The Highest-Paid Celebrities in Entertainment of 2019
With huge films premiering such as Avengers: Endgame, which is now the highest-grossing movie of all time, along with record-breaking concerts like Taylor Swift's Reputation Tour, this past year has been extremely lucrative for some of our favorite stars. Forbes calculated the highest-paid celebrities through a predetermined scoring period, and let's just say these guys are cashing in some serious money. Here are the top 65 entertainers.
1. Taylor Swift
Coming off her Reputation Tour, which is now the highest-grossing tour in U.S. history, 29-year-old Taylor Swift also released her latest album, Lover, in Aug. 2019. She ranks at No. 1 with $185 million in earnings.
2. Kylie Jenner
The youngest self-made billionaire, 22-year-old Kylie Jenner, continues to expand her Kylie Cosmetics brand, also launching Kylie Skin this year. She comes in with $170 million in earnings.
3. Kanye West
While his latest album Jesus is King doesn't fall into Forbes' scoring period, Kanye West released Ye in June 2018, and continues to see success with his lucrative Yeezy brand. He comes in with earnings at $150 million.
4. Ed Sheeran
After spending over two years on the road, Ed Sheeran concluded his ÷ Tour in Aug. 2019. The 28-year-old singer/songwriter raked in $110 million this year.
5. The Eagles
Constantly touring, the classic rock band The Eagles, currently consisting of Don Henley, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmit, brought in $100 million in earnings.
6. Dr. Phil McGraw
Currently on Season 18 of his show Dr. Phil, the 69-year-old TV personality and psychologist, real name Phil McGraw, came in with $95 million in earnings.
7. Howard Stern
65-year-old radio personality Howard Stern has been hosting The Howard Stern Show since 1979, only growing more popularity since. He raked in $93 million this year.
8. J.K. Rowling
Known best for her Harry Potter books, 54-year-old author J.K. Rowling also has written a spinoff series, along with other novels under her pseudonym, Robert Galbraith. This year, she brought in $92 million.
9. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Movie star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson starred in Fighting With My Family, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, and returned to his HBO series Ballers for a fifth season, all in 2019 alone. The 47-year-old actor comes in at $89.5 million in earnings.
10. Rush Limbaugh
Radio host Rush Limbaugh, 68, known for his broadcast The Rush Limbaugh Show, brought in $87 million in earnings.
11. Elton John
Iconic artist Elton John is currently on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, set to conclude in 2021. The 72-year-old musician also saw his life story brought to the big screen in Rocketman this year, starring Taron Egerton. He comes in at $84 million in earnings.
12. Jay-Z
With his On the Run II Tour alongside wife Beyoncé, on top of his various business ventures, such as his Armand de Brignac champagne and D'Ussé cognac, 49-year-old Jay-Z comes out with $81 million in earnings.
13. Beyoncé
Just like her husband, Beyoncé made a pretty penny with the joint tour, her headlining set at Coachella and subsequent Netflix special Homecoming, along with her role as Nala in this year's The Lion King. The 38-year-old artist raked in $81 million.
14. Ellen DeGeneres
Currently on the 17th season of her long-running talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the 61-year-old host comes in at $80.5 million in earnings.
15. Chris Hemsworth
Beyond portraying Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Avengers: Endgame earlier this year, Chris Hemsworth dipped his feet into another major franchise, starring in Men in Black: International alongside Tessa Thompson. The 36-year-old actor came in at $76.4 million.
16. Drake
After releasing his most recent album Scorpion in 2018, Drake went on the Aubrey and the Three Migos Tour along with Migos. He's currently doing shows for his Las Vegas residency, concluding by the end of this year. The 32-year-old rapper earned $75 million.
17. Kim Kardashian West
Apart from her family's E! series Keeping Up With the Kardashians, which is currently on its 17th season, Kim Kardashian West saw earnings from her cosmetics line, KKW Beauty, and recently launched a shapewear brand called SKIMS. The 38-year-old reality star comes in at $72 million.
18. Ryan Seacrest
TV personality Ryan Seacrest famously hosts both American Idol and Live With Kelly and Ryan, along with a handful of major events. The 44-year-old star raked in $71.5 million in earnings.
19. Sean Combs
Stemming from his deal with Ciroc vodka, 49-year-old Sean "Diddy" Combs comes in at $70 million in earnings.
20. James Patterson
Holding the title of America's highest-paid author, 70-year-old James Patterson, known for series such as Alex Cross and Women's Murder Club, raked in $70 million.
21. Metallica
Currently on their WorldWired Tour since 2016, Metallica continues to cash in with their shows. This year, the iconic rock band brought in $68.5 million in earnings.
22. Robert Downey Jr.
Shaping the Marvel Cinematic Universe since his debut as Iron Man in 2008, Robert Downey Jr. continues to nab starring roles, including in this year's Avengers: Endgame. The 54-year-old actor comes in at $66 million in earnings.
