Katy Perry unseats Taylor Swift and Beyoncé as Forbes’ highest-paid woman in music
November 27, 2018
Katy Perry has roared back to the top of Forbes’ highest-paid women in music list.
The pop star earned an estimated $83 million before taxes between June 2017 and June 2018, largely due to her 80-date Witness tour and judging duties on ABC’s “American Idol” reboot, the financial magazine said.
Perry reclaims the spot from 2015, when she earned $135 million during Forbes’ scoring period.
Perry was followed by Taylor Swift, who rose from last year’s No. 3 spot by earning $80 million thanks to her Reputation tour, which launched in Phoenix in May. Swift might have unseated Perry this year had most of her tour dates fallen inside the scoring period.
Beyoncé, who topped the list last year, came in at No. 3 with $60 million. After welcoming twins Rumi and Sir with husband Jay-Z in June 2017, Bey laid low until her acclaimed “Beychella” performance at the Coachella music festival in April.
The power couple embarked on their On the Run II stadium tour — a follow-up to their widely successful 2014 joint tour — in Cardiff, Wales, in June, so much of the tour’s earnings fall into next year’s scoring period. That means Beyoncé and Swift will likely vie for Forbes’ nominal title next year.
Rounding out the top 10 are Pink ($52 million), Lady Gaga ($50 million), Jennifer Lopez ($47 million), Rihanna ($37.5 million), European superstar Helene Fischer ($32 million), Celine Dion ($31 million) and Britney Spears ($30 million).