Who is the highest-paid celebrity in the world right now?

Introduction

Every year, the world waits eagerly for the release of Forbes’ Celebrity 100 list, which ranks the highest paid celebrities across industries. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the financial empires built by stars in music, film, sports, television, and digital platforms. For 2025, the buzz has been louder than ever, as the entertainment industry continues to evolve with streaming dominance, influencer culture, sports mega-contracts, and billion-dollar brand deals.

This year’s highest-paid celebrity in the world, according to Forbes 2025, is none other than Taylor Swift, who earned a staggering $340 million in 2024-25. While she has topped the charts before, her record-breaking earnings this year cement her as one of the most powerful figures not only in music but also in the entire entertainment landscape.

In this deep-dive, we’ll explore:

How Forbes calculates celebrity earnings

A breakdown of Taylor Swift’s monumental 2025 earnings

The industries driving celebrity wealth today

Comparisons with past Forbes lists

The cultural and financial impact of top-earning stars

FAQs addressing all the burning questions about celebrity wealth

By the end of this article, you’ll have a complete picture of why Taylor Swift rules the financial throne in 2025 and how the landscape of celebrity earnings is shifting globally.

Forbes compiles its Celebrity 100 and highest-paid rankings using:

Pre-tax earnings from June 2024 to June 2025

Concert tours, film deals, sports salaries, endorsements, streaming royalties, merchandise sales, and brand ventures

Input from agents, managers, lawyers, and industry insiders

Public filings for businesses, streaming contracts, and endorsement values

Importantly, these figures are before taxes and management fees, which means the take-home is lower, but the ranking gives us a clear picture of gross celebrity earnings power.

Earnings Breakdown

According to Forbes, Taylor Swift earned $340 million in 2025, making her the undisputed top earner in entertainment. Let’s break down where that money came from:

The Eras Tour (2024-2025 leg): Over $1.4 billion in total revenue, with Taylor taking home a huge share.

Streaming royalties: Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube combined brought her tens of millions.

Merchandise sales: Concert merchandise added around $100 million alone.

Re-recorded albums: Her strategy of releasing Taylor’s Versions continues to dominate charts and generate both sales and streaming revenue.

Endorsements and brand deals: High-profile deals with brands like Apple, Capital One, and her own merchandise empire.

Film and media projects: Earnings from her concert film, which broke records in theaters worldwide.

🌐 Trending Around the Web

Which Celebrity Scandals Took Hollywood by Storm This Year?

Celebrity Art Collectors: Stars Who Love the Fine Arts

The Evolution of the Celebrity Stylist: Behind Hollywood’s Iconic Looks

Celebrity Relationships That Ended Publicly But on Good Terms

Unlike other top-earning celebrities who may rely heavily on endorsements or one-time deals, Swift’s empire is multi-dimensional. She controls her music rights, directs her film projects, owns multiple real estate properties worth over $150 million, and has investments in tech startups.

Her influence also goes beyond music. Taylor’s ability to mobilize fans, reshape streaming policies, and dictate industry trends has made her a rare force in modern entertainment.

💡 Discover More from Celebrity

Celebrity

How Celebrities Have Changed the Wedding Industry

While Taylor Swift leads the pack as the world’s highest-paid celebrity in 2025, several other global icons also made staggering fortunes this year. Their earnings highlight how music, sports, acting, and brand ownership continue to drive massive wealth in the entertainment and lifestyle industries.

Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo

Both Messi and Ronaldo crossed the $200 million mark in 2025, cementing their positions as the highest-earning athletes. Messi’s deal with Inter Miami, combined with lucrative endorsements from Adidas and Pepsi, elevated his income. Ronaldo, playing in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, earned not just from football but also from partnerships with Nike, CR7 fashion, and fitness ventures. Their rivalry extends beyond the pitch into financial supremacy.

Read more about Messi’s 2025 earnings

Beyoncé

The Queen Bey earned an estimated $190 million, thanks to her blockbuster Renaissance Tour, which sold out stadiums worldwide. Alongside touring, her Ivy Park fashion line and multiple streaming deals fueled her record-breaking earnings. Beyoncé remains one of the few artists who combine music, fashion, and business to dominate financial charts year after year.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

The Rock brought in about $180 million in 2025. His earnings stemmed from multiple Hollywood blockbusters, a surprise return to WWE, and the success of his Teremana Tequila brand, which continues to disrupt the spirits industry. Johnson’s status as both an action hero and businessman showcases how celebrity branding can diversify wealth streams.

