The highest-earning stars of 2016
Lauren Weymouth
21 December 2016
Stars' 2016 paychecks
Just how much did the biggest celebrities earn this year? Chances are it’s more than you’d expect. Here are the highest-earning stars of 2016, according to Forbes' Global Celebrity 100 2016.
30) Ryan Seacrest
America’s favorite host, takes home a cool $55 million (£44.6m) for his job on American Idol, his morning radio show and the wide variety of other hosting and interview stints he gets booked for.
26 joint) Kenny Chesney
This country star continues to make the big bucks, primarily from stadium tours, as well as endorsement deals with Corona beer and Costa Sunglasses. His annual salary now stands at some $56 million (£45m).
26 joint) Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant remains one of the highest-earning professional basketball players in the league. With an annual NBA salary amounting to $19.1 million (£13.5m) and a plethora of endorsement deals with mega companies like Nike, Sprint and Sonic adding up to $35 million (£25m), Kevin currently brings home a cool $56 million (£45m) each year.
26 joint) Novak Djokovic
The world's second highest-paid tennis star Novak Djokovic takes home $56 million (£45m) a year. While his fortune has built up gradually, the majority of his wealth came from an impressive run of winnings, where he has made a whopping $82 million (£66m) from 11 Grand Slam titles.
26 joint) Justin Bieber
Although he is much lower down this list than you might expect, Justin Bieber's comeback with huge hits such as Love Yourself and Sorry have still earned him a hefty $56 million (£45m) this year. His salary can also be attributed to endorsement deals with the likes of Calvin Klein.
25) Paul McCartney
At the age of 73, Paul McCartney is still bringing in $56.5 million (£46m) a year. Most of this revenue is generated from touring and royalties.
24) Bruce Springsteen
Much like many on this list, Bruce Springsteen's age hasn't outgrown his paycheck, as the singer earned a humble $60.5 million (£49m) this year, thanks in part to his The River tour, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of his first No.1 album.
23) Jackie Chan
Now the second highest-paid actor in the world, this action star hasn't been in his Hollywood prime recently, but has still managed to take home $61 million (£49.3m) a year as a result of a close connection with Beijing and China's flourishing box office.
22) Diddy
Although he rarely tours, Sean Combs, aka Diddy, makes the majority of his dollar from a huge endorsement deal with Diageo's Ciroc vodka and other non-musical sidelines. The rap-star took home over $62 million (£50m) in 2016.
21) Calvin Harris
The DJ and former boyfriend of pop princess Taylor Swift is worth a lot more than you might think. His $63 million (£51m) salary is thanks to his performances at clubs and festivals, along with a lucrative campaign deal with Giorgio Armani.
20) David Copperfield
To this day, David Copperfield is still the most famous magician in the world. His residency at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is the main contributor to his $64 million (£52m) paycheck.
19) Dwayne Johnson
The highest-paid professional wrestler in the world, The Rock earns some $64.5 million (£52m) for his acting career and his help in launching the billion-dollar Fast and Furious brand.
18) The Rolling Stones
They've been around for half a century and don't tour much, but Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and co are still out-earning the likes of Justin Bieber and Beyonce, with an annual salary of over $66.5 million (£54m).
17) AC/DC
Similarly, more than 43 years after they formed, this Scottish-Australian rock band are still living the high life. Despite losing lead singer Brian Johnson this year, his stand-in, Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose, has been a huge success and demand just isn't stopping. The band have grossed $67.5 million (£55m) this year.
16) Roger Federer
Top-ranking tennis pro Roger Federer rakes in the vast majority of his $68 million (£55m) salary from massive deals with Nike, Rolex, Mercedes-Benz and Credit Suisse. While these contracts bring in an average of $40 million (£28m) of his earnings, he still holds the record for the most prize money won on the tennis circuit, totaling a whopping $90 million (£63.7m) throughout his career.
15) Garth Brooks
Playing back-to-back shows at each stop on his return from retirement tour earned country star Garth Brooks a whopping $70 million (£56m), making him the top-paid male musician.
13 joint) Rihanna
Her latest album, Anti, sold fewer copies than any other No.1 album in history, but this hasn't stopped Rihanna from raking in $75 million (£61m) this year. Thanks to touring and endorsement deals with Dior, Puma, Samsung and Stance, her earnings are unlikely to be dropping any time soon.
13 joint) Ellen DeGeneres
Hollywood’s class clown has mastered how to make millions – $75 million (£61m) to be exact. With her talk show The Ellen Show remaining one of North America’s favorite daytime TV shows, she’s continued to branch out her brand with the creation of her Very Good Productions company, the best-selling app-turned-TV series Heads Up! and her own clothing line.
12) Madonna
Although her younger competition is increasing, Madonna's salary still averages $76.5 million (£62m) a year. It's unsurprising her takings are so high after her latest tour, Rebel Heart, grossed $170 million (£137m).
11) LeBron James
Mega contracts and endorsement deals are the norm for LeBron James, whose list of sponsors includes Nike, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Samsung, Kia Motors and many more. James brings in an impressive $77 million (£62.3m) salary, making him the highest earning player in the entire NBA.
10) Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh hosts a popular self-titled talk show which is still the most listened-to radio show in America. Through this multi-million dollar contract work and publishing various books, he manages to make a cool $79 million (£64m) in a year.
9) Adele
This UK singer has quickly become a global sensation, and unlike many others on this list, has made most of her money through music. Adele's sell-out tours generate millions of dollars a night, and her earnings now stand at $80.5 million (£65m).
8) Lionel Messi
Top-scoring professional soccer player Lionel Messi brings in an annual $81.5 million (£66m) thanks to his $50 million (£35.4m) per year contract with Barcelona Football Club plus endorsement deals with the likes of Samsung and Adidas.
7) Howard Stern
Radio king Howard Stern, who has an ongoing contract with Sirius XM, has also branched out to television, appearing on America’s Got Talent. His larger-than-life personality is what’s earned him both his permanent position on radio and his $85 million (£69m) paycheck
6) Kevin Hart
One of the world's most successful comedians is also one of the highest paid and his stadium and arena gigs have earned him around $1 million (£810,000) a time, bringing his annual salary up to $87.5 million (£71m).
4 joint) Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo's had a hugely-successful year both on and off the field. His mammoth contract with soccer club Real Madrid, alongside his Nike endorsement and the success of his own clothing line CR7, bring his earnings up to an impressive annual $88 million (£71m).
4 joint) Dr. Phil McGraw
A surprising entry on this list is Dr. Phil and his annual earnings of $88 million (£71m). With his self-titled talk show still running and as the author of 13 books as well as the creator of his own healthcare app, Dr. Phil continues to bring in the big bucks.
3) James Patterson
Writing 16 top-selling books a year will guarantee your spot as the world’s highest-earning author. And that’s exactly how it is for James Patterson, who earns a salary of $95 million (£77m).
2) One Direction
They may well be on hiatus right now, but the former UK X Factor stars are still the top-earning boy band of all time and have managed to rack up a staggering $110 million (£89m) this year.
1) Taylor Swift
A sold-out world tour, platinum-selling albums and endorsement deals with major brands such as Coca-Cola, Elizabeth Arden and Keds make up Taylor Swift’s $170 million (£137m) 2016 salary.
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