This week, Forbes magazine published a countdown of the World's Top 25 Highest Paid Musicians.
Here are the Top Ten among them, each with a short story on how they got there.
[Source: Forbes]
The Irish rockers will finish “the most lucrative tour in the history of music" this summer. By the time it is over, the band will have sold over $700 million in tickets and performed for a total audience of over 7 million people.ReutersThe Jersey boys grossed $11 million playing 74 shows over the last year, and released a greatest hits album. The band opened their home state’s New Meadowlands stadium with three consecutive sold out concerts in May 2010 and another in July. According to Billboard magazine, Bon Jovi finished 2010 as the Number One concert attraction in the world.ReutersSir Elton John brought in $204 million on 102 live shows in the last year. The tireless performer has sold 250 million records worldwide over the last 30 years. Lady Gaga is the godmother of his son Zachary with partner David Furnish.ReutersLady Gaga topped an earlier Forbes list of the highest-paid celebrities under 30. Her high-production value concerts over the last 12 months still managed to gross $170 million for 137 shows. But concert revenues are only part of Gaga’s growing fortune, with profits from radio play, recorded music sales, and endorsements.ReutersMichael Bublé , the typically softhearted crooner, has some choice expletives for Kim Kardashian at a recent iHeartRadio Live concert in TriBeCa. ReutersThe former Beatle was named by Guiness World Records as the most commercially successful songwriter in the history of popular music, and has not had to work in a very long time (despite his expensive divorce). Still, McCartney can’t resist giving a good show, and grossed $130 million on 30 concerts over the last year. ReutersThe Fergie-fronted Black Eyes Peas can thank lucrative endorsement deals and $68 million in concert tickets this year for a lucky number 7 spot on the list. ReutersThe tireless rockers have an active touring schedule and a never-say-die fan base, earning them a somewhat surprising position in the top ten.ReutersThe 17 year old heartbreaker is the youngest musician on the list, making his millions this year from a new album, an international tour, a biopic, and a perfume line.ReutersThe band, whose live concerts are an institution unto themselves, grossed over $1 million per night over the course of this year’s 68 shows. Reuters
