Taylor Swift’s Net Worth Has Skyrocketed, $170M Income Makes Swift Richest Woman In Music

Taylor Swift dominates Forbes 2016’s list of highest-paid women in music. Although it’s been two years since her last album, Swift earned $170 million between June 2015 and June 2016. This is the best of Swift’s career placing her ahead of Beyonce and Adele in Forbes’ 2016 list. A huge chunk of the cash came from her North American 1989 tour which grossed $200 million alone. Taylor, 26, has shattered the Rolling Stones’ record with her North American tour numbers. The “Welcome To New York” singer has padded her total net worth by endorsing brands like Keds, Diet Coke, and Apple. Entertainment attorney Lori Landew of Fox Rothschild discussed Taylor’s appeal. Swift has officially dethroned the former highest paid woman in music, Katy Perry.

“She has been building her fan base for years, and that fan base crosses multiple market segments… It’s this ability to appeal to younger and older audiences, and those in between, that makes Taylor such a sure bet with both concert promoters and brands who want to affiliate with her and with the community she has cultivated.”

Adele, 28, doesn’t make the bulk of her cash from touring. Unlike Swift and countless other musicians, Adele makes most of her money through album sales, according to Forbes. The British songstress boosts her net worth by grossing millions per night from arena shows. Adele claims the second spot on the list with earnings of $80.5 million. The “Hello” singer’s album 25 was the best selling album of 2015.

Madonna’s net worth got a huge boost this year as well. The self-proclaimed “Queen of Pop” came in third with her Rebel Heart tour grossing $150 million after tax, bringing her touring total to $1.5 billion dollars. Madonna is said to make additional millions through clothes and perfume.

Lemonade was Queen B’s sixth No. 1 album bringing her a total of $54 million dollars, landing her in the top five. However, it was her Formation tour that grossed over $250 million dollars. Beyonce will rank higher next year. Most of her income wasn’t counted in this year’s rankings. Forbes list measures income from June 1, 2015, to June 1, 2016, before taxes and management fees.

Rihanna pulled in $75 million dollars in 2016 and recently celebrated having 21 top five singles which ties with Elvis Presley’s chart record, according to Forbes. RiRi also has endorsement deals with Dior, Samsung, and Puma.

Brittany Spears signed a two-year, $35 million dollar deal to continue her residency at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.

Celine Dion, earned $27 million in 2016. Celine whose best-known track is “My Heart Will Go On,” has a steady gig at the Coliseum at Cesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, according to Forbes.

Halsey discussed female artists in a recent keynote conversation at the Forbes Under 30 Summit in Boston.

“I take enormous pleasure and comfort in the fact that female artists are growing in success both in terms of revenues earned and their influence in the music industry… Many of these artists are enjoying what I see as a continuing cultural shift that allows and enables them to shed prior societal constructs imposed on them about how they should sound or look or dress on stage or on screen in order to appeal to a broader audience.”

As Adele proved, driving through the country on a tour bus isn’t required for landing on the Forbes list. Four members of the top ten — Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Shania Twain, and Jennifer Lopez — have seen their net worth skyrocket by standing gigs in Las Vegas. Others musicians like Katy Perry, are in between album cycles but still made the Forbes cut.

.@taylorswift13 dominates Forbes list of 2016's highest-paid women in music https://t.co/2VqLKsZkmr

— Variety (@Variety) November 3, 2016

Forbes 2016 Highest Paid Women In Music:

1. Taylor Swift ($170 million)

2. Adele ($80.5 million)

3. Madonna ($76.5 million)

4. Rihanna ($75 million)

5. Beyoncé ($54 million)

6. Katy Perry ($41 million)

7. Jennifer Lopez ($39.5 million)

8. Britney Spears ($30.5 million)

9. Shania Twain ($27.5 million)

10. Celine Dion ($27 million)

Numbers are based on data from Pollstar, Nielsen, and the RIAA, as well as interviews with managers, agents, lawyers. Forbes even gets info on celebrity’s net worth from the stars themselves.

[Featured Image by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images]