Dr. Dre, Bon Jovi, and Justin Bieber Round Out Highest Paid Musicians List for 2014
When thinking of a list of the highest paid musicians of 2014, a select few probably come to mind. When actually looking at the list of highest paid musicians worldwide for 2014, the list might surprise you.
1. Dr. Dre: $620,000,000
Thanks to his multi-billion dollar Beats deal with Apple, Dre tops the list as highest paid musician for 2014. Dre is certainly a legend when its comes to making and producing music, but he’s built his legacy through his now-massive headphone company that comprises a whopping 70 percent of the headphone industry. Developed just six years ago, Dre used his intuition as a musician to realize the need for a sweeping improvement to the chosen headphones of the public, which at the time was the complimentary plastic earbuds supplied by Apple. Fast-forward to 2014 and Dre making five times more than the second highest paid musician in the business.
Past lyrics that predict and apply to current success:
So give me one more platinum plaque and %$^# rap you can have it back- Forgot About Dre, 1999
2. Beyonce: $115,000,000
We don’t know what you guys are thinking, but to us this is no surprise. With a widely successful 2014 tour and one of the most devoted fan bases for any single entertainer that this world has seen, we wouldn’t be surprised if Queen B put in a presidential bid as well. It’s been a year since Beyonce dropped her surprise self-titled album, and the risky move proved to lead to her most lucrative year ever, up $28,000,000 from her previous best year in 2010. And with a rumored world-wide tour slated for the end of 2018, another potential album, and perhaps even a Destiny’s Child reunion, she’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
Past lyrics that predict and apply to current success:
I want to say I lived each day, until I died/And know that I meant something in, somebody’s life/The hearts I have touched, will be the proof that I leave/That I made a difference, and this world will see/I was here- I Was Here, 2011
3. The Eagles: $100,000
The Eagles formed in 1971 but haven’t slowed their roll yet; the band’s last released album was in 2007. Considering that the Eagles are number three on this list, beating out extremely active musicians like Justin Bieber and Calvin Harris, the fact it’s been over seven years since the release of new content is amazing. The Eagles have rooted its success in the fact that they have the title of most music sold for an American band throughout the entirety of the 70s and the possession of a nostalgic fan base that doesn’t want to miss out on the potential last time to see them on stage ever again. The Eagles capitalize on the fact that this time will eventually come, and as a result are constantly touring the world. As of right now, the band is in the middle of wrapping up a global tour that began in summer of 2013 and will wrap up in 2018.
So put me on a highway, show me a sign, and take it to the limit one more time- Take It to The Limit, 1977
4. Bon Jovi $82,000,000
Bon Jovi is another example of a timeless form of entertainment that consistently ranks among the top paid musicians every year despite the influx of more relevant acts “thanks to a relatively affluent, aging fan base who turn out to hear the ballads of their youth and see a tightly run touring machine built on decades of experience.” In interviews, Jon Bon Jovi frequently touts his cost-efficiency while being on the road and attributes that sensibility to his maximization of tour profits. He has been known to have no problem with carrying a bag or two of his own, and that combined with his reputation for having one of the best work ethics in Hollywood factor into why he is so successful year after year.
Past lyrics that predict and apply to current success:
Tomorrow’s getting harder make no mistake / Luck ain’t even lucky /Got to make your own breaks – It’s My Life, 2000
5. Bruce Springsteen $81,000,000
After a four-year-absence from Forbes’ 100 celebrities with the highest incomes, Springsteen has come back with a vengeance this year after releasing an 18th studio album and returning to touring. The boss is the fifth highest paid musician and the 25th highest paid entertainer this year, adding to his respectable net worth of $300 million.
