*Forbes has released its annual list of top-earning musicians, and producer extraordinaire Dr. Dre took the No. 1 spot ahead of Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Jay-Z.
Although Dr. Dre has not released an album since 2015, Forbes noted that his record-breaking earnings of $950 million come mostly from the buyout of his 20% stake in Beats headphones company in May 2014.
Right behind Dre on the list is Taylor Swift, whose estimated $825 million makes her music’s highest-earning woman of the decade.
She is followed by Beyoncé with $685 million, U2 with $675 million, and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs with $605 million.
Forbes’ list of top-earning (living) musicians is compiled by “looking at touring data from Pollstar, music consumption numbers from Nielsen and interviews with managers, agents and many of the stars themselves.” The list does not include posthumous earnings.
Check out the full list below.
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10 | Lady Gaga ($500 million)
Despite some pauses to pursue film and TV projects, Gaga’s live music prowess and wildly successful albums landed her on our list.
9 | Katy Perry ($530 million)
The 2015 Forbes cover star hit the road aggressively over the past decade, with two separate tours grossing nine figures.
8. Paul McCartney ($535 million)
No Beatles, no problem: McCartney continued an epic solo run, selling out stadiums and even getting his first No. 1 album since 1982.
7. Jay-Z ($560 million)
Music’s first billionaire made his fortune by building companies, but the last ten years of touring—recently with Beyoncé—sure didn’t hurt.
6. Elton John ($565 million)
The Rocketman is blasting off on his last tour having fueled up his bank account with a decade of stadium shows and Vegas residency dates.
5. Diddy ($605 million)
He’s had more name changes than anyone on the list, but his earnings remained strong thanks mostly to his Ciroc vodka pact with Diageo.
4. U2 ($675 million)
The group’s 360 Tour wrapped in 2011, grossing over $700 million—its inflation-adjusted $800 million-plus tour tally is the highest ever.
3. Beyoncé ($685 million)
Queen Bey began the decade newly graduated from Destiny’s Child, quickly establishing her business bona fides in the studio and on the road.
2. Taylor Swift ($825 million)
Not old enough to buy a beer at the decade’s outset, Swift became a stadium-packing superstar—and music’s highest-paid woman of the 2010s.
1. Dr. Dre ($950 million)
The superproducer released one album this decade and barely toured, but had music’s top business achievement: Apple’s $3B buyout of Beats.
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