, 2015

    Yall are bugging over Rih’s position when she barely did s*** for the year and a half since this chart was tallied. She’s making money. I don’t see how you all can laugh at someone’s rank when you probably fall below poverty standards.

    • Natasha3 November 5, 2015

      Exactly!!! Hell, I’m busting my b*** and sill don’t come an ounce close to that. Hell, we are worrying about the wrong things. These people are all laughing at all of us.

    • Music all the way November 5, 2015

      @jjfan1814
      I hear you but her fans also contribute to the negativity she is receiving,They always brag how she is the global star,how she will be making lots of money than other artist because she has ownership to her masters unike the likes of Beyonce,,And then when forbes list comes,the same beyonce they were bashing,earns X2 what Rihanna earned without anything except taking family vacations…
      So her fans are not helping,but bottom line is that they are making more than all of us on this blog combined……

      • Natasha3 November 5, 2015

        She just recently got her master and has yet to release a full album on it. Beyonce earning are expected due to the fact that OTR tour is included.

      • HailBeysus November 5, 2015

        @Natasha3 true but I’ve been saying that in post all along! Her master’s DON’T mean shiiite until she is even remotely half as successful as before she had em. But the Navy continues to prance around and throw it around like it means something. This and your comment just goes to show it that currently it doesn’t. Now the Navy’s going to back track and say its because she hasn’t released anything under her.masters yet LMFAO!!!

  15. No favs, just here for the music November 5, 2015

    Damn they make so much money. It’s making me sweat lmao

  16. Chile, leave my weave at the door and don’t steal it like those broke ass barb stans November 5, 2015

    On what planet and in which galaxy would Gaga EVER make more money than Bey, even when they both didn’t tour? Hmm….let’s see! “Artpop” vs. “BEYONCE”; “Mrs. Carter Show” vs. “ArtRave”; “Drunk in Love” vs “Applause”. Yeah, something’s not right!
    ______________________________
    Congrats to the temporary queen of Superbowl…until Rih performs, of course, and kii at her trumping Taylor so effortlessly, even though the 1989 Tour and the album will outsell Prismatic Tour and her album. That covergirl money really is no joke. I swear she’s all over YouTube in those ads. Taylor has two enemies to deal with and both of them are team Navy: Katy and Adele.

    • HailBeysus November 5, 2015

      Only On The Run Tour was counted. Forbes listed it on the website i checked after someone told me. “Beyonce” and The Mrs Carter Tour would have annihilated Gaga lol.

      • Chile, leave my weave at the door and don’t steal it like those broke ass barb stans November 5, 2015

        You better believe it! She would’ve been wishing she didn’t section off half of those stadiums and only focused on the white gay’s as her main audience to cater to for her last album. I have a feeling she’s gonna come back harder next era and not play any games. When Miley Cyrus outsells you, that’s when you KNOW you did something wrong.

  17. Chile, leave my weave at the door and don’t steal it like those broke ass barb stans November 5, 2015

    Before y’all come out of hiding and shade Rih for her placement in the TOP 10, please remember that she made ALL OF THIS without releasing an album or touring. Just be mindful of that.

    • Facts ONLY November 5, 2015

      Rihanna (No. 10, $26 million), who only played nine dates in our scoring period but is set to release new album Anti in the coming months; more touring will likely follow.

      • Chile, leave my weave at the door and don’t steal it like those broke ass barb stans November 5, 2015

        Yeah, can you imagine how big the “Anti World Tour” is gonna be? I know she doesn’t like going over 100 dates, but I’m more than certain that this time she’ll gross over $200,000,000. I’m ready for stadium after stadium.

      • Music all the way November 5, 2015

        I dont know hei!!i mean she did so many stadiums with the diamonds world tour and yet she still did under 200m which i didnt understand how!

      • Chile, leave my weave at the door and don’t steal it like those broke ass barb stans November 5, 2015

        She actually did way more arenas than stadiums for the “Diamonds World Tour”, so I guess that explains why. But I’m sure this time around, since her demand is obviously much greater, she’ll do much more stadiums. I honestly think $200,000,000 is right up her corner. It doesn’t be hard for her unless the foolishness she did on the previous tour (being hours late, drunk, violent, vulgar) plays a huge part in her tour gross this era. She’ll he fine.

    • Career Ender November 5, 2015

      she had a movie
      .
      puma and other endorsements
      .
      festivals
      .
      Britney had no music out nor tour and got more
      .
      it just shows the girl has never and will never be the xit!

  18. Chile, leave my weave at the door and don’t steal it like those broke ass barb stans November 5, 2015

    Congrats to the Vegas queens (especially J. LO with flop after flop from this era alone)! However, I do have to wo see where Celine is at on the list. I thought she resumed the residency.

  19. Theman November 5, 2015

    Mariah is a beast. She only did a few shows in Vegas. Her royalties & Xmas music probably netted her tons of cash. JLo had a few gigs though.

  20. Theman November 5, 2015

    Congrats to Katy Perry also. She works very hard !!!!

  21. Huh?! November 5, 2015

    Rotfl at Beyonces fans still calling her the queen, stop it!

  22. coolness November 5, 2015

    Get money bishes! Congrats to Katy for claiming the top spot in addition to Bey and Rihanna for making the list without doing much. Oh and Mariah and J.Lo holding it down for the divas over 40.

  23. King Mark111 /.\ November 5, 2015

    I was always told to count your own money and not others. These stans are bragging over someone else’s income while they’re making minimum wage and part-time McDonald or the gap.

