Forbes named the highest paid stars of show business for 2022

Forbes magazine has compiled a rating of music, film and show business figures who managed to earn the largest sums of money last year. The publication took its information from the open data of Nielsen BookScan, Luminate, Pollstar, IMDbPro and Variety Insight, as well as from interviews with agents, lawyers, managers, executives and industry experts.

1. Genesis • $ 230 million

The pioneers of prog rock topped the rating due to the fact that in September they sold the rights to their music to Concord Music Group, receiving $ 300 million for it. The deal included the rights to the band's music and its individual members, including Phil Collins. The tour fees supplemented the income.

2. Sting • 210 million dollars

The author of such hits as Every Breath You Take and Roxanne earned $ 300 million by selling in February to Universal Music Group the rights to music written during his solo career and work in the band The Police.

3. Tyler Perry • $175 million

The actor, director, screenwriter, studio magnate is one of the most multifaceted personalities on the list and the only billionaire (his fortune is estimated at $ 1 billion). Perry received his income from movies and TV shows of his own studio Tyler Perry Studios.

4. Trey Parker and Matt Stone • $160 million

The duo of the creators of "South Park" owes most of their income to a deal with Paramount signed in 2021 and guaranteeing the couple $ 935 million over six years. The contract concerns the filming of six additional seasons of South Park and 14 films.

5. James L. Brooks and Matt Groening • $105 million

In 2019, the creators of The Simpsons made a deal with Disney+, selling the channel the rights to all 30 seasons of the series for about $ 52 billion. This deal brings them $ 105 million a year

6. Brad Pitt • $100 million

In December, the actor sold a controlling stake in his production company Plan B to Mediawan, earning $ 113 million. Among the projects that the company has made are the films "Moonlight", "12 Years a Slave" and "Apostates". Pitt earned another 30 million with roles in the films "Faster than a Bullet", "Babylon" and "The Lost City".

7. Rolling Stones • 98 million dollars

Mick Jagger and his colleagues earned $ 136 million during a concert tour that took place in European cities. According to Pollstar, British rockers became richer by $8.5 million overnight.

8. James Cameron • $95 million

The huge success of the film "Avatar: The Way of Water" made Cameron the director of the three highest-grossing films of all time: in addition to the last tape, this is the first "Avatar" (2009) and "Titanic" (1997). The release of the new film brought him at least $ 95 million.

9. Taylor Swift • $92 million

The 33-year-old pop star's total income consists of royalties from sales of recordings on physical media, music broadcasts on platforms like Spotify, license sales, etc. According to Billboard, Swift's album Midnights, released last year, sold 1.8 million copies in the United States alone. This year, according to experts, will be even more successful for her, given that the singer will hold a 52-day concert tour of the United States.

10. Bad Bunny • 88 million dollars

The Puerto Rican rapper earned money on two tours, during which he performed in arenas and stadiums. Part of the revenue came from advertising contracts with companies such as Corona, Cheetos and Adidas.