As the years go on, becoming a famous singer has been more lucrative. Because of the ability to stream your music without needing a record label behind you, musicians are making more money than ever to boost their net worths into the stratosphere. Musicians have also gotten more business savvy, with some getting close to billionaire status due to their investments. Here are the 35 richest singers in the world, many of which have made money outside of music.
1. Rihanna
Net Worth: $1.7 Billion
Born in the country of Barbados in 1988, Rihanna has been one of the biggest stars in the world since her debut album Music of the Sun released in 2005. Her other hit albums include Good Girl Gone Bad and Loud.
While a good portion of her net worth is from her music, Rihanna became a billionaire thanks to her fashion and makeup line Fenty. The company is valued at nearly $3 billion, and Rihanna owns half of it. Add that on to her music career, and Rihanna is one of the youngest billionaires in the world.
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2. Madonna
![Madonna - Don't Tell Me (Official Video) [HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gLFWRDsx5AI/0.jpg)
Net Worth: $850 Million
Known by many as the Queen of Pop music, Madonna took the world by storm during the early 1980s and has remained as one of the most notable acts ever since thanks to hits such as Like a Virgin, Vogue, and many more.
While the first two musicians we looked at made a bulk of their money through business ventures, Madonna has seen a majority of her net worth actually come from music. Her album sales definitely help, but Madonna has made hundreds of millions from touring. One of her tours pulled in over $400 million, while she’s also added one north of $300 million and three more over $120 million.
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3. Céline Dion
Net Worth: $800 Million
The richest singer on the list to hail from the great country of Canada, Céline Dion is one of the best crooners in the world, known for her megahits such as My Heart Will Go On.
Las Vegas is a place where careers go to start or end for most, but for Céline Dion, it’s where she’s made most of her money. Multiple residencies in Las Vegas have netted Dion hundreds of millions while also being a spokeswoman for L’Oreal, and owning a pair of restaurants doesn’t hurt, either.
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4. Dolly Parton
Net Worth: $650 Million
One of country music’s legendary performers, Dolly Parton is an American icon that has classic hits that include 9 to 5 (a movie which she also starred in) and Jolene.
When you’re written as many songs as Dolly Parton (which is well over 3,000), a lot of people will come calling to borrow some lyrics. With that, Parton has made a ton in royalties, while also founding the Dollywood Company that operates dinner theaters and the popular Dollywood theme park.
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5. Julio Iglesias
Net Worth: $600 Million
So far, the focus of the list has been on North America, and now we meet our richest singer from Europe, Julio Iglesias. Iglesias was born in Madrid, Spain in 1943 and has released classic hits such as Hey and Me Olvide De Vivir.
On a global scale, the non-English speaking market doesn’t get a lot of representation, and Spanish is one of the most common languages in the world. Julio Iglesias has been among the most popular Spanish-singing acts of all time, and touring for several decades has made him extremely wealthy.
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6. Taylor Swift
Net Worth: $570 Million
Starting her career as a country artist, Taylor Swift became a music icon when she crossed into pop music. With massive hits such as Blank Space and Shake It Off, Swift has some of the best-selling albums of her generation.
Swift makes more from her tours than just about anybody else in music. Add in the fact that she has massive sponsorship deals, including Diet Coke, and Swift is doing just fine for herself. She re-recorded her old music, too, so now she has royalties coming in for a lifetime.
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7. Beyonce
Net Worth: $500 Million
A former member of the trio Destiny’s Child, Beyonce Knowles wound up going solo and never looked back. Thanks to songs like Single Ladies and Irreplaceable, she became an icon at a young age.
Even when you take away the factor of being married to Jay-Z, Beyonce’s net worth is still the seventh highest for a singer. Beyonce is a spokeswoman for countless companies while also owning her own production company called Parkwood Entertainment that serves as her record label.
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8. Gloria Estefan
Net Worth: $500 Million
During the 1980s, Gloria Estefan burst onto the scene with the Miami Sound Machine and churned out hits such as Conga! Estefan remained popular in the 1990s thanks to songs including Mi Tierra and Mi Buen Amor.
It’s been a long time since Estefan was in her prime, so where is all of this money coming from? Estefan has gotten into business for herself, opening up several restaurants and hotels while also owning a stake in the NFL’s Miami Dolphins while still making big bucks on tour.