    • Career Ender November 5, 2015

      you’re just mad yo fave is at the bottom of the list where she really deserves to be
      .
      arent you from Texas? where you take care of cattles and get those wages you talking about?

    • Music all the way November 5, 2015

      And what or how much do you get everytime you brag about rihanna 150 million sold records??

    • AnnaliseKeatingsNewWig November 5, 2015

      I just can’t!!! If she was higher than b you would have had something to say???? Doesn’t your hœbag fave own her own masters, so shouldn’t she be collecting more coinz by that fact alone? Didn’t she release 3 official singles and perform at top ceremonies this year? Hasn’t she just signed deals with Puma, Samsung and her own sock line? ????????????????

  24. Slayty Perry (A Very Katy Christmas is Coming) November 5, 2015

    The current Queen of Pop taking her place at number one. Congrats to her but I don’t stan for someone else’s money so I won’t use this.

  25. Barb-wire November 5, 2015

    The ultimate slayage of Kunty!!! Get ’em coins B****!

  26. King Stephy November 5, 2015

    Slay Katy! Mariah & J HOOOOO slaying for the old women. Bey always making that doe.

  27. Career Ender November 5, 2015

    Queen Katty Perry scalping at all fronts

  28. Career Ender November 5, 2015

    flopga with 2 tours (artgrave and cheek to cheek tours) and cheeck to cheek album and still raked in that money?
    .
    she really fell hard
    .
    Q: how much did artgrave tour gross in total?

    • Music all the way November 5, 2015

      A little over 83 million..

      • Career Ender November 5, 2015

        Hahaha
        .
        the circus freak really fell hard, I don’t remember TGJ even mentioning it
        .
        From 186 mil to 83 mil , and 7 mil to 1.8mil albums . what a monumental fall from grace , an unheard of supa mega floppage in the pop arena continuum!

    • Pat November 5, 2015

      @CareerEnder, u sound so stupid!

      • Career Ender November 5, 2015

        paTRASHya still hanging on my nüts even today you dustbin raiding hobo?

  29. Career Ender November 5, 2015

    Taylor Swift always coming second

  30. MsYonce November 5, 2015

    Beyonce stays getting paiddd huntty and she hardly did anything thing. June 2014- June 2015.I mean OTR tour startd June 25 and Ended September 13 2014 hunty. Queen Bey needs to adopt me

  31. AnnaliseKeatingsNewWig November 5, 2015

    RIHVEMBER ????????????… No wait… Nvm

  32. Charlieyoncé November 5, 2015

    Beyoncé! ???? Enough said xo

  33. #JACKIE November 5, 2015

    Rihanna is sooooo BROKE kii

    • What now November 5, 2015

      Rite, bc u made more than 26 million this year?? Gurl stop! ✋ Ur fav isn’t even on this list or the “women who almost made it to the top 10” list with Nicki and etc. U STAY SELF DRAGGING!

      • #JACKIE November 5, 2015

        Sis, Ciara is a business women with a lot of endorsements and connections and let’s not forget that she writes her own music. 😉 Sis is still getting coins from Goodies honey. Ciara has old money and doesn’t blow it on crack or fake friends. She doesn’t need Forbes to be coined because we all know that Rihanna does not make smart business decisions so I would be very surprised if she even has $50 million in the bank. She was totally broke not even ten years ago, did you forget? By the way sis, where’s that release date?

      • #JACKIE November 5, 2015

        Sis, Ciara is a business woman with a lot of endorsements and connections and let’s not forget that she writes her own music. ???? Sis is still getting coins from Goodies honey. Ciara has old money and doesn’t blow it on cräck or fake friends. She doesn’t need Forbes to be coined because we all know that Rihanna does not make smart business decisions so I would be very surprised if she even has $50 million in the bank. She was totally broke not even ten years ago, did you forget? By the way sis, where’s that release date?

  34. #JACKIE November 5, 2015

    Sis, Ciara is a business women with a lot of endorsements and connections and let’s not forget that she writes her own music. ???? Sis is still getting coins from Goodies honey. Ciara has old money and doesn’t blöw it on cräckk or fake friends. She doesn’t need Forbes to be coined because we all know that Rihanna does not make smart business decisions so I would be very surprised if she even has $50 million in the bank. She was totally broke not even ten years ago, did you forget? By the way sis, where’s that release date?

  35. #JACKIE November 5, 2015

    Sis, Ciara is a business women with a lot of endorsements and connections and let’s not forget that she writes her own music. Sis is still getting coins from Goodies honey. Ciara has old money and doesn’t blow it all on crack or fake friends. She doesn’t need Forbes to be coined because we all know that Rihanna does not make smart business decisions so I would be very surprised if she even has $50 million in the bank. She was totally broke not even ten years ago, did you forget? By the way sis, where’s that release date?

  36. whaaaaattttt?!!!!! November 5, 2015

    Rihanna is almost making peanuts ????

    • Music all the way November 5, 2015

      WTF are you talking about?? I would do anything known to human-being to even get 10% of that….And you wanna talk about earning PEANUTS??

      • HailBeysus November 5, 2015

        Just make a bargain with the devil like all are favs did and the trillions will come rolling in LMAO!!!

    • Natasha3 November 5, 2015

      Yeah, peanuts for doing s***! How much do you make for doing s***??!!

  37. UPGRADEBOY November 5, 2015

    Where is ONIKA #NOSHADE

  38. ARK November 5, 2015

    I thought Rihanna owed her Masters…. Why is she getting paid so little? Rihanna is the poorest “icon” in history. Miley Cyrus has more money than Rihanna and thats sad.

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