Past lyrics that predict and apply to current success:
It takes a leap of faith you gotta show some guts /It takes a leap of faith to get things going /In your heart you must trust – Leap of Faith, 1992
6. Justin Bieber, $80,000,000
Finally, we have some young blood. At only twenty-years-old, Justin Bieber continuously can depend on raking in $80 million every year at this point in his career. He has an estimated worth of $200 million, all of this despite the legal and image troubles he’s encountering as he grows up in the spotlight. He’s reportedly working on a new album for March 2018, with his latest material being released in 2013, and he currently has no upcoming tour dates. In other words, his big paycheck this year is certainly impressive considering the lack of activity. Turns out, Bieber rakes in $58 million alone on endorsements, so you can expect to see his income spike as he takes on new projects next year.
Past lyrics that predict and apply to current success:
None. Seriously, none.
7. One Direction: $75,000,000
Someone or something had to come in and take the place of an era left boy-band-less after the deterioration of Back Street Boys, N’Sync, 98 Degrees, and the like. Enter One Direction, the mega boy band of today’s youth. One Direction is a British-based band that has swept the United States after appearing on the X Factor’s U.K. 2010 season (and only finishing third!) The band has achieved such massive success worldwide that most people forget about the boys’ humble beginnings. The band has released four albums since signing a deal with Simon Cowell’s record label and has toured three times, with a fourth worldwide tour planned for 2018.
Past lyrics that predict and apply to current success:
Once in a lifetime/It’s just right/We make no mistakes/Not even a landslide or riptide/Could take it all the way- Once in a Lifetime, 2014
8. Paul McCartney: $71,000,000
There are very few living souls in this world who are more awesome than Sir Paul McCartney. He has been given a Guinness World Record for being the most successful song writer of all-time and he has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. Seriously, even the Queen likes his stuff, and we can’t imagine she’s an easy woman to please. He is not, however, exempt from his own personal problems. A nasty divorce from ex Heather Mills has caused a strain on McCartney’s finances and earnings from 2008 on, and he just now got back on track. Rigorous touring has helped the icon re-coop after doling out $48.2 million to Mills at the end of his divorce settlement. His $71 million income is in part thanks to his 2014 “Out There” tour.
I Must Admit I May Have Made A Few Mistakes,/But Let’s Get Started, From A Party/Don’t You Know How Long It Takes!/So C’mon People Let The Fun Begin/We’ve Got A Future And It’s Rushing In- C’Mon People, 1993
9. Calvin Harris: $66,000,000
Calvin Harris is an entertainer of a different breed in that he represents the future. While many people on this list represent entertainers who have made a name for themselves and continue to reinvent what has made them successful in the past, Calvin Harris is pioneering a brand of music that will make him a staple in today’s youth. Harris is from the U.K, where he began his path towards success in 2007, where his first release produced two top-ten singles. Harris is a DJ, the highest paid DJ for two consecutive years in fact. He has become a leader in the popularization of what is known as EDM, or Electronic Dance Music, which is today’s rock n’ roll for the youth. As a result, he head-lines major festivals and works with myriad entertainers to turn their singles into hits. Last year, Harris made around $48 million, so he is steadily increase his income year after year. It’s not too hard to believe, since he was reportedly offered $10 million to keep a loose contract to perform at Las Vegas nightclub, Hakkasan for this past year.
Past lyrics that predict and apply to current success:
I’ve got to stop looking back/my head can get lost off track- Blue, 2009
10. Toby Keith: $65,000,000
As one of country music’s most adored and revered mega-stars, Toby Keith continues to be a presence in the genre year after year. He has a whopping 22 studio releases since his career took off in 1993, an amazing number and an indication that Keith is an incredibly hard worker. Keith was raised with modest upbringings and found his success in music by starting from the bottom and building a name for himself. He eventually got the break he needed after his demo tape was handed from a fan, who was a fight attendant, to a records executive who was travelling on her flight. The executive liked what he heard and the rest is history, Though Keith has sold 40 million records worldwide and has an extensive discography, he is currently generating his impressive income through other entrepreneurial endeavors. He owns restaurants and his own brand of mescal, in addition to numerous other projects, which is just another testament to how dedicated he is .
Past lyrics that predict and apply to current success:
How do you like me now,/Now that I’m on my way?/Do you still think I’m crazy /Standin here today?- How Do You Like Me Now, 1999