Next: Richest female singers globally
9. Victoria Beckham
Net Worth: $450 Million
During the late 1990s, there was no group in the world that was as popular as the Spice Girls with songs, including Wannabe. Among them was Victoria Beckham, a.k.a. Posh Spice.
The Spice Girls split up in the early 2000s, but that didn’t stop Beckham from continuing to make money. She’s one of the most expensive spokespeople in the world to get, and she and her husband, David Beckham, are essentially royalty in the United Kingdom.
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10. Barbra Streisand
Net Worth: $400 Million
A multi-talented performer, Barbra Streisand has had hit songs including Woman in Love, Tell Him and Love while also performing on screen in films such as Funny Girl and A Star is Born.
With her talents creating multiple revenue streams, it’s no surprise that Streisand is worth hundreds of millions. Touring and the real estate she’s purchased throughout her career add to her impressive net worth.
11. Garth Brooks
Net Worth: $400 Million
Country music changed in a big way during the 1990s, focusing more on the “stadium country” genre. One of the performers who spearheaded that movement was Garth Brooks, who made it big with his songs Friends in Low Places and The Thunder Rolls.
There are certain levels of fame as a singer, and they can be measured by the venues that you’re performing in. Brooks is one of those performers that’s able to sell out massive NFL stadiums, and his continued touring throughout the years has allowed him to accumulate tremendous wealth.
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12. Jennifer Lopez
Net Worth: $400 Million
Coming into the entertainment scene as a dancer, Jennifer Lopez would eventually become a singing and acting threat with songs like Waiting For Tonight and Jenny From the Block along with films Selena and Maid in Manhattan.
Lopez obviously has her acting career outside of music, which has been attributed to her wealth. Lopez also has a lot of business ventures that include several in the beauty and fashion industries, most notably in the form of makeup and perfume.
13. Johnny Mathis
Net Worth: $400 Million
Born in September 1935, Johnny Mathis is famous for his songs It’s Not for Me to Say, Misty, and The Twelfth of Never. Mathis came from that age of performers that would churn out multiple albums each year.
Outside of his impressive music career, Mathis has several businesses that include restaurants and fashion lines. Mathis is one of those crooners that has continued to draw in big crowds later in life, keeping his net worth nice and high.
14. Shania Twain
Net Worth: $400 Million
Another Canadian crooner on the list, Shania Twain is known for hits such as That Don’t Impress Me Much, Man! I Feel Like a Woman, and You’re Still the One.
People may forget just how massive Twain’s albums were in the 1990s. Come On Over was among the best-selling of all time, and the accompanying tours that came afterward pulled in big bucks. Twain has been earning royalties for years while also serving as a spokeswoman and making television appearances.
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15. Trisha Yearwood
Net Worth: $400 Million
Another country music sensation on the list, Trisha Yearwood’s career is highlighted by songs including She’s In Love With the Boy which put her onto the map in 1991.
Just like Jay-Z and Beyonce, you have to mention Trisha Yearwood when you’re talking about Garth Brooks. The two share a massive fortune, with Yearwood doing great for herself as a performer and even as an author, as she’s created several cookbooks.
16. Toby Keith
Net Worth: $365 Million
Starting his career in the early 1990s, Toby Keith didn’t take long to make his mark on country music. Along the way he’s generated country music anthems such as Red Solo Cup, Beer for My Horses and Should’ve Been a Cowboy.
Being one of the biggest country artists of all time doesn’t hurt, but Keith has been able to amass a lot of money from owning a record label that’s signed some other legendary performers. Keith also has his own restaurant chain called I Love This Bar and Grill to essentially make himself country music’s Jay-Z.
17. Cher
Net Worth: $360 Million
Starting her career alongside her then-husband Sonny Bono, Cher has been a music legend since the late 1960s. After their split, Cher maintained her status as a pop superstar while also dabbling in acting.
Cher’s music catalog is incredibly long and has a ton of hits, which allows her to collect a lot in royalties. Add in the fact that she has had a successful acting career and toured for several decades, and it’s no surprise that Cher is worth so much money.
18. Katy Perry
Net Worth: $355 Million
Katy Perry burst onto the scene in the late 2000s with hits including Hot and Cold and I Kissed A Girl, never looking back as she released multiple smash hit albums.
