Taylor Swift was officially added to Forbes’ billionaires list on April 2nd. What sets the 34-year-old singer-songwriter apart from other wealthy artists is how she amassed her billion-dollar fortune.
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The star of “Miss Americana” ranked at No. 2,545 on Forbes’ World’s Billionaires List. With more billionaires than ever before, totaling 141 more than last year and 26 more than the previous 2021 record, their combined worth has soared to $14.2 trillion. Swift’s inclusion followed Forbes declaring her a billionaire in October 2023, with a reported net worth of $1.1 billion.
In a remarkable achievement, Swift is the first musician to achieve this milestone solely through songwriting and performing, without relying on other lucrative ventures like beauty brands or fashion lines. This puts her in a unique league alongside artists such as Bruce Springsteen, whose billion-dollar status primarily stems from touring.
Over $500 million of Swift’s fortune comes from music royalties and touring. She earned an estimated $190 million after taxes from the initial leg of the Eras tour, along with an additional $35 million from the first two weeks of screenings of the corresponding concert film, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” which became the highest-grossing concert movie in history.
Another $500 million of her earnings came from the increasing value of her music catalog. Swift’s masters, comprising her first six albums, were famously acquired by Scooter Braun in 2019 and later sold to Shamrock Capital for $300 million in 2020.
Swift expressed her dismay on Tumblr in 2019 upon learning of Braun’s purchase, lamenting the loss of control over her life’s work. She subsequently parted ways with her longtime label, Big Machine Label Group, and joined Universal Music Group’s Republic Records, securing complete ownership over her songwriting and recordings.
Since the label switch, Swift has released four new albums and re-recorded several previous ones. She has also made significant contributions to the NFL’s brand value, generating $331.5 million for the Chiefs and the league through various media mentions.
Additionally, Swift was named Time Magazine’s 2023 Person of the Year, highlighting her remarkable achievements and creative fulfillment.
