2016 has been undoubtedly kind to Rihanna and Adele.
The pop megaforces, whose respective releases, ‘Anti’ and ’25,’ both topped the Billboard 200 this year and also birthed a Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper each, also earned multiple platinum plaques to add to their already ever-decorated walls.
But, even with hotly selling tours and all of the aforementioned added, it still appears Taylor Swift (who was comparably inactive this year) still managed to squeeze past them to make her way to the top of Forbes’ ‘Highest Paid Musician’ list.
Get details inside:
What happens when you smash the Rolling Stones’ North American touring record, sell millions of albums and add seven-figure endorsements with the likes of Keds, Diet Coke and Apple? If you’re Taylor Swift, you clock the biggest single-year payday of your career.
The “Wildest Dreams” singer pulled in $170 million during our scoring period, making her the highest-paid musician—and the highest-paid celebrity of any stripe—on the planet.
Forbes’ Top 10 Highest Paid Musicians of the Year
- Taylor Swift – $170 million
- One Direction – $110 million
- Adele – $80.5 million
- Madonna – $76.5 million
- Rihanna – $75 million
- Garth Brooks – $70 million
- AC/DC – $67.5 million
- Rolling Stones – $66.5 million
- Calvin Harris – $63 million
- Diddy – $62 million
Note: This tally only counts revenue generated between June 2015 and June 2016.
Kiiiiii wheres the queen of the roach pack?
Omg I’m in tears!
Molly isn’t having none of it today chile lol
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Hahahahaha Beyfake is such a kiiiii
Empty barrels make the most noise. All hype and no substance. Plus her music truly sucks so she shouldn’t be listed among these celebs tbh
Wow One Direction had a really good year. A pity that income has to split. How many of these celebs are keeping 100% or even most of their earning anyway?
Nikki drop a surprise cd lastnight…IT FLOPPED!!!
Kiiiiiiiii
Tbh I’m not a regular but you make me laugh..Its either you’re full on crazy or high most of the time u comment…a good look though…and “the queen of roach park” or “beyhive” as sensible people call her didn’t do a lot during the scoring period its a wonder she even mad 54million while literally sitting on her back.Let’s make a date this time next year
How stupid can y’all b? It says between June 2015 and June 2016. She dropped her album and toured this year.
Wtf! Where’s Beyoncé?
Oh she’s Beylisted.. These are the *A* batch!
Omg not “beylisted” #floored
in the bottom of the charts
Yesss Rihanna! You better work work work work work work #championgirl lol Slaydele is here saying Hellooooo from the other siiiide to a certain BEYtchhhh! Yes ma’am. It’s a good look!
#NoBasicZone
& Beyonce… But y’all won’t say that, cause y’all STAN for her, but use other girls instead. Fake ass website bro .. Lol
How much did Monica and her benchwarmer husband make this year?
U sour boar! Lol where is BEYlow rihanna??
Who is Hoenica? None of us still hasn’t known her since 1998.
Lol where is Beyonce this gotta be joke I know the behives gotta be pissed about this.
People always buy more Taylor than Beyoncé, where’s the surprise?
Daaa da deee
This is why the BeyHIVe is irrelevant. They always think that they have power by swarming towards someone with an anti-Beyonce comment. If they were so powerful, Thiefyonce would have topped the list every year.
“Beyoncé (No. 17, $54 million), could end up near the top of next year’s list: her Formation World Tour grossed nearly $5 million per city, but most of its dates fell outside of our scoring period and will be counted next time around” – Forbes ???
LMAO BUT YOU BEDBUGS SAID SHE WOULD TOP THIS YEAR THO AFTER THAT BASICMATION TOUR. GIVE UP THE DREAM GURL LMAO #SMOKEANDMIRRORSQUEEN
They’re beyond pathetic! After going on and on with their delusional projections they are slapped in the face by reality. She didn’t make the list.
That basic tour is on the biggest of all time.
Beyonce is number 1 in my books and I am not even a member of her BeyHive. Seems like between touring, endorsements, and selling Ivy Park she should be number 1 but it’s all good.
LMAO STOP. SCREAMING. WHERE’S THE BUG QUEEN INSECTS??? Y’ALL SWORE SHE WAS GONNA TOP THE LIST AFTER THE DESPERATEMATION TOUR!!! LMAO LEMME GO GRAB MY POPCORN AND WATCH THE EXCUSES POUR IN LMAO!!! #RIRISNATCHEDYONCESWIGYETAGAIN
Someone explain how did Diddy make the list??? This man must be deep in investments
Its those royalty checks plus investments
Molly is so obsessed with us
Lol aww the H**+E must be fuming
Why Y’all so obsessed about other people’s money.
