11 December 2014
VVN Music
Dr Dre was the highest paid musician of 2014 and here is how you do it.
Step 1: Start a company that sells high-end headphones.
Step 2: Take time away from your hip-hop career to concentrate on bringing your company to as high of a standard as Apple.
Step 3: Sell said company to Apple for $3 Billion.
That’s how you set the record for the most made by a musician in one year…ever.
Dr. Dre pulled it off in 2014 when he made a total of $620 million after the sale of his Beats by Dre to Apple. The artist and businessman leads this year’s Forbes list of the Highest Paid Musicians.
In comparison, Madonna led the list last year with a paltry $125 million and she was well ahead of Lady Gaga who took in $80 million.
Beyonce came in second this year with $115 million from her successful surprise album, the Mrs. Carter Show tour and endorsements from a number of sources. The Eagles continue to pull in the cash, coming in third with $100 million mainly from their History of the Eagles tour, making them the highest artist on the list that wasn’t on the 2013 tally.
Income is calculated using all of the enterprises in which each artist is engaged so, not only did Toby Keith make money from touring and recording, but also from his chain of restaurants and other side businesses. The survey period was June 2013 to June 2014.
01. (20) Dr. Dre – $620 million
02. (09) Beyonce – $115 million
03. (–) Eagles – $100 million
04. (03) Bon Jovi – $82 million
05. (–) Bruce Springsteen – $81 million
06. (06) Justin Bieber – $80 million
07. (18) One Direction – $75 million
08. (12) Paul McCartney – $71 million
09. (13) Calvin Harris – $66 million
10. (04) Toby Keith – $65 million
11. (07) Taylor Swift – $64 million
12. (18) Jay-Z – $60 million
12. (11) Diddy – $60 million
12. (–) Bruno Mars – $60 million
15. (06) Justin Timberlake – $57 million
16. (25) Pink – $52 million
17. (–) Michael Buble – $51 million
18. (16) Rihanna – $48 million
19. (22) Rolling Stones – $47 million
20. (15) Roger Waters – $46 million
21. (08) Elton John – $45 million
22. (09) Kenny Chesney – $44 million
23. (22) Katy Perry – $40 million
24. (–) Jason Aldean – $37 million
24. (14) Jennifer Lopez – $37 million
26. (–) Miley Cyrus – $36 million
26. (–) Celine Dion – $36 million
28. (16) Muse – $34 million
28. (–) Luke Bryan – $34 million
30. (02) Lady Gaga – $33 million
30. (–) Drake – $33 million
Dropping out of the list from 2013 was last year’s chart topper, Madonna, Coldplay (#5), Red Hot Chili Peppers (#20), Tim McGraw (#24) and Tiesto (#25)
