
Dara Munnis; Ben Gibson/Rocket Entertainment; MJ Kim/MPL Communications
Dara Munnis; Ben Gibson/Rocket Entertainment; MJ Kim/MPL CommunicationsU2, Elton John and Paul McCartney regularly appear on Forbes‘ annual list of wealthiest celebrities, so it’s not surprising that all three have landed on the magazine’s list of top 10 musicians who earned the most money over the last decade.
At #4 is U2, with $675 million earned during the 2010s. Forbes points out that the Irish rockers’ 360 Tour grossed more than $700 million, a figure that when adjusted for inflation is equivalent to more than $800 million — the highest amount ever for a tour.
Elton is #6 on the tally with $565 million earned this decade. The magazine notes that the pop-rock legend, who’s currently in the midst of a farewell tour, “fueled up his bank account with a decade of stadium shows and Vegas residency dates.”
McCartney is #8 on the list with $535 million earned over the last 10 years. Forbes notes that the ex-Beatles legend continues to sell out stadiums on his solo treks, and that he recently scored his first #1 album since 1982 with 2018’s Egypt Station.
Topping the list of highest-earning musician of the decade is rapper/producer Dr. Dre, with $950 million. Forbes points out that although Dre released just one album during the 2010s and hardly toured, he received a massive chuck of change when Apple bought out Beats, the headphone company he co-owned, for $3 billion.
Here’s Forbes‘ full top 10 earnings list:
1. Dr. Dre — $950 million
2. Taylor Swift — $825 million
3. Beyoncé — $685 million
4. U2 — $675 million
5. Diddy — $605 million
6. Elton John — $565 million
7. Jay-Z — $560 million
8. Paul McCartney — $535 million
9 Katy Perry — $530 million
10. Lady Gaga — $500 million
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