Forbes just put out a list of the highest-paid entertainers in the world in 2022, and it’s easy to see that the list shouts “old money is gold money.” Yes, the list has names like Genesis and Sting, who have been around for a long time and are now worth $230 million and $210 million, respectively, which is a lot of money. Here is a list of the 10 highest-paid entertainers in the world, according to Forbes.
Bad Bunny ($88M)
Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican rapper, says that 2022 was the best year of his life. Bad Bunny nailed it last year. He was great in Marvel’s Latino live-action movie and made a lot of noise at the Grammys with “Un Verano Sin Ti.”
He is known for combining reggaeton, which is a mix of Caribbean reggae and mainland rap, with Latin trap, a subgenre of hip-hop that has its roots in the southern U.S. He has managed to win over millions of people all over the world. His last two tours, El ltimo Tour Del Mundo and The World’s Hottest Tour, brought in most of his $88 million in 2022. And, hey, getting paid by brands like Corona, Cheetos, and Adidas was like icing on the cake.
Brad Pitt ($100M)
Okay, Brad Pitt and his ex-wife Angelina Jolie are in trouble with the law, but the multiple Oscar winner is still in the game. Forbes put the “12 Monkeys” star at number six on its list of the highest-paid entertainers in the world. He made about $113 million after paying fees to sell his production company, Plan B, in December.
Forbes said that one lawyer said, “The deal also got Hollywood talking, and it’s become a brand.” The lawyer also said that Plan B, which made Oscar winners like Moonlight, 12 Years a Slave, and Martin Scorsese’s The Departed, likely owns back ends and has a development slate that would make it more valuable. Some didn’t sell.”
Brad’s other lawyer said, “It doesn’t really have assets,” because the company only makes projects and doesn’t own them. But, hey, Brad made a lot of money from his recent roles in Bullet Train, Babylon, and The Lost City. Not to mention the $30 million deal he made with Apple in January 2022 to make a racing movie about Formula One. The movie will be directed by Joseph Kosinski.
Genesis ($230M)
People say that old is gold, and the rock band Genesis from the 1970s has shown that this is true. Forbes’ list of the highest-paid entertainers was topped by the “pioneers of progressive rock,” who sold $300 million worth of music rights to Concord Music Group in September 2022. The money comes from solo work by Phil Collins (who wrote the hit song “In the Air Tonight”), Mike Rutherford, and Tony Banks.
James Cameron ($95 million)
James Cameron, who makes movies, is a living legend. With hits like “Titanic” and “Avatar,” the Canadian director not only pushed the limits of what movies could do, but he also made a lot of money by giving the world the best on-screen experiences. Cameron holds the record for directing the “first two of the six films in history to make more than $2 billion worldwide.”
An insider says that “Avatar: The Way of Water,” the sequel to “Avatar,” which came out after more than a decade, made him at least $95 million. Well, he is the only director to have three movies that have made more than $2 billion around the world.
James L. Brooks & Matt Groening ($105M)
If the people who made “South Park” did well, it would be hard to forget James L. Brooks and Matt Groening, who made “The Simpsons.” Well, Forbes hasn’t, since this odd couple has built such a big business. In 2019, they got a great deal when they moved all 30 seasons of the old show from FX to Disney+. Sources close to the deal say that they made “$105 million a year after fees,” which was not known before.
Rolling Stones: $98 million.
Rock fans know that “Rolling Stones” will always be around. The rockers of the 1960s, who were the first to make the sound that came to be known as “hard rock,” have come a long way. With albums like “Voodoo Lounge” and “Steel Wheels,” which reached number one all over the world, and their large stadium arena tours, the band had already set the record for the highest-grossing concert tour three times by 2007.
The highest-earning live act of 2021 was the ones who put out the albums mentioned above and then went on tours to promote them. Through tours and record sales, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and the rest of the band have made almost $136 million. Pollstar, which keeps track of concerts, says that the Rolling Stones made “over $8.5 million per night” on a 15-city tour of Europe last summer.
Sting ($210M)
Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner CBE is another old player at the top. Sting, the lead singer, songwriter, and bassist for “The Police,” came in second on the list, with earnings worth $210 million. The artist, who has won 17 Grammys and had hits like “Roxanne” and “Every Breath You Take,” made $300 million before fees by making a deal with Universal Music Group to sell all of his music, both solo and with “The Police.”
Trey Parker & Matt Stone ($160M)
With over 20 years of success under their belts, Parker and Stone are a devilishly funny comedy team that has completely taken over TV. Because of the hit show “South Park,” they’ve made a lot of money thanks to their creativity. The two of them have made billions of dollars together.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who made “South Park,” are worth $160 million because of the money they made from the lucrative HBO Max deal and “Book of Mormon.” This money also comes from the famous deal they signed with Paramount in 2021, which guaranteed them $935 million over the next six years. It was called “one of the richest deals in the history of TV.”
Tyler Perry ($175 million)
Tyler Perry, an American actor, director, writer, and businessman best known for his TV show Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, made $175 million from BET TV shows and being the sole owner of his production backlot in Atlanta.
The Primetime Emmy Awards gave Perry the Governor’s Award in 2020, and the Academy Awards gave him the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2021. He was given a star on the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022. Isn’t he a good billionaire?
Taylor Swift ($92 million)
Taylor Swift has always made us feel good and has built herself a huge fan base. After a long break from touring, the artist came back with a record-breaking album called “Midnight.” Then, the much-anticipated Eras tour was announced, and, hey, the huge demand for tickets caused the biggest Ticketmaster site crash ever.
The money she made from selling physical records, streaming on services like Spotify, digital downloads, and licensing was added up. After “Midnights” became a huge hit, the woman who has won 12 Grammys has become the highest-paid female entertainer, making a cool $92 million in 2022.
Since the album came out in 2022, she is the first musician in history to have 10 songs in the top 10 of the “Billboard Hot 100.” Forbes says that about 70% of Swift’s $92 million profit comes from her back catalog, which includes income from streaming and album sales. Taylor is going to have an even bigger year in 2023 when she goes on tour for 52 nights across the U.S.