Perry herself has also been a judge on American Idol, earning herself a big paycheck. During her heyday, Perry was making more than $50 million per year from albums and merchandise sales, as well as her tours. Doing that for several years in a row made her among the wealthiest musicians in the world.
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19. Mariah Carey
Net Worth: $340 Million
In the late 1980s, Mariah Carey got her start and then went on to become perhaps the biggest solo act of the 1990s with songs including Fantasy and Always Be My Baby.
When mentioning Mariah Carey, you have to bring up the Christmas music in her catalog and how popular her holiday catalog has been. For two months out of the year, Carey makes enough in royalties to last any average person a lifetime. Carey has also earned big paychecks for concerts, endorsements and even being a judge on American Idol.
20. Lady Gaga
Net Worth: $320 Million
Lady Gaga (real name Stefani Germanotta) made her way onto the Billboard charts right around the same time that Katy Perry did. Gaga has released megahits including Poker Face, Just Dance and Bad Romance.
On top of being one of the biggest touring acts of her generation, Gaga has also had a long list of endorsements and has launched an acting career. Gaga earned big bucks for starring in films such as House of Gucci and A Star is Born, the latter of which earned her an Oscar nomination.
21. George Strait
Net Worth: $300 Million
One of the biggest legends of country music, George Strait has developed one of the biggest followings in the industry because of songs like I Cross My Heart and Check Yes Or No.
Earlier we mentioned that Garth Brooks is one of those rare acts that’s big enough to sell out NFL stadiums. George Strait finds himself in that same echelon, going on several tours that were classified as being the final one, meaning that ticket sales were through the roof.
Next: Richest country singers in the world (our full featured list)
22. Shakira
Net Worth: $300 Million
An international sensation from Colombia, Shakira is one of the world’s biggest celebrities with multilingual songs including Hips Don’t Lie and Waka Waka.
While already making millions upon millions from her tours and album sales around the world, Shakira has also made a lot of money for selling her catalog of songs. Not many artists would be willing to do that as it can be a long term revenue stream, but Shakira preferred the upfront money.
23. Tom Jones
Net Worth: $300 Million
Starting his career in the 1960s, Tom Jones became one of America’s favorite crooners thanks to songs like It’s Not Unusual, She’s a Lady, and What’s New Pussycat?
Jones is one of those people that has accumulated almost all of his wealth from his music career. He’s added money from television appearances over the years, but more than a half century of touring and selling out venues is a surefire way to earn hundreds of millions.
24. Justin Bieber
Net Worth: $285 Million
Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber got his start by posting videos on YouTube, leading to a massive record deal. Bieber maintained his hot start to become a major pop star into adulthood.
Bieber has earned as much as $80 million per year throughout his career. Bieber has earned himself massive paychecks by endorsing several companies. Some of his larger endorsement deals include Calvin Klein and Tim Hortons.
25. Dhani Harrison
Net Worth: $275 Million
You might be thinking to yourself, “Who in the world is Dhani Harrison?” Well, the last name should ring a bell. Throughout his illustrious music career, George Harrison of the Beatles only had one child. Upon his death in November 2001, Harrison was worth an estimated $400 million.
While a good chunk of that wealth went to his widow Olivia Arias, most of it went to his only child, Dhani. He is a musician in his own right, beginning his career in 2013 after spending some time behind the scenes. The spitting image of his father, Dhani, has recorded songs including Never Know and Downtown Tigers.
26. Bette Midler
Net Worth: $275 Million
Both an actress and a singer, Bette Midler is considered to be one of the most iconic people in all of entertainment. With songs like Wind Beneath My Wings and The Rose, it’s easy to see why people feel that way.
Like Streisand, Midler has had a lot of big ticket concerts while also making a lot of money on screen and stage. Midler owns multiple properties, too, adding to her impressive net worth. As a living legend, Midler continues to make money each year.
27. Diana Ross
Net Worth: $250 Million
A former member of The Supremes, Diana Ross made a killing in the solo business by coming out with songs like Endless Love, Upside Down and Love Hangover, able to sustain any genre fads.
Ross has earned plenty of money simply from performing, and then started to get into the business side of things later in life. Ross has made a lot from writing, as well, and the continued interest in her touring has helped keep her tremendously wealthy.
