Taylor Swift was best known ten years ago at the MTV Video Music Awards as an up-and-coming country singer who had just been disrupted by Kanye West. What a difference a decade makes: Swift is the most-nominated artist at this year’s VMAs, and the highest-paid female singer, fresh off her seventh studio album.
Swift, who is also the top-earning entertainer of any stripe in the world, pulled in $185 million pretax over the past year. Much of it came from her $266 million Reputation Stadium Tour. She also cashed in on a new nine-figure agreement with Universal’s Republic Records, and after a prime-time performance to kick off the 2019 VMAs, her new album Lover, released last week, is ready to add extra bucks to her coffers.
Swift more than doubled the annual tally of the second-highest-paid woman, Beyoncé, who clocked $81 million, mostly from her On The Run II stadium tour with Jay-Z and her live album Homecoming and Netflix special.
Rihanna rounds out the top three with $62 million, most of which comes from her Fenty Beauty joint venture with gigantic LVMH luxury goods.
Other noteworthy names on the list include newcomer Ariana Grande, who ranks sixth with $48 million, bolstered by two chart-topping albums, Sweetener, and Thank U, Next. There are plenty of veterans in the ranks, like Katy Perry, who runs out of a profitable arena tour with $57.5 million.
The World’s Highest-Paid Female Singers of 2019
10. Shakira
Earnings: $35 million
9. Celine Dion
Earnings: $37.5 million
8. Lady Gaga
Earnings: $39.5 million
7. Jennifer Lopez
Earnings: $43 million
6. Ariana Grande
Earnings: $48 million
5. P!nk
Earnings: $57 million
4. Katy Perry
Earnings: $57.5 million
3. Rihanna
Earnings: $62 million
2. Beyoncé
Earnings: $81 million
1. Taylor Swift
Earnings: $185 million