Kylie Jenner

Despite frequent controversies, Kylie Jenner continues to thrive financially, earning $170 million in 2025. Her Kylie Cosmetics empire, along with social media influence and brand collaborations, kept her at the forefront of celebrity billionaires-in-the-making. She is proof of how digital-first beauty and personal branding redefine wealth creation.

See Kylie Jenner’s Forbes earnings

Drake

Rounding out the top tier, Drake earned $150 million from his massive world tour, streaming royalties, and partnerships with Nike and other lifestyle brands. His ability to dominate both music and business keeps him a perennial force in global earnings lists.

More on Drake’s fortune

Key Takeaway: Sports stars and music icons remain at the top, but what ties them together is brand ownership and business ventures. Their financial empires go beyond performance—proving that in 2025, celebrity wealth is about being both an artist and an entrepreneur.

Celebrity wealth today is built across multiple pillars:

Music Tours & Streaming – Artists like Taylor Swift and Drake rely heavily on tours but supplement with Spotify/Apple Music revenue.

Sports Salaries & Endorsements – Athletes like Messi, Ronaldo, and LeBron James continue to rake in mega-deals.

Film & Television – Traditional stars like The Rock or Tom Cruise still earn massive checks from blockbusters.

Fashion & Beauty Brands – Celebrities like Rihanna (Fenty), Kylie Jenner, and Kim Kardashian have shifted to business mogul status.

Social Media Influence – TikTok stars and YouTubers are increasingly earning millions annually.

2019: Taylor Swift topped with $185M (mainly from her Reputation tour).

2020: Kylie Jenner was crowned, earning around $590M (Cosmetics deal with Coty).

2021-2022: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi dominated due to football contracts.

2023: Beyoncé led with $210M (Renaissance Tour).

2024: Taylor Swift made $260M from the first leg of the Eras Tour.

2025: Taylor breaks all past records with $340M.

This shows the shift from one-off business deals (Kylie, Rihanna) to sustained earnings power (Taylor, Messi, Ronaldo).

Taylor’s dominance isn’t just financial—it’s cultural. Her success shows:

The power of touring even in the streaming age.

The importance of owning intellectual property.

The rise of female artists as dominant financial forces in entertainment.

The Swift Effect: wherever Taylor goes, local economies benefit. Cities reported millions in tourism revenue spikes during her concerts.

Who is the highest-paid celebrity in the world in 2025?

The highest-paid celebrity in the world in 2025 is Taylor Swift, earning an estimated $340 million in annual income. This figure includes revenue from her record-breaking Eras Tour, streaming royalties, re-recorded albums (“Taylor’s Version”), brand endorsements, and real estate investments. What sets her apart from other celebrities is her ownership of her music catalog, something most artists don’t have. By holding the rights to her songs, she benefits directly from every stream, download, and licensing deal.

How much did Taylor Swift make from The Eras Tour?

The Eras Tour grossed more than $1.4 billion globally, making it the highest-grossing concert tour in history. In 2025 alone, Taylor reportedly pocketed $200M+ in personal earnings after production costs, crew wages, and taxes. Beyond ticket sales, the tour also generated massive revenue from VIP experiences, exclusive merchandise drops, and streaming deals from concert films. The economic ripple effect was so large that cities like Los Angeles and Sydney reported measurable boosts in tourism and hospitality revenue whenever she performed.

Who are the top athletes on the Forbes 2025 list?

The standout athletes on the Forbes list are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, each surpassing $200 million in annual income. Messi’s deal with Inter Miami, combined with Adidas sponsorships, Apple TV streaming partnerships, and global endorsements, secured his position. Ronaldo, now playing in Saudi Arabia, added to his salary with lucrative deals from Nike, his CR7 brand (fashion, fitness, and hotels), and social media advertising, where he remains the most-followed individual on Instagram.

Which female celebrity made the most money after Taylor Swift?

After Taylor Swift, the highest-earning female celebrity of 2025 is Beyoncé, with an estimated $190 million in income. Much of this came from her Renaissance Tour, which sold out globally, along with her Ivy Park fashion brand and streaming deals with Netflix and Spotify. Beyoncé’s ability to balance music, fashion, and film projects keeps her consistently among the world’s top earners.

Does Forbes count net worth or earnings?

Forbes’ Celebrity 100 list focuses on annual earnings, not overall net worth. This means the rankings reflect how much money a celebrity made in a given year, rather than their total accumulated wealth. For example, Rihanna has a higher net worth than Taylor Swift (thanks to Fenty Beauty), but Taylor’s 2025 earnings outpaced Rihanna’s because of touring and music revenues.

How does Taylor Swift make money besides music?

