Dr Dre Hits 'Forbes' Top Highest Paid Musician List [PHOTO]

Posted on December 10, 2012

Congratz to Dr. Dre who ranked No. 1 on Forbes’ Highest-Paid Musicians 2012 list Dre has earned an astounding $110 million based on his Beats by Dr. Dre headphones line. He walked away with a reported $100 million pretax when handset maker HTC paid $300 million for a 51% stake in the company last year. He and his partners later bought back half of what they sold.

Also who made the cut on the top 25 list were Rihanna who comes in at No. 12 with $53 million thanks to her endorsements with Vita Coco and Armani Jeans, her fragrance Reb’l Fleur, and her “Loud” tour.She is followed by Lady Gaga at No. 13 with $52 million. Diddy ties with Katy Perry for the No. 14 spot ($45 million). Beyoncé holds it down at No. 18 with $40 million, while her husband Jay-Z lands two spots below with $38 million.

Forbes’ Highest-Paid Musicians 2012

  1. Dr. Dre – $110 million

  2. Roger Waters – $88 million

  3. Elton John – $80 million
  4. U2 – $78 million
  5. Take That – $69 million
  6. Bon Jovi – $60 million
  7. Britney Spears – $58 million
  8. Paul McCartney – $57 million (tie)
  9. Taylor Swift – $57 million (tie)
  10. Justin Bieber – $55 million (tie)
  11. Toby Keith – $55 million
  12. Rihanna – $53 million
  13. Lady Gaga – $52 million
  14. Foo Fighters – $47 million
  15. Diddy – $45 million (tie)
  16. Katy Perry – $45 million (tie)
  17. Kenny Chesney – $44 million
  18. Beyoncé – $40 million
  19. Red Hot Chili Peppers – $39 million
  20. Jay-Z – $38 million
  21. Coldplay – $37 million
  22. Adele – $35 million (tie)
  23. Kanye West – $35 million (tie)
  24. Michael Bublé – $34 million
  25. Sade – $33 million