23. Akshay Kumar
Bollywood star Akshay Kumar reportedly makes between $5 million to $10 million per film, and also collaborates with various brands. The 52-year-old actor raked in $65 million in earnings.
24. Gordon Ramsay
Legendary chef Gordon Ramsay, 52, is best known for his plethora of restaurants and his TV shows, including MasterChef and Hell's Kitchen. He comes in at $63 million.
25. Rihanna
Despite not releasing an album since 2016's Anti, Rihanna has brought in major cash from her Fenty Beauty brand, Savage X Fenty lingerie, and her latest, a high fashion line in collaboration with LVMH called Fenty. The 31-year-old singer comes in at $62 million.
26. David Copperfield
A regular performer at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, 63-year-old magician David Copperfield came in at $60 million this year.
27. Kevin Hart
Actor/comedian Kevin Hart is no stranger to big budget films, appearing in blockbusters such as Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. More recently, the 40-year-old star reportedly sold over one million tickets to his Kevin Hart: The Irresponsible Tour. He raked in $59 million this year.
28. Jackie Chan
In 2019 alone, Jackie Chan appeared in three movies: The Knight of Shadows: Between Yin and Yang, Journey to China: The Mystery of Iron Mask, and The Climbers. The 65-year-old actor comes in at $58 million in earnings.
29. Travis Scott
Coming off his success with his album Astroworld, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, Travis Scott went on his Astroworld: Wish You Were Here Tour, as well as held an Astroworld Festival, an event he will be hosting again in November. The 28-year-old rapper raked in $58 million.
30. Katy Perry
After concluding Witness: The Tour in 2018, Katy Perry returned as a judge on American Idol for its 17th season, and is now seemingly shaping up for a new album release, debuting a handful of singles. The 34-year-old singer comes in at $57.5 million.
31. Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake's successful Man of the Woods Tour concluded earlier this year, selling over 1.7 million tickets. The 38-year-old singer hits $57.5 million in earnings.
32. BTS
The incredibly popular K-pop group BTS finished up their Love Yourself World Tour earlier this year, following a trilogy of album releases spanning from 2017 to 2018: Her, Tear, and Answer. The band brought in $57 million.
33. Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper served as director, producer, and star of A Star is Born in 2018, annd according to Forbes made $150 million in profits. Additionally, he reprised his role as Rocket Racoon for this year's Avengers: Endgame, which is currently the highest-grossing film of all time. The 44-year-old actor brings in $57 million.
34. Pink
Pink is currently on her Beautiful Trauma World Tour, set to wrap up in November. The 40-year-old singer released her latest album, Hurts 2B Human, in 2018. The talented star sees $57 million in earnings.
35. Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler starred in Netflix's Murder Mystery opposite Jennifer Aniston earlier this year, which followed a Netflix stand up special, Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh, in 2018. Next, he'll star in the Safdie Brothers' Uncut Gems, due out this December. The comedian earned $57 million.
36. Scarlett Johansson
Thanks to her major role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, for which she most recently starred in the highest-grossing film of all time, Avengers: Endgame, Scarlett Johansson continues to bring home a big paycheck. The 34-year-old actress comes in $56 million in earnings.
37. Billy Joel
Billy Joel continues his residency at Madison Square Garden, with 2019 marking his fifth year at the venue. The 70-year-old legendary musician brought in $52 million.
38. Bruno Mars
Also continually touring, Bruno Mars finished up his 24K Magic World Tour in Dec. 2018, and followed that with a headlining spot at the Park MGM in Las Vegas. The 34-year-old singer comes in at $51.5 million.
39. Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville is responsible for his earnings, as the singer took inspiration from his classic 1977 song to start a hospitality company in the United States. The 72-year-old singer made $50 million this year.
40. Eminem
After the release of Kamikaze in Aug. 2018, Eminem went on to headline a variety of festivals, such as Bonnaroo and Governor's Ball. He also toured in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year. The 46-year-old rapper takes home $50 million in earnings.
41. Fleetwood Mac
Iconic group Fleetwood Mac continues to tour, having dates scheduled in the United States, Canada, and Europe through 2020. The band saw $49 million in earnings.
42. Judy Sheindlin
TV personality Judy Sheindlin, best known for her long-running series Judge Judy, is currently on her 23rd season of the show. The 76-year-old host comes in at $49 million.
43. Ariana Grande
Queen of Pop Ariana Grande released two albums, Sweetener and Thank U, Next, in the span of six months, and embarked on her Sweetener World Tour. Additionally, she headlined festivals such as Coachella and Lollapalooza. The 26-year-old songstress brings in $48 million.