Who cares
I’m gonna need the navy to pipe down. Rihanna made more than Bey one time, big deal. Let’s see next years numbers f***!!
LMAO MORE LIKE YOU ROACHES NEED TO PIPE DOWN, U BYTCHES SAID THE SAME THING LAST YEAR LMAO #KOOLAIDFAIL
Where’s Gags? Beyoncé lessor per usual!!
Clocked!!
Is this just music wise? Because with all of Rihanna’s endorsements and motion pictures I think she will be changalaning next year. The best revenge right?
She just ahhhmazing, man. I think it may include her endorsements tho. Not sure if tour is calculated.
Right! She brought Puma and Prada back to life for crying out loud! Smh she should’ve kept the money from the Samsung deal oppose to giving away free albums.
How in the world does Madonna keep topping the list?
Lmao. Can’t wait for the excuses, I mean explanations lol.
Lol @ explanation
no beyonce?? this post is gonna be a mess by morning lol!
Where’s Beyonce? Her pest said she would be on the year end list? I thought touring made more money. How sad. Congratulations to Rihanna. The only one on the list with a 2016 release, only 5M from Adele who sold 18M albums. See why you want to own your masters instead of being a label s****?
Bwahahahaaaaaa
And look at Diddy, he doesn’t even do music anymore and always on a Forbes list, he probably tipped hip hop list again. Jay Z could never.
DAMN, DIDDY TOPPED JAY, RIRI SNATCHED HIS S****, THE BUGS JUST CAN’T GET A BREAK LMAO! DIDDY IS A BUSINESS BEAST THO, HE’S BEEN MAKING FORBES TOP 10 SINCE THE 90’S!
It looks like Rihanna and Adele keeps topping all the relevant charts while maintaining their longevity.
Dwl Beylowthecharts is all smoke and mirrors. After all the hype settles only the strongest remains. Substance over hype!
Lol they’re somewhere licking their wounds
The pest avoiding this post I see.
This thread is a mess. Are we seriously arguing over OTHER PEOPLE’s money and earnings?
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?
LOL THE BUGS DO IT ALL THE TIME LOL
Wow Calvin had a good year… Those writing and music produced cheques must be nice.
Yes he surprised me tbh and yet no so much as Diddy.
I’m here for Adele!!
This is definitely product of white supremacy, privilege and cultural appropriaton. I want to openly discuss how bad these opressors are for the country.
Oh stfu. U stand for a creole, latina wannabe who uses black issues to push an album that was/is boring AF, has no longevity and still didn’t pool I’m enough money to land her on the coveted list u keep b!tcching about! Gthfoh u creepy sour puss!
If you can’t see the issue, you’re part of the problem.
Oh stfu. U stand for a creole, latina wannabe who uses black issues to push an album that was/is boring AF, has no longevity and still didn’t pool in enough money to land her on the coveted list u keep b!tcching about! Gthfoh u creepy sour puss!
Are people really that retarted. These are the same number’s reported along ass time ago lmfaooo! Taylor is still at $170m Adele is still at $80m and Rihanna is still at $75m. Lmfao! The desperation too want to drag Beyoncé is REAL! Another post to BOOKMARK come next year. Beyoncé will be sitting at the top when all her earnings frm June 2016 – June 2017 are in. ????
You’re right, I don’t understand the haters either. It is to easy to avoid Beyoncé, just listen to radio, follow the charts or use Spotify. She’s not in any.
Is that supposed to be a bad thing? I try to avoid discount outlets like those you mentioned to prevent hearing damage and loss of taste.
It is to easy to avoid Beyoncé, just listen to radio, follow the charts or use Spotify. She’s not in any.
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Whoaaaa…. *clutches pearls* my my my so cruel. Lol
Move your would’ve could’ve should’ve ass right to the bottom of allllll relevant charts that she hasn’t topped and won’t ever top. Bye bishhh
They are dumb LOL. And it’s funny that Katy, Britney ,Gaga, Bey, Taylor, Madonna and even JLO had ever topped Forbes, except THE BIGGEST SUPERSTAR. I mean, Katy, Gaga debuted after her! Not only that they perform at SB first, they also top the Forbes list first. Some Queen.
LMAO NICE TRY BUG, Y’ALL BEEN RUNNING THAT SAME LINE SINCE LAST YEAR. FACE IT, INSECT, YOUR BUG QUEEN GOT SNATCHED BY RIRI. AGAIN LMAO.
All I can say is that MOST of the people who tops this list were quietly working behind the scenes while the celebs with the loudest PR team remain mute on the relevant charts. My granny use to say empty barrels make the most noise.
