Taylor Swift surpasses Rihanna as the richest woman in music with $1.6 billion fortune
Taylor Swift has overtaken Rihanna as the richest female musician, according to Forbes magazine. Swift is now worth $US1.6 billion to Rihanna’s $US1.4 billion.
She is second only to Jay-Z, who has a fortune of $US2.5 billion, for the title of wealthiest musical artist.
What makes Swift distinct is her money is overwhelming made from her music. Forbes estimated her fortune broke down as $US600 million in royalties and touring, $US600 million ascribed to the value of her music catalogue and a further $US125 million in real estate.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Many celebrities, especially musicians, with large bank balances have amassed their worth from side hustles that generate more value than their music.
Rihanna’s riches come from her 49.9 per cent stake in her cosmetics line Fenty. Fenty has been valued at $US2.8 billion. Rihanna released the most recent of her eight studio albums in 2016, which is also when she last embarked on a concert tour.
Jay-Z, full name Shawn Carter, made a large chunk of his money thanks to his liquor businesses. In 2021, LVMH took a 50 per cent stake in his champagne brand Armand de Brignac. Two years later, he offloaded the majority of his ownership of cognac brand D’Usse to Bacardi. Jay-Z last released a studio album in 2018.
Swift first hit billionaire status in October 2023 off the back of her blockbuster Eras world tour. It was the first tour in American history to gross more than $US1 billion.
This February, Swift played three shows in Melbourne and four in Sydney. The demand for tickets were astronomical as fans sat in online queues for hours and still missed out.
According to Forbes, Swift is the 2117st richest person in the world and the 24th most valuable self-made woman in the US.
Swift recently made headlines for endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming US election. In the moments after the September debate between Harris and former president Donald Trump, Swift posted to social media that she would be voting for Harris and her VP pick, Tim Walz.
She wrote, “I’m voting for Kamala Harris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm not chaos.”
Swift signed off her missive with “Childless Cat Lady”, a dig at Republican VP candidate J.D. Vance’s criticism of child-free women as not having a stake in the future of the US.
