Honoring those personalities who have ruled the silver screen, have kept the stages alive and have been an integral part in running the global entertainment industry. With their remarkable songs and lyrics that have touched our hearts, astounding acting that has breathed life into characters and direction and films, these entertainers have made a special place in the hearts of global audiences, music lovers and movie buffs.
Filmmakers, actors, musicians, bands and other performers feature in the list of the highest paid of entertainers, have created a mark for themselves like no other. While some have created history and record by featuring on the list, for some it is a monumental feat to reach the coveted position. The list is a mark of respect, recognition and a zeal to carry the legacy forward. The figures below represent pretax earnings, minus fees for representation – managers, lawyers, agents – and/or business operating costs.
Here are the top 20 highest paid entertainers in the world.
| Rank | Entertainer | Earnings |
| 1. | Peter Jackson | $580 million |
| 2. | Bruce Springsteen | $435 million |
| 3. | Jay-Z | $340 million |
| 4. | Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson | $270 million |
| 5. | Kanye West | $235 million |
| 6. | Trey Parker and Matt Stone | $210 million |
| 7. | Paul Simon | $200 million |
| 8. | Tyler Perry | $165 million |
| 9. | Ryan Tedder | $160 million |
| 10. | Bob Dylan | $130 million |
| 11. | Red Hot Chili Peppers | $116 million |
| 12. | Reese Witherspoon | $115 million |
| 13. | Chuck Lorre | $100 million |
| 14. | Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs | $90 million |
| 15. | Dick Wolf | $86 million |
| 16. | Howard Stern | $85 million |
| 17. | Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman, and David Crane | $82 million |
| 18. | Shonda Rhimes | $81 million |
| 19. | Neil Young | $80 million |
| 20. | Greg Berlanti | $75 million |