“My granny use to say empty barrels make the most noise.” -KathyKrunch
lol, ya’ll are tripping me out today
Lol & Beyonce too. But y’all sweat her too much too put her name here. Lol…. Adele is AMAZING!!!!!!!!! She made most of that money from album sales alone…… She’s Baddddddddd
This is so true. Adele blows my mind.. She makes classical music with a modern twist and she doesn’t use controversy to sell, just pure heartfelt, soulful enriched music. Rihanna music is thebomb.com as well & I appreciate her business moves. Good look ladies!
Good for Riri!!!!
She is now just 225-250 away from catching up to Beyonce’s OVERALL net worth of 500 million.
And she’s just HALF her age. Truly amazing!
You definitely shouldn’t have dropped out the 8th grade. Rihanna is 28 Beyoncé is 35.
Half her age ? ?? girl bye . Rihanna JD damn near 30 & Beyoncé was definitely worth more than that at 28
Lmao and the delusions continue. Beyonce is not worth $500 million, she’s not even worth half that amount. Forbes themselves clocked that lie. Boy, that beyonce fan base really does live in Delusion City lol.
Y’all need foh with ur b******* , Rihanna is out there taking care of each and every last clinging cousins / friends out in Barbados ( that’s why she works non stop I guess ) I doubt that she is the one worth what they are saying she’s worth , while Beyoncé’s family are all making their own millions , and the few friends she has are too . So I believe Beyoncé is worth even more than 500 millions by now that # has been the same since Love On Top came out . ” Of course sometimes s*** goes down … “
Lol clock that dusty old tired b***** with her boring ass songs! Beyyytch looks old AF when beside rihanna!
That “dusty” B**** is worth $500 Million dollars ?
She better quit paying out these sabotage checks for music awards and irrelevant chart positions because she be stalling while celebs half her age are rapidly gaining. *sips tea*
LMAO BYE BUG, THAT STRUGGLE H0 IS NOT WORTH $500 MILLION, NOT EVEN HALF LMAO. ASK FORBES LMAO.
Rihanna looks older than Bey ?? tell Rihanna to take that make up off and we’ll see who really looks better
Are y’all seriously trying to shade Bey when y’all know she’s richer than all of them ??? y’all are desperate
all of them are young in their 20s, so even if you were right, they have plenty of time
Bey was young and in her 20s & still making more. There’s no excuses
Urrrrrkzzz!! *drawing brakes* Beyonce didn’t make half of what rihanna does now when she was her age back in 1902.
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Added to that her overall records doesn’t even measure up to Rihanna’s total records sales even if she add DC’s numbers.
Well Almost, Madonna and Diddy are worth a lot more
Lol she is not richer than Diddy, Madonna or at least 7 other on the list. Who’s really being desperate here lol.
Not being shady to any other artist especially since I wish I had at least one percent of their income, but I need to point out that money is greater than record sales and this is proof. Everyone talked mad s*** about Rihanna, but when it comes down to it, she made $25 million with the Samsung deal, more than she probably could have made off the album on it’s own and she did that and so much more. Finally, they haven’t paid Adele enough if she hasn’t topped this list. The truth is stranger than fiction.
Kinda true, Adele sold 20 MILLION copies WW (poor others), she should be higher.
But on a serious note where’s the Queen B?
This is a case for the FBI
She only made $54 million this year. A lot of the money she made from FWT was counted for this year because it literally just ended
Beyonce only made $54 Million this year. But what until next year the haters will p*** in there pants. Let’s not act like Beyoncé hasn’t topped this list more than any of these pop tarts there albums clearly came out before hers as well as the tours. FWT isn’t counted for this year so y’all tried that.
*wait
She topped it once before with $115 million
FWT $5 MILLION per city. Y’all better act like y’all know. 100% SOLD OUT shows stop trying the queen.
They were only being shady because firstly, Their blonde illiterate fave doesn’t qualify for a deal like Samsung’s as she doesn’t own her Masters in Music.
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Secondly, they hate to see other black women succeeding.
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So far in 2016, Rihanna broke and set records, her music is still highly celebrated, her endorsements are Amazingly successful, and she stays in the TOP 5 of all relevant charts.
The parasites couldn’t wait to slither their way in her just to shade Bey. How much money did y’all make this year ? Worrying about Beyoncé who is unbothered with her $500 Million and her addition $500 Million (Jay)
Where have you read she’s at 500 million? in some fan account on Twitter?
Google it baby girl
@RihYonce just did, she’s at $265 million
Lmao CLOCKED!!
