Katy Perry tops highest paid musicians list

Here is the latest list by Forbes detailing the World's Highest-Paid Musicians of 2015.

Girls are back on top. Katy Perry jumps up from 23rd position in 2014 to top the list with earnings of $135 million following the conclusion of her 17-month "Prismatic World Tour". There are a further 3 female musicians in the top 10: Taylor Swift, Fleetwood Mac, and Lady Gaga. Beyoncé is in 14th position, down from second place in 2014.

Dr Dre falls from the top of the list to the bottom. Dre's $620 million figure in 2014 was the highest amount by a musician ever, thanks to the sale of headphone maker Beats, which he co-founded, to Apple for $3 billion; but his 2015 total of $33 million sees him slide down the list to joint 28th position.

One Direction lead the British top-earners. Despite breaking teenage hearts across the world with the departure of Zayn Malik in March and the subsequent announcement that the band would be taking a break to pursue solo careers, 1D still managed to win second place on the list by earning $130 million in 2015 following their "On the Road Again Tour" and the November release of their fifth album "Made in the A.M". One Direction are joined in the 2015 list by fellow Brits Calvin Harris, Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, Elton John and Paul McCartney.


Rank I Musician I 2015 Earnings
1 Katy Perry $135 m
2 One Direction $130 m
3 Garth Brooks $90 m
4 Taylor Swift $80 m
5 The Eagles $73.5 m
6 Calvin Harris $66m
7 Justin Timberlake $63.5m
8 Diddy $60m
9 Fleetwood Mac $59.5m
10 Lady Gaga $59m
11 The Rolling Stones $57.5m
12 Ed Sheeran $57m
13 Jay Z $56m
14 Beyoncé $54.5m
15 Elton John $53.5m
16 Toby Keith $53m
17 Paul McCartney $51.5m
18 Michael Buble $45.5m
19 Jason Aldean $43.5m
20 Luke Bryan $42.5m
21 Kenny Chesney $42m
22 Bruno Mars $40m
23 Drake $39.5m
24* Foo Fighters $38m
24* Tim McGraw $38m
25 David Guetta $37m
26 Florida Georgia Line $36.5m
27* Jimmy Buffett $36m
27* Tiesto $36m
28* Maroon 5 $33m
28* Dr. Dre $33m
*Denotes tied ranking