44. Paul McCartney
Legend Paul McCartney concluded his Freshen Up Tour in July of this year, which followed his 17th studio album, Egypt Station. At 77 years old, the musician saw $48 million in earnings.
45. Sean Hannity
Conservative TV personality Sean Hannity, according to Forbes, was the "most-watched cable news host in 2018." The 57-year-old star saw $46 million in earnings.
46. The Chainsmokers
DJ duo The Chainsmokers recently announced they'd be extending their Las Vegas residency at the XS Nightclub, set to headline there until 2021. They released their second album, Sick Boy, in 2018. The pair comes in at $46 million.
47. Steve Harvey
TV personality Steve Harvey achieved success this year hosting Family Feud and Celebrity Family Feud, despite his talk show being cancelled in May. The 62-year-old host sees $45 million in earnings.
48. Guns N' Roses
Iconic rock band Guns N' Roses continues to do nonstop shows, currently on their Not in This Lifetime...Tour which began in April 2016. The famous group comes in at $44 million this year.
49. Chris Evans
Captain America actor Chris Evans saw success this year with his role in the highest-grossing film of all time, Avengers: Endgame. The star also has a big role in Rian Johnson's upcoming Knives Out, hitting theaters November of this year. The 38-year-old fan-favorite sees $43.5 million in earnings.
50. Jennifer Lopez
Apart from her starring role in 2018's Second Act, superstar Jennifer Lopez also concluded her Las Vegas residency at Zappos Theater the same year. Additionally, she returned to World of Dance earlier this year, where she serves as a judge and executive producer. The 50-year-old newly-engaged star saw $43 million in earnings.
51. Luke Bryan
Country superstar Luke Bryan embarked on his What Makes You Country Tour in 2018, after the release of his sixth studio album. The 43-year-old singer brings in $42.5 million in earnings.
52. Simon Cowell
Seasoned TV personality Simon Cowell has kept busy judging Britain's Got Talent, America's Got Talent, and X-Factor: U.K, bringing the 60-year-old star $42 million in earnings this year.
53. Paul Rudd
Ant-Man actor Paul Rudd is another star to appear on this list from Avengers: Endgame, which, as previously mentioned, is the highest-grossing film of all time. The 50-year-old New Jersey native comes in at $41 million.
54. Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld continued his Netflix series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee this year, as well as performed, according to Forbes, over 60 stand up shows in their scoring time. The 65-year-old star earned $41 million.
55. Rolling Stones
Iconic rock band the Rolling Stones just finished up their lucrative No Filter Tour in June of this year. The group, fronted by legend Mick Jagger, comes in at $41 million.
56. DJ Khaled
Big-name producer DJ Khaled released his album Father of Asahd earlier this year, which followed his opening spot on Beyoncé and Jay-Z's On the Run II Tour. The 43-year-old star makes his mark with $40 million in earnings.
57. Marshmello
Pennsylvania native Marshmello released his album Joytime II in 2018, and more recently landed a two-year residency at KAOS Dayclub and Nightclub in Las Vegas, which, according to Variety, is valued at $60 million. The 27-year-old DJ comes in at $40 million.
58. The Weeknd
The Weeknd hasn't released new music since March 2018's EP My Dear Melancholy, however followed that up with headlining sets at various festivals, such as Lollapalooza. Up next, he'll be appearing in the Safdie Brothers' Uncut Gems, in theaters this December. The 29-year-old singer takes home $40 million in earnings.
59. Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga has had an incredible year, as not only did she win an Academy Award for Best Original Song (alongside Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando, and Andrew Wyatt) with A Star is Born, but she is also currently in the middle of her Enigma Las Vegas residency which concludes in 2020. The 33-year-old singer rakes in $39.5 million.
60. Dave Matthews Band
Frequently on tour, Forbes tracks Dave Matthews Bands with playing 84 shows during their scoring period, on top of releasing their ninth studio album, Come Tomorrow. The group comes in at $39 million.
61. Zac Brown Band
Country group Zac Brown Band played 50 shows during Forbes' scoring period, and are now currently on their Owl Tour through November. The band totals $38.5 million in earnings.
62. Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris has a Las Vegas residency at Hakkasan, and despite not releasing an album since 2017, the 35-year-old DJ still raked in $38.5 million this year.
63. Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar saw success while co-headlining The Championship Tour in 2018, totaling to 30 shows. The 32-year-old Grammy-winning rapper comes in at $38.5 million in earnings.
64. Shawn Mendes
Grammy nominee Shawn Mendes released his third studio album, Shawn Mendes, in 2018, to major success. He is currently in the midst of his world tour. The 21-year-old boyfriend of Camila Cabello earned $38 million this year.
65. Celine Dion
Music icon, 51-year-old Celine Dion, continues to do Las Vegas residencies, coming in at $37.5 million this year in earnings.