28. Jose Carreras
Net Worth: $250 Million
As a member of the Three Tenors, Jose Carreras is known for having one of the best voices in the world as they had songs including Nessun Dorma and Libiamo, ne’ lieti calici.
A lot of people may underestimate just how much the Three Tenors have made throughout their careers. Carreras is a testament to that, with a net worth of a quarter billion dollars. The trio made an unwieldy amount of money during the 1990s and 2000s, with their live performances pulling in hundreds of millions.
29. Justin Timberlake
Net Worth: $250 Million
A former member of the boy band NSYNC, Justin Timberlake went solo in the early 2000s and immediately became an A-list talent with songs like SexyBack.
Timberlake’s music career has been wildly successful, while he’s also embarked on a solid acting career. Interestingly enough, being a member of NSYNC hasn’t been a long-term moneymaker for Timberlake. His solo career has made up for the lack of income stream from his boy band days.
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30. Tina Turner
Net Worth: $250 Million
One of those musicians that was able to maintain their popularity throughout just about any decade, Tina Turner had hits starting in 1970 with Proud Mary and continued with songs including The Best and What’s Love Got to Do With It.
Turner was already tremendously wealthy heading into the 2020s, but only added to her net worth by selling her catalog of music and likeness for $50 million. Though that cuts off a lot of future earnings potential, Turner was at the age where it’s best to cash out and be more than set for life.
31. Ariana Grande
Net Worth: $240 Million
A former Disney Channel star, Ariana Grande is known for having tremendous vocal range and used it to become a pop star, making her way to the top of the charts with the songs Break Free, Problem and Into You.
In addition to Grande’s high-grossing music career, including tours and album sales, she’s been a darling for corporations as a spokeswoman. Companies like Starbucks, Reebok, Guess, and many more have thrown money at Ari to make her one of music’s highest earners.
32. Adele
Net Worth: $220 Million
Considered by many to have one of the best voices of all time, Adele seemed to come out of nowhere in the late 2000s and establish herself as one of music’s must-see acts.
While Adele does have her hand in some endorsements, she’s one of those that’s able to make millions on her music alone. In fact, her album 21 is the only album in the top 35 of all time in sales that was released after 2002. It’s hard to make that much on music alone, but Adele has done just that.
Next: The top Adele songs list feature
33. Babyface
Net Worth: $200 Million
Starting in the 1980s, Kenneth Edmonds has been a major player both in front of and behind the microphone. Some of his top songs as a performer include Two Occasions, Never Keeping Secrets, and Whip Appeal.
Babyface had a fine career as a singer, but most of his money has come from being a songwriter and producer. Babyface has produced for labels including Def Jam, Motown, and his own label LaFace which he founded with Antonio “L.A.” Reid.
34. Ed Sheeran
![Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill [Official Music Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K0ibBPhiaG0/0.jpg)
Net Worth: $200 Million
A native of the United Kingdom, Ed Sheeran became a megastar at a young age, releasing songs such as Photograph in the mid-2010s and following it up with the smash hits Shape Of You and Perfect, to name a couple.
Being among the most popular musicians of the 2010s and 2020s, Sheeran has made almost all of his money through album sales and touring. He is at that level where he sells out professional football stadiums instead of smaller indoor arenas, grossing huge amounts on his tours.
Next: Richest rock stars in the world
35. Lionel Richie
Net Worth: $200 Million
After starting his career with the Commodores, Lionel Richie became a solo sensation that’s made a killing off of royalties as he also served as a writer for his original band. Releasing 10 solo albums and having a popular tour has helped Richie become one of the best-selling artists, with 90 million albums sold.
Richie is another one of the singers on the list to earn a high salary thanks to being a judge on American Idol. Put it all together, and Richie has made himself tremendously wealthy.
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As the Head Editor and Writer at Music Grotto, Liam helps write and edit content produced from professional music/media journalists and other contributing writers. He works closely with journalists and other staff to format and publish music content for the Music Grotto website. Liam is also the founding member of Music Grotto and is passionate in disseminating editorial content to its readers.
Liam’s lifelong love for music makes his role at Music Grotto such a rewarding one. He loves researching, writing and editing music content for Music Grotto.
