Taylor Swift recently surpassed Rihanna to become the world’s wealthiest female musician, thanks to the phenomenal success of her Eras Tour. Other major female artists, including Madonna and Beyoncé, follow closely but remain just outside the billion-dollar club.
Forbes estimates Swift’s net worth at $1.6 billion, an increase of $500 million since October when she first crossed the billion-dollar threshold with $1.1 billion. Swift’s nearest contender, Rihanna, holds a net worth of $1.4 billion, primarily from her stakes in Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty rather than her music.
Madonna, a top-grossing touring artist with over $1.6 billion from concert tours, is estimated to be worth $850 million as of May, just shy of billionaire status. Beyoncé, whose net worth was estimated at $760 million last May, added approximately $100 million to her wealth through her Renaissance World Tour.
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Celine Dion, whose successful Las Vegas residencies significantly boosted her wealth, is estimated to be worth $550 million. EGOT winner Barbra Streisand holds an estimated $460 million, with her wealth bolstered by a detailed memoir published last year.
Dolly Parton, valued at $450 million as of May, earns much of her wealth from her stake in Dollywood and her $150 million music catalog. Katy Perry follows with an estimated net worth of $350 million, driven by the $225 million sale of her music catalog in 2023 and her role as a judge on American Idol, reportedly earning $25 million per season.
At 34, Swift became the first musician to reach billionaire status solely from her songs and performances in 2023. Forbes estimates her music catalog alone at $600 million, with an additional $600 million from tours and royalties. She also owns approximately $125 million in real estate. Her Eras Tour, which began in March 2023 and runs until December, has been a key factor in her ascent. Last year, Forbes reported that the tour’s first leg brought in $190 million. By December, the Eras Tour became the first-ever concert tour to surpass $1 billion in total gross, according to Pollstar.