See also "Eight Richest Musicians in Their Teens and 20s" -- plus "Ten Richest DJs: From Pauly D to Deadmau5, Swedish House Mafia, Skrillex, and Tiesto."
Forbes just released its list of the "World's Most Powerful Celebrities," a somewhat arbitrary compilation that ranks everyone from athletes to movie stars to radio personalities "based on entertainment-related earnings plus media visibility (exposure in print, television, radio and online)."
According to that formula, Jennifer Lopez is currently the most powerful celebrity, beating out folks like Oprah and Manny Pacquiao, to earn the top spot. Several musicians also made the cut, including Adele and Tiësto. But the 15 artists we've ranked after the cut have one thing in common: money.
From rappers to county stars, these are the 15 musicans who made the most money last year.
15. Jay-Z: $38 Million
He's a true renaissance man. Jay's an avid art collector, gifted musician, and business mogul. It's no wonder that he's got "Obama on the text."
14. Beyonce: $40 Million
Let's just say that Blue Ivy's inheritance is going to be massive. Beyonce banked mad loot last year. We wouldn't be surprised if the Knowles-Carter household stored more money than a bank.
13. Kenny Chesney: $44 Million
Unless you're a fan of tropically inspired country music, you know Kenny Chesney as the dude who married Renée Zellweger. His legal team knows him as their meal ticket.
12. Diddy: $45 Million
This Bad Boy is a moneymaker. Dude makes sound investments and shits out $100 bills like there's no recession.
11. Katy Perry: $46 Million
She may not be making that Britney Spears money just yet. But Katy Perry is well on her way to becoming one of richest pop stars. And best of all, she won't have to share it with that Russell Brand toolbox.
10. Lady Gaga: $52 Million
Though the Lady Gaga bubble may have popped, Mother Monster's still mad influential and mad paid. The "Born This Way" singer pocketed a fortune last year. But her endless fight against bullying is what makes her awesome.
9. Rihanna: $53 Million
Sexy and rich, the Barbadian singer banked more cash than J-Lo last year. However, she's only the fourth most powerful celebrity, according to Forbes.
8. Justin Bieber: $55 Million
At just 18 years old, Bieber is undoubtedly one of the richest teenagers in the world. He earned a cool $55 million in just 12 months. And he's ready to drop his highly anticipated -- if you're an eight-year-old girl -- record later this year.
7. Toby Keith: $55 Million
He may be a right-wing lunatic with verbal diarrhea and a shitty song catalog. But Toby Keith is paid.
6. Taylor Swift: $57 Million
Behind that precious smile and those innocent lyrics, Taylor Swifts sits on a mountain of cash money. Not to mention, Swift is incredibly influential among her tween devotees.
5. Paul McCartney: $57 Million
Dude was a goddamn Beatle and saved Mark Ronson from drowning. You'd think that would be enough. It's not. He's also the 21st most influential celebrity on the planet and a cash cow.
4. Britney Spears: $58 Million
Spears' 2011 Femme Fatale summer tour with Nicki Minaj shot the pop princess back into the limelight. She banked $58 million last year and landed on Forbes' "Most Powerful Celebrities" list at the sixth spot.
3. Jon Bon Jovi: $60 Million
His music may suck and trigger awful memories of getting drunk at a college bar in Tallahassee. But Bon Jovi is rich and influential.
2. Elton John: $80 Million
Holy shit, $80 Million? We should've been a Vegas show singer. Despite the fact he hasn't released a studio record in two years, this man does not stop making money.
1. Dr. Dre: $110 Million
Beats headphones are incredibly overpriced. But enough people bought 'em to turn Dr. Dre into a millionaire ... Again. When's the new album going to drop, Dre?
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