The Weeknd topped Forbes' list of the 25 highest-paid artists in 2025, earning US$298 million, followed by Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. The list's total earnings reached US$1.900 million, driven by blockbuster tours and lucrative deals. Shakira and Bad Bunny were the only Latin American artists included.
Forbes U.S. released its annual survey of the highest-earning artists in 2025, totaling US$1.900 million among 25 musicians, averaging US$52 million per artist. The Weeknd, real name Abel Tesfaye, took first place due to his album 'Hurry Up Tomorrow,' which topped the Billboard 200, his 'After Hours Til Dawn' tour generating US$77 million from 40 concerts, and the sale of a stake in his catalog to Lyric Capital for up to US$1.000 million, netting US$200 million.
Taylor Swift ranked second with US$202 million, boosted by the release of 'The Life of a Showgirl,' which sold over 5.5 million equivalent units in its first week, becoming the year's best-selling album, and a deal with Disney+ for a docuseries on the end of her Eras Tour. Beyoncé, third with US$148 million, shone with the Cowboy Carter Tour, raising over US$407 million and becoming the most successful country tour in history, including records at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium.
Kendrick Lamar earned US$109 million from his Super Bowl LIX halftime show, viewed by 133 million people, his album GNX, and the Grand National Tour with SZA, which grossed US$358.7 million. Coldplay rounded out the top five with US$105 million from the Music of the Spheres World Tour, totaling US$375 million across 50 concerts. Shakira, with US$105 million from her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour (US$327.4 million), and Bad Bunny, with US$66 million from his Puerto Rico residency and 19.8 billion Spotify streams, represented Latin America on the list.
Other notables include Drake (US$78 million), Chris Brown (US$74 million), and Ed Sheeran (US$60 million), with earnings from tours, streaming, and catalog sales. This edition underscores the dominance of stadium tours and the value of music catalogs in the industry.