Lol They were only being shady because firstly, Their blonde illiterate fave doesn’t qualify for a deal like Samsung’s as she doesn’t own her Masters in Music.
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Secondly, they hate to see other black women succeeding.
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So far in 2016, Rihanna broke and set records, her music is still highly celebrated, her endorsements are Amazingly successful, and she stays in the TOP 5 of all relevant charts.
Yes Rihanna better slay !!! I’m surprised she’s all the way up there her shoes were a big hit this year. I’m glad she seemed success somewhere this year other than purchasing platinum plaques.
Congrats to Adele caking up on just album sales. What a queen !!!
and Hello, a big number-one hit WW, not everyone can do that.
Lol their fave can’t even get #1BB hit in her own country muchless WW.
The Navy, especially Mark are dumb LOL. Did Riri hit y’all too hard with that microphone?
King B-back your ass, go back to your nest ho.
LMAO BUT IT LOOKS LIKE STRUGGLEYONCE SLAPPED YOU BUGS TOO HARD WITH HER WIG WHEN IT GOT SNATCHED LMAO
Your fav earned less than Bey without the Samsung deal which is an attempt to get multi-platinum cert. after failing since 2008.
Views the biggest era of the year. 25 the best selling album of the year. Thoughts?
Mad because Samsung didn’t want to purchase boring music from a label puppet? Kiiii
LMAO 2008? ISN’T THAT THE LAST TIME BUMYONCE SAW THE TOP 10 ON THE HOT 100? LMAO
Drunk in Love made it to #2 with one Grammy Awards performance in 2013 try again . And Formation made it to Top 10 , 3 months after being released for free Y’all know damn well if she wanted a Hot 100 #1 she would’ve performed those song everywhere , or hell just pressed the button to streaming platforms .
Y’all have it so bad for this woman , with all the reductive attempt to shade her . Not her fault if she works harder and y’alls fave are beneath her .
Yasss rih. I think she will be higher next year she’s had a good year in fashion as well as music
Wow Adele and Rihanna are really stepping on some toes around here! Hello- Adele, Work- Rihanna… Truly smashing music ladies. Congrats to you both and all the best to come.
A lot of these net worths are exaggerated (according to most celebrities). They make all this money, however most of it goes to taxes and a lot of it goes to the record label and their team. Forbes has Beyonce at $265 million (which is a lot of money, especially for a self made entertainer). They’re not giving any of us any miney, so why argue who makes more!!
When you own your Masters in music, the ratio isn’t the same.
Self made? LMAO.
All the hating doesn’t change the fact that Beyoncé is still worth 450 million dollars probably 500 million now.
According to Forbes and Google, she’s only at $265 million. Does her fan base operate by a different kind of math? lol.
And According to other outlets she is worth 650 . Sit
FORBES, you know the site that the HIVE uses to drag Rih and others with the total money earned during that year says shes at 265 million. Why are yall making your own stats?
Post a link that shows Beyonce’s network. She been stalling recently while other much younger celebs been gaining rapidly.
Beyonce’s bulk earnings fell out of the dates for consideration by Forbes…her true earnings will be considered next year…where she will probably top the list…. again
Sorry but that was last year’s excuse.
Didn’t Beyoncé tour pull in 200 something million?
Artists don’t pocket the entire tour gross. Only a small portion, especially if they’re still a label product.
This post is a hating mess
Looks like rih is the only 1 who has an album out this year to make it on this list. Very proud of that young girl. Adele is simply amazing and a sales magnet! I thought I saw diddy 0_o
SCREAMING @ this Beyonce dragging. And someone said “BeyListed”. I YELLED!!! JSJKSSNJAJAJAJA ?????
It’s like someone opened this post with a can of raid and bleach…How does the saying go “He always got them f*cking excuses…”
LMAO SCREAMING!!
Ooooohhhhh Gooooddddd…. Rih Slaying Again And Bitcheeeessss Get Made Again?????
Seriously, I do Know Beyonce Is More Talented,But Rih’s Catalog Is Better!!
LOL But where is Beyonce?
Garth Brooks? Isn´t he the country singer that slayed sales wise in the 90s or so? Is he really one of the top ten earners THIS YEAR? That´s a big wow. I suppose it´s writing credits? Or maybe he went on tour?
Rihanna and Adele are so deserving <3
Rihanna is a queen, no one can touch her legacy not even the beylisters
Nice
What number was Cierror?
Rihanna made 75millions working all year like a dog yet Beyoncé did NATHING and made 20millions less ( while cutting L’Oréal , Vizio , AND Toyota ) yet she gets dragged ?
Bye Felicia.