It appears that another individual has joined the elite ranks of billionaires worldwide. Forbes reports that there are currently 2,781 billionaires globally, collectively worth a staggering $14.2 trillion.
Can you guess as to who might be among this prestigious group?
Taylor Swift Declared As A Billionaire By Forbes
Yes, you heard it right people! Taylor Swift, the 14-time Grammy winner, has now been officially recognized as a billionaire by Forbes in 2024, thanks to the phenomenal success of her 'The Eras Tour'.
According to a financial publication, the 34-year-old country-and-pop musician achieved membership in the prestigious three-comma club, becoming the first person to do so solely through songwriting and performing, thanks in part to her historic Eras Tour, which raked in an estimated US$190 million in post-tax earnings. Ranked 14th among entertainers in the 10-figure celebrity club, Swift crossed the billion-dollar threshold in October, as reported by both Forbes and Bloomberg.
At that time, Bloomberg reported the Swift’s fortune included US$370 million from ticket sales and merchandise. The music she released since 2019 was good for another US$400 million. Swift also reportedly owns more than US$100 million in property. Forbes lists her net worth at US$1.1 billion.
For context, the record for the highest-grossing tour was formally claimed by Elton John during his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour that spanned between 2018 to 2023 and encompassed of a total of 330 shows and amassing a total of $939,100,000 (~RM4.45 billion). But with the support of millions of fans worldwide, that record was quickly shattered by Taylor Swift within 60 shows which later solidified her position on the chats.
Plus, if you check Taylor Swift’s website for her upcoming tours, she still has another 60 more shows lined up for 2024 with her next concert on 9 May in Paris, France after taking a short break from her last lineup of shows in Singapore. It’s expected that the tour will see her wealth surpass the 2 billion threshold by the end of it.
Which Other Celebrities Are On The Billionaires List?
Dick Wolf, the creator of Law & Order, made his debut on Forbes' 2024 list alongside Swift. The 77-year-old native of Manhattan surpassed Swift in ranking, boasting an estimated net worth of US$1.2 billion, securing the 13th spot among celebrity billionaires.
Former NBA star Magic Johnson also joined the ranks of newcomers in 2024, amassing a net worth of US$1.2 billion from investments in professional sports teams, movie theatres, and other ventures. Johnson, aged 64, debuted at No.12 among the world's wealthiest entertainers.
The collective net worth of the 14 celebrities on the list amounts to US$31 billion. At the top of the list is George Lucas, whose Star Wars franchise propelled him to a net worth of US$5.5 billion.
Among the musicians featured on the list are Rihanna and Jay-Z, ranking ninth and fifth, respectively. Rihanna's ownership in Fenty Beauty and luxury brand LVMH contributes to her net worth of US$1.4 billion. The 36-year-old singer achieved Forbes billionaire status in 2021.
Jay-Z, hailed as "hip-hop's first billionaire," entered the billionaire club in 2019 and has since doubled his fortune, primarily due to his 50% stake in the Armand de Brignac liquor brand. The 54-year-old Brooklyn native's combined music and business ventures place his net worth at an estimated US$2.5 billion.
Did Ye (Kanye West) Play A Part In Making Taylor Swift This Famous?
For those familiar with Taylor Swift's journey, you might recall a significant incident at the MTV Video Music Awards when Kanye West abruptly stormed the stage as she received the award for Best Female Video for "You Belong With Me." He famously interrupted her speech, claiming that Beyonce deserved the honour instead. This sparked widespread backlash against Kanye, even prompting former US President Obama to publicly criticize him.
However, over time, tensions eased as Kanye eventually apologized for his actions. Interestingly, Taylor Swift was later spotted wearing Kanye's clothing in Harper's Bazaar (Australia) in 2012, indicating a thaw in their relationship. Yet, in 2023, amid Kanye's divorce from Kim Kardashian, she attempted to reignite controversy by alleging that Taylor hadn't approved the mention of her name in Kanye's song "Famous." Taylor addressed this issue in a subsequent interview with Time Magazine, coinciding with her recognition as the magazine's Person of the Year.
“You have a fully manufactured frame job, in an illegally recorded phone call, which Kim Kardashian edited and then put out to say to everyone that I was a liar. That took me down psychologically to a place I’ve never been before. I moved to a foreign country. I didn’t leave a rental house for a year. I was afraid to get on phone calls. I pushed away most people in my life because I didn’t trust anyone anymore. I went down really, really hard.”
Despite the drama, the aftermath is evident: Kanye West has experienced a significant decline in his once-loyal fan base, largely attributed to numerous controversies. In contrast, Taylor Swift's trajectory has only ascended, solidifying her position as one of, if not the, greatest female pop singers of all time.
Indeed, Taylor Swift's achievement is truly commendable and befitting of an artist of her calibre. On a lighter note, considering the stark contrast between Swift's net worth and Kanye West's, one might jest that she could easily purchase him and still have ample funds to spare for herself.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.
*Sources: Visual and Reference Credits to Social Media & various cross-references for context.
FOMO much? Follow our Facebook and Instagram for more updates.