#4

Queen of Pop and self made wealth

Talent always wins I guess

Yasss Queen of Pop. I know she's worth more than that

Madonna has sold 300m records worldwide, between albums and singles. Even assuming she made a dollar for each one of them, which is obviously not possibly the case after 3 decades (she received $4 for every HC copy sold) that's $300m from record sales alone. Factor in a large share of around $1bn in net touring revenue (without counting merchandising, brand endorsement, licensing and her art collection). Over $150m between 2000 and 2010 from brand endorsement alone (Microsoft, Motorola, Apple, BMW, Gap, Versace, DG x 2, LV x 2, H&M etc).

$560m after 33 years and at that level, even after taxes and fees etc, it really doesn't add up. I don't know why Forbes can't make a little bit of an effort with those lists. Just don't bother publishing them anymore.

Judge Judy is number four. You skipped her.

Edit: Nevermind. You said musicians.

I said? I am only quoting an article from Forbes

This is the first time I doubt Forbe's methodology. They had Mariah at I believe $225 million about a decade ago. She has earned somewhere between $100-$200 million (gross) since then so her net worth should have increased somewhat since then.

Pretty sure she's worth more

Nearly everyone on the list is worth more.

From what exactly? These type of people also have huge expenses, just keeping up one mansion is a million dollar expense

Also I swear Madonna was estimated around the 800 million mark a couple of years ago, then it was reported she made 125 million and now she's down to 500 million according to them Forbes is far from accurate in my opinion. The only thing that's accurate is that she is the top female earner.

This seems suspect. For one, isnt Madonna worth more?

Where's Mariah?

Their methodology, like Billboard's, seem to shift with the wind.

Mariah has made money from American Idol, album and single sales (not as much as it used to be), shows and touring, clothing, accessories and fragrance sales, and a few other ventures as well (like the Game of War ad).

I understand people have expenses but when you are that rich people also invest to offset some of those expenses.

Only financial tycoons land at #1.

Literally all of these net worths seem deflated

TAW