Listen!! Dr. Dre hasn’t made an album in a minute, nor has he gone on tour or anything of the sort in years, but that didn’t stop him from becoming Forbes’ top earning musician of the decade.
Dr. Dre pulled in $950 million this decade, with a good chunk of that coin coming from his 20% stake in Beats, according to Forbes. If you recall, Apple bought Beats for a whole whole $3 billion back in 2014.
Coming in second place was none other Taylor Swift, who made $825 million this decade. Queen Bey took that third spot as she brought in $685 million over the decade. Like Taylor, Beyonce brought in that coin from touring, multiplatinum albums, multimillion dollar brand partnerships and more.
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People like Diddy (No. 5 with $605 million), and Jay Z (No. 7 with $560 million) are actually worth MORE than what they made over the decade due to making good investments and starting their own businesses, the report says. As you recall, Jay Z is hip-hop’s first billionaire, okurrr!
What’s crazy is the musician who brought in wayyy more than any of the above over the decade, and would be number one on this list if he were alive, is none other than Michael Jackson! The King of Pop’s total for the decade is reportedly $2.37 billion.
Below are the top ten earners of the decade, via Forbes:
10 | Lady Gaga ($500 million)
Despite some pauses to pursue film and TV projects, Gaga’s live music prowess and wildly successful albums landed her on our list.
9 | Katy Perry ($530 million)
The 2015 Forbes cover star hit the road aggressively over the past decade, with two separate tours grossing nine figures.
8. Paul McCartney ($535 million)
No Beatles, no problem: McCartney continued an epic solo run, selling out stadiums and even getting his first No. 1 album since 1982.
7. Jay-Z ($560 million)
Music’s first billionaire made his fortune by building companies, but the last ten years of touring—recently with Beyoncé—sure didn’t hurt.
6. Elton John ($565 million)
The Rocketman is blasting off on his last tour having fueled up his bank account with a decade of stadium shows and Vegas residency dates.
5. Diddy ($605 million)
He’s had more name changes than anyone on the list, but his earnings remained strong thanks mostly to his Ciroc vodka pact with Diageo.
4. U2 ($675 million)
The group’s 360 Tour wrapped in 2011, grossing over $700 million—its inflation-adjusted $800 million-plus tour tally is the highest ever.
3. Beyoncé ($685 million)
Queen Bey began the decade newly graduated from Destiny’s Child, quickly establishing her business bona fides in the studio and on the road.
2. Taylor Swift ($825 million)
Not old enough to buy a beer at the decade’s outset, Swift became a stadium-packing superstar—and music’s highest-paid woman of the 2010s.
1. Dr. Dre ($950 million)
The superproducer released one album this decade and barely toured, but had music’s top business achievement: Apple’s $3B buyout of Beats.