In addition to touring and streaming royalties, Taylor Swift makes money through:

Brand endorsements (Diet Coke, Apple Music, Nike collaborations)

Film projects (her concert movie broke box office records in 2023 and continues streaming revenue)

Real estate investments (properties worth over $150M across New York, LA, Rhode Island, and Nashville)

Merchandise sales, particularly limited-edition drops tied to her albums and tours

This diversified portfolio allows her to remain financially secure even when she’s not actively touring.

What is Taylor Swift’s estimated net worth in 2025?

Taylor Swift’s net worth in 2025 is estimated at around $1.2 billion. She first crossed the billionaire threshold in 2023 due to the runaway success of her tour and catalog ownership. Her fortune comes from a mix of music royalties, live performances, brand endorsements, real estate, and equity stakes in various business ventures. This places her in a rare category of self-made billionaire musicians.

Who is the richest female celebrity of all time?

As of 2025, the title still belongs to Rihanna, thanks to her Fenty Beauty empire, lingerie line Savage X Fenty, and music career. Forbes estimates her net worth at $1.4 billion, slightly ahead of Taylor Swift. Unlike Taylor, Rihanna’s wealth is driven primarily by business rather than music, proving how celebrity-owned brands can outpace even blockbuster tours.

How accurate are Forbes earnings numbers?

Forbes earnings reports are estimates, not exact figures. They rely on a combination of public financial disclosures, industry sources, contract leaks, and expert analysis. While close to reality, they don’t account for private negotiations or exact tax filings. For instance, Forbes might report Swift’s tour earnings based on gross ticket sales, while her actual take-home pay could be lower due to production and promotional expenses.

Did TikTok stars make the Forbes list in 2025?

Yes, several influencers and TikTok stars made the list in the $20M–$30M range. While none cracked the top 10, names like Charli D’Amelio, Addison Rae, and MrBeast (YouTube crossover) are becoming household names with major earnings from brand deals, sponsored content, and product launches. This signals a major shift in entertainment economics, where digital-first creators rival traditional celebrities.

What industries contribute the most to celebrity wealth in 2025?

The industries that dominate celebrity wealth are:

Music tours & streaming (Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Drake)

Sports salaries & endorsements (Messi, Ronaldo, LeBron James)

Celebrity-owned brands (Rihanna’s Fenty, Kylie Jenner’s cosmetics)

Hollywood acting & production (The Rock, Tom Cruise)

Social media & streaming (MrBeast, top YouTubers, Twitch streamers)

The common thread is brand ownership—celebrities who control their businesses earn far more than those who only collect paychecks.

Why is Taylor Swift more successful financially than other pop stars?

Taylor’s success is rooted in smart business decisions. She re-recorded her music catalog to own her masters, ensuring she profits fully from her own songs. She also tours at a scale unmatched by peers, engages directly with her fanbase through social media, and selectively partners with brands. By controlling her narrative and her business, she transformed from a pop star into a cultural entrepreneur.

How much tax does Taylor Swift pay on her income?

In the United States, high earners like Taylor Swift face a federal tax rate of up to 37%, plus state and local taxes depending on residency. Analysts estimate she pays over $100 million annually in taxes on her income. However, with smart accounting, charitable contributions, and business write-offs, celebrities often manage their tax liabilities strategically.

Which Hollywood actor is the highest-paid in 2025?

The highest-paid Hollywood actor of 2025 is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, with $180M in earnings. His income comes from blockbuster films, WWE appearances, and his tequila brand Teremana, which continues to grow rapidly in value. His career proves that actors who invest in business ventures beyond the screen often out-earn their peers.

Did Beyoncé’s tour in 2025 beat Taylor’s?

No. Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour was a massive success, bringing in $190M in earnings, but it was still far behind Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, which grossed over $1.4 billion. While Beyoncé continues to dominate the entertainment industry, Taylor’s scale of earnings in 2025 is historically unprecedented.

What is the most surprising entry in Forbes’ 2025 list?

One of the most surprising developments is the inclusion of YouTubers and live streamers who crossed the $50M earnings mark. Personalities like MrBeast and top Twitch streamers have shown that digital-first entertainment can rival traditional Hollywood and sports. This signals a democratization of fame, where success is no longer gatekept by big studios or record labels.

The Forbes 2025 highest-paid celebrity list confirms what fans already know: Taylor Swift is more than just a pop icon—she’s a financial powerhouse redefining what it means to be a global star.

Her $340M in annual earnings showcases the unmatched profitability of touring, music ownership, and diversified ventures. At the same time, the broader list reveals how sports, beauty brands, and social media continue to shape the wealth of modern celebrities.

As we move into the next era of entertainment, one thing is clear: celebrity earnings are no longer about fame alone—they are about empire-building. And right now, nobody builds empires quite like Taylor Swift.