Top 10 Highest-earning Entertainment Stars of 2022

Who are the highest-earning entertainers of 2022? We've compiled a list of 10 of the most successful stars, ranked by their earnings. Here they are:

10. Bob Dylan – Earned $130 Million

Bob Dylan, an American singer-songwriter, is considered one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. He has sold more than 125 million records worldwide and won multiple Grammy Awards—and recently signed a deal with Sony Music Entertainment for a massive paycheck.

9. Ryan Tedder – Earned $160 Million

Ryan is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer best known as the front man of OneRepublic. He has written hit songs for artists like Adele, Beyonce, and Jennifer Lopez: Many of which he sold an investment firm last January.

8. Tyler Perry – Earned $165 Million

Tyler Perry is a playwright, producer, director, and actor. His huge earnings are thanks to a lengthy production deal with BET and the 330-acre Atlanta studio he owns.

7. Paul Simon – Earned $200 Million

Paul Simon is an American singer, songwriter, and actor best known for being a member of the boy band NSYNC. In March, he sold hundreds of song compositions to Sony for millions each.

6. Matt Stone + Trey Parker – Earned $210 Million

Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of South Park, are another pair of multi-media success stories. They have won multiple Emmys, a Tony Award, and two Oscars for their work on the animated series.

Their success is still going strong: The duo just signed a six-year, $900 million deal with Paramount+ in August.

5. Kanye West - Earned $235 Million

Kanye West is a rapper, songwriter, and fashion designer. He has been nominated for 21 Grammy Awards and won six.

His most recent and largest business venture, the Yeezy line of footwear, is also one of his most profitable.

4. Dwayne Johnson ("The Rock") – Earned $270 Million

Dwayne Johnson is an actor, producer, and former professional wrestler. He is the highest paid actor in the world, but still earns most of that giant paycheck from Teremana, his tequila brand.

3. Jay-Z – Earned $340 Million

Jay-Z is the first rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as an artist in 2018.

But despite huge sales numbers, his earnings are largely thanks to two of his big-name creations: the music streaming platform Tidal, and the champagne brand Armand de Brignac.

2. Bruce Springsteen – Earned $435 Million

Bruce Springsteen is a singer and songwriter who has sold more than 65 million records worldwide. He is also the recipient of 20 Grammys and two Academy Awards.

That makes it no surprise to learn how much Sony Music Group paid the artist for his entire back catalog of music at the start of the year: nearly $500 million.

1. Peter Jackson – Earned $580 Million

As the renowned director of Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson's films are famous for their special effects. But his earnings in 2022 aren't thanks to any film release.

Instead, Jackson sold a chunk of Weta Digital—his digital effects firm—to Unity Software in November. The price tag for such a powerful acquisition? A mere $1.6 billion.

Conclusion

As difficult as it is to break into the industry, it's clear that entertainment still offers plenty of opportunities for its stars to make it big. So, who do you think will be next?