Zack O'Malley Greenburg's Blog, page 54

How Katy Perry Became America’s Top Pop Export: The Forbes Cover Story

My black Mercedes is weaving through Rome’s heavy traffic at dusk when a strange voice calls my cell with instructions straight from a John le Carrénovel: Exit the vehicle immediately. Walk toward the Colosseum, about half a mile away. And then call back when you approach an arch.

Such are the cloak-and-dagger measures when you’re scheduled to meet Katy Perry, one of the most famous and highest-earning stars in the world. Three paparazzi had apparently been trailing my car–I hitched a ride fr...

Celebrity 100: The World’s Highest-Paid Superstars Of 2015

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Floyd Mayweather might have just had the least surprising $300 million payday of all time. His total—the highest annual sum ever for an athlete—mostly comes from his May 2 victory over Manny Pacquiao, who took home $160 million on the year. Their bout spawned a record 4.4 million Pay-Per-View buys and copious media coverage from Mayweather’s Las Vegas home turf to Pacquiao’s native Philippines.

The boxers rank first and second on this year’s Celebrity 100 list, which measures th...

Big Bucks For Big Brother: Why Jackie Chan Is The World’s Second-Highest Paid Actor

Here For The Party: Action legend Jackie Chan has combined a government perch with a capitalist’s attitude to make himself an indispensable connector between Beijing and Hollywood. (Photo by Ethan Pines).

Ensconced in one of the most expensive suites in Beverly Hills, at the Montage Hotel, action movie star Jackie Chan seemingly wants to talk about how frugal he is. Decked out in a Jackie Chan-branded shirt emblazoned with his trademark dragon logo, he leads me into the master bathroom of his...

Celebrity 100: Our New Methodology Explained

Each year since 1999, FORBES has publisheditsCelebrity 100list, featuring superstars from Kobe Bryant to Jennifer Aniston to Justin Bieber toBeyoncé onthe cover.

Traditionally, the rankings have been based on a complex combinationof factors–social media following, earnings, magazine covers and a range of qualitative metrics–with the aim of measuring power.

But due to the U.S.-centric nature of most of these measurements, the list hasn’t been able to reflect the increasingly global nature of...

The Celebrity 100: Preview & Contest 2015

Every year since 1999, FORBES has released its Celebrity 100 list with superstars from Angelina Jolie to Jerry Seinfeld to Beyoncé gracing the cover. The rankings have traditionally been based on a complex stew of factors–earnings, social media following, magazine covers and a range of qualitative measures–but this year, we’re changing things up.

You asked, and we listened: [tweet_quote display="The 2015 edition of the Celeb 100 isset fordebut online on Monday, June 29th"]The 2015 edition of...

Taylor Swift’s Apple Win Cements Elite Powerbroker Status

Taylor Swift made a name for herself playing the underdog. One need only look to songs like “You Belong With Me” fromher 2008 albumFearless, where she plays the unassuming nerd (and, in the accompanying music video, quite literally the girl next door) rather than the successful starlet.

In recent years, the underdog label has become increasingly hard to believe, and after last nightseems downright impossible: Swift seems to have singlehandedly convinced Apple, the biggest company in the world...

Taylor Swift’s Net Worth In 2015: $200 Million

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Taylor Swift’s net worth falls just short of the $250 million minimum needed to claim a spot on our list of America’s 50 RichestSelf-Made Women, whichappeared in the June 15th, 2015 issue of FORBES magazine. But at just 25 years of age, she seems likely to join fellow musiciansMadonna(No. 28) and Beyoncé (No. 49) on the list in the coming years.

Name:
Taylor Swift

Age:
25

Estimated Net Worth:
$200 million

Source:
Music, Touring, Endorsements

Summary:
The singer has transitioneds...

Beyonce’s Net Worth In 2015: $250 Million

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Beyoncé claims the No. 49 spot on our list of America’s RichestSelf-Made Women, whichappeared in the June 15th, 2015 issue of FORBES magazine. She and Madonna (No. 28) are the only musicians on the list.

Name:
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

Age:
33

Estimated Net Worth:
$250 million

Source:
Music, Film, Endorsements

Summary:
Fans are crazy in love with the pop star, who has pulledin more than $500 million in gross earnings as a soloartist. Last summer’s On the Run tour with husband JayZ—...

Madonna’s Net Worth In 2015: $520 Million

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Madonnaclaims the No. 28 spot on our list of America’s RichestSelf-Made Women, whichappeared in the June 15th, 2015 issue of FORBES magazine.She’s the wealthiestmusician on the list.

Name:
Madonna Louise Ciccone

Age:
56

Estimated Net Worth:
$520 million

Source:
Music,Clothing, Real Estate

Summary:
One of the top pop divas of all time. Her tours havegrossed an estimated $1.2 billion over the years,including $305 million from her 2012 MDNA tour.That helped her earn an estimated $1...

1989 Tour Should Give Taylor Swift Her First $100 Million Year

Earlier this weekin Bossier City, Louisiana, Taylor Swift played eighteen songs to a sold-out crowd at the CenturyLink Center, kicking off the North American leg of her 1989 tour. But her performance at the 14,000-seat arena is just the beginning of what promises to be the best financial year of her career so far.

Swift’s tour, which is set to include more than 75 dates across three continents through the end of 2015, should mark the first time she tops the $100 million mark in annual earning...