Taylor Swift becomes world's richest female musician: Here's who is right behind her

Taylor Swift leapfrogged singer and beauty mogul Rihanna to become the world’s richest female musician following the blockbuster success of her Eras Tour, as other female artistes, including Madonna and Beyoncé, rank just outside the billion-dollar club.

Key facts

Swift is now worth $1.6 billion, Forbes estimates, up $500 million from last October, when Forbes reported Swift had become a billionaire with a then-estimated net worth of $1.1 billion.

Right behind Swift is Rihanna ($1.4 billion), whose wealth largely comes from her stakes in her Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty companies rather than her music catalog.

Madonna, who is one of the world’s top touring artists with more than $1.6 billion in total gross across all her concert tours, is just behind billionaire status with an estimated net worth of $850 million in May.

Beyoncé was worth an estimated $760 million as of May, which increased last year after she pocketed about $100 million from her Renaissance World Tour.

Canadian star Celine Dion is worth an estimated $550 million, much of which comes from her successful Las Vegas concert residencies.

EGOT-winning singer-actress Barbra Streisand, who published a nearly thousand-page memoir last year, is worth an estimated $460 million.

Country superstar Dolly Parton is worth $450 million, Forbes estimated in May, much of which comes from her stake in the Tennessee family theme park Dollywood and the estimated $150 million value of her music catalog.

Katy Perry is worth an estimated $350 million, following the reported $225 million sale of her music catalog in 2023 and a stint as a judge on American Idol that reportedly earned her $25 million per season.

How has Swift made her wealth?

Swift, 34, became the first musician to become a billionaire solely based on the value of songs and performances in 2023. Forbes estimates her music catalog is worth $600 million, and her tours and royalties have pocketed her another $600 million.

She also owns an estimated $125 million in real estate. Her jump to billionaire status was driven largely by her ongoing Eras Tour, which began in March 2023 and is set to conclude in December. Last year, Forbes estimated the first leg of the Eras Tour alone earned her $190 million. The Eras Tour became the first ever concert tour to surpass $1 billion in total gross, Pollstar reported in December.

How has Rihanna made her wealth?

Rihanna, 36, became a billionaire in 2021, Forbes estimated, largely because of the value of her stake in Fenty Beauty, the cosmetics company she launched in 2017. She owns a 50% stake in the company, as well as an estimated 28% stake in lingerie brand Savage X Fenty. Both companies are named after the singer, whose real name is Robyn Fenty.

She launched her latest beauty line, Fenty Hair, in June. Forbes ranked Rihanna as the 74th most powerful woman in the world in 2023. The rest of her wealth comes from her music catalog—she has 14 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits, the third-most of any artist, only behind The Beatles and Mariah Carey. She performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2023, a brief break from her years-long hiatus from her music career. She hasn’t released an album since her 2016 album “Anti.”

What other musicians have made the billionaire ranks?

Jay-Z is the richest musician on the Forbes billionaire list, with an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion. He’s the first rapper to make the ranks. His wealth largely comes from his liquor business: He sold a 50% stake in his champagne brand, Armand de Brignac, to French luxury goods company LVMH in 2021 for at least $300 million, and a majority stake in his D’Usse cognac brand to Bacardi for $750 million in 2023.

Forbes ranked Jay-Z as the fifth-richest celebrity in the world in April. Forbes reported Bruce Springsteen became a billionaire in June, with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion. The New Jersey legend made much of his wealth from his music catalog, which he sold to Sony in 2021 for $500 million. Outside of music, Kim Kardashian ($1.7 billion) and Oprah Winfrey ($3 billion) both rank ahead of Swift and Rihanna as the world’s richest female celebrities.

Tangent

As Swift’s wealth and fame have ballooned, so has her reputation as one of the world’s most powerful people. Forbes ranked her the fifth most powerful woman in the world in 2023—making her the highest-ranked entertainer, and putting her in the company of the world’s most influential political and business leaders—citing the impact her Eras Tour has had on local economies and the dedication of her fan base, known as Swifties.

Swift was also named the 2023 Time Person of the Year, and she has been considered an influential figure in politics. Her endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris was credited with a spike in visits to vote.gov, a voter registration website.