The multi-Grammy Award winner achieves a rare feat by earning the title exclusively through songwriting and performing.
As if it’s a surprise—with the success of The Eras Tour and multiple album releases—Taylor Swift now joins the list of the richest people in the world as listed by the American business magazine. Like what Bloomberg reported in October 2023, the Miss Americana star achieved billionaire status with a net worth of $1.1 billion.
Taylor Swift now joins 13 other celebrities on the list, collectively estimated to be worth $31 billion. However, she stands out for being the first person to achieve billionaire status solely through songwriting and performing—a rare accomplishment among celebrities.
Thanks to the ‘Eras Tour,’ Taylor Swift Now Joins the World’s Billionaires List
With her record-breaking Eras Tour, which began in 2023 and is set to conclude in December 2024, Taylor Swift joins the ranks of the 2024 Billionaire list by Forbes, becoming the third musician to do so, following Rihanna and Jay-Z. However, unlike Rihanna, whose wealth is fueled by ventures like Fenty Beauty and Savage x Fenty, and Jay-Z, who has investments in alcohol companies and stakes in firms such as Uber and Block, Taylor’s fortune doesn’t primarily stem from lucrative side businesses and investments.
While the pop megastar continues to earn royalties and income from her music catalog—which includes the upcoming release of The Tortured Poets Department on April 19—as well as her real estate investments, Forbes estimates that the majority of Taylor’s net worth is derived solely from her music and related ventures. This sets her apart, much like Bruce Springsteen, who earned $1 billion from touring.
As Bloomberg puts it: “[Taylor Swift’s brand is] essentially a multinational conglomerate with the world’s most devoted customer base.†Moreover, her influence goes beyond music. For instance, when she attended American football games to support her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, it’s credited with increasing NFL viewership and causing a rise in sales of Chiefs merchandise.
The full ranking includes 2,781 people, which is 141 more than last year, with Taylor Swift landing at number 2,545. Topping the list of the world’s billionaires is Bernard Arnault, the CEO of LVMH, with a staggering net worth of $233 billion. He is followed by two other well-known figures—Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos—rounding out the top three.
Taylor’s billionaire ranking comes after winning six awards, including Artist of the Year, at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards. And while she was not present during the event, she expressed her gratitude in a recorded video, saying: “To the fans, it’s completely up to you to choose how you spend your time, what concerts you want to go to, what music do you want to make the soundtrack to your life, and to anyone who has included me in those choices, I’m so so so thankful for that.”
Cover image credit: Taylor Swift
