10 Highest Paid Celebrities in the World

Forbes conducted a survey to find out who the highest paid celebrities of 2019/2020 were. Controversies and lots of money involved are on the list of those who will receive the most dollars in a single year. Some may appear only once in Forbes and others have had their fortunes challenged by the brand, but all together they add up to just over $1.5 billion.

Different industries are present in the celebrity list, the influence on their fans and the power to drag crowds, goes a long way to the income of each of these entertainment stars, whether it be from music, film, sports, or any area of public knowledge.

Top 10 Highest Paid Celebrities in the World

10. Dwayne Johnson

87.5 million dollars

Dwayne Douglas Johnson or popularly known as The Rock, was born in 1972 in Hayward, California, in the United States, is a multi-platinum, former soccer player at the University of Miami, actor and producer, but his fame came thanks to wrestling, inheriting his father’s gift, The Rock made fame and fortune in WWF and WWE, the main professional wrestling company in the world.

Already in the movies, he is the highest paid actor in the world, receiving in the year, 87.5 million dollars, but the awards received by The Rock go beyond the screen, advertising is Johnson’s great ally, sponsorships and major commercial events, he is also one of the great movers of real estate.

9. Howard Stern

90 million dollars

Born in 1954 in New York City, USA, Howard Allan Stern, is a humorist, broadcaster, and writer who popularized his distinctive voice on SiriusXM radio, one of North and Central America’s leading rock and pop radio stations. Stern is known for being visionary in discovering bands and ways to improve the radio listening experience.

Known as “The King of All Media” he profits from film and series production, soundtracks, humorous screenplays, books, radio and television programs, and photography. His past contracts still make Stern a financial success, from his book “private parts” negotiated for $1 million and the production of the film of the same name for $40 million.

Stern is a fan of political incorrectness and features acid humor in his radio and television programs, sued several times, reversed some of them and increased his estate that is valued at more than $400 million.

8. Roger Federer

90 million dollars

Born in 1981 in Basel, an important Swiss city, Roger Federer is one of the greatest tennis players in history. He started playing tennis at the age of eight, then joined the badminton and basketball team, tried soccer, but it was in sports with rackets that he did well and built his winning career and his fortune.

According to a survey by Forbes, Roger Federer has a net worth estimated at around US$ 500 million, acquired through titles, multi-sponsorships, advertisements, and partnership brands with his signature. In annual earnings, Federer has ranged between $90 million and $106 million, in 2020 was the year the Swiss made $90 million. About 5% of all Roger Federer’s annual earnings go to his charity, Roger Federer Foundation, in aid of children in Africa.

In 2008 Federer’s contract with Nike was worth $120 million, in 2018 after the contract ran out, Federer signed with the unknown Japanese brand Uniqlo for $300 million. In mansions, one in Dubai and another on Lake Zurich in Switzerland, valued at $8 million each, Federer also owns a collection of Mercedes-Benz cars, being an ambassador for the company.

7. Neymar Jr

95 million dollars

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, born in 1992 in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, since he was 5 years old already drew attention for his practiced sport, soccer. Considered by the Brazilian press as one of the best footballers in the world, Neymar was the 6th highest paid athlete of 2020, $95 million was credited to the athlete.

Salary at Paris Saint Germain, advertisements, poker and personal sponsorships make Neymar a well paid athlete, Neymar’s net worth is valued at around $600 million. Neymar owns several mansions throughout Brazil, many in the name of his friends who share the residence in Paris, in Santa Catarina in the player’s name, three mansions valued at $ 5 million were purchased.

The IRS charged Neymar Jr and his father and businessman Neymar Santos, R$ 69 million in taxes and fines, this amount is due to a tax evasion when he transferred from Santos to Barcelona in Spain, the value ran in court and in 2018 was in $ 200 million. The companies in the name of Neymar Jr are: NR Sports, N&N Sports and Business Consulting and N&N Asset Management.

6. LeBron James

96.5 million dollars

Born in 1984 in Akron, Ohio, in the United States, LeBron Raymone James, a professional basketball athlete, is considered one of the greatest athletes in the sport in the entire history of American sports. In the NBA, LeBron has an important position and has been one of the highest earning athletes for long years, in 2020 it was $96.5 million.

James after titles, salaries, advertising, sponsorships and acting in feature films, accumulates a net worth of $500 million. Forbes estimated his earnings at $71 million in 2017, $86 million, in 2018 at $85.3 million and in 2019. LeBron James’ contract with Nike totals $700 million. LeBron is one of the athletes most involved in charity and social equality.

A multi-time champion with two Olympic gold medals for the US national basketball team and four NBA titles, Miami Heat twice, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles lakers once each, LeBron has won titles everywhere he has played, this has earned him MVP rings, best of the season, valued at $1 million each.

5. Tyler Perry

97 million dollars

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, Emmitt Perry Jr, known as Tyler Perry, is an actor, author, director, screenwriter, producer, and comedian, and is one of the highest paid men in entertainment. Perry is the creator of an iconic and popular character, Madea, a grumpy old woman, in which he plays.

Perry has a fortune valued at $1 billion, derived from movies, television shows, radio, and sold-out productions. Prince Harry and Meghan, when visiting the United States, stayed at the mansion that Perry lent them.

A friend of Oprah’s, Perry received about $97 million in 2020. In addition to producing Madea, A Family Funeral, he has 17 feature films, 20 plays, seven television shows, a book, and his name is also behind a studio headquarters in Atlanta.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo

120 million dollars

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, born in 1985 in the city of Funchal, Madeira Island in Portugal. He is one of the greatest athletes in the history of soccer and also one of the best paid in the history of the sport. Several records mark the history of the Portuguese player, who built his career on and off the pitch. Ronaldo owns 5 gold balls, the award given to the best athlete of the year around the world.

More than 120 million dollars were destined to Cristiano Ronaldo in 2020, salary, advertising, ventures, Ronaldo is a money machine, Armani, Clear, Toyota, are brands with millionaire contracts with the athlete, the value of the contract between Ronaldo and Nike is about 170 million Euros until 2026, after the end of the contract will be remade for life. Cristiano Ronaldo owns the Pestana CR7 Hotel, set in Madrid, New York and Lisbon, the athlete’s largest enterprise.

The Portuguese athlete was honored in Portugal with his name officially inserted in the Cristiano Ronaldo Airport in Lisbon, a city that also has a museum about the player’s life. Cristiano Ronaldo is second only to instagram itself in followers and is the most influential personality of all social networks. Cristiano donates about 30 million dollars around the world in charity to help children and build schools and hospitals, being named in 2015 the most charitable athlete in the world.

3. Lionel Messi

130 million dollars

Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini, born in Rosario, Argentina in 1987, is one of the greatest athletes in the history of soccer and also one of the best paid, Messi has six gold balls, the award given to the best athlete of the year around the world and in 2020 was the 2nd highest paid athlete in the world with received more than 130 million dollars.

Messi has an estate valued at over $500 million, and with his departure from Barcelona in Spain to Paris Saint Germain in France, Messi has agreed to a millionaire annual salary of over $40 million. In addition to the salary, advertising, ventures and investments, about $33 million in advertising alone. Adidas intends to sign a lifetime contract with Messi after his career ends, the player makes more than 20 million euros with the supplier.

Forbes, Times and other financial sources estimate that Messi should be the first billionaire athlete in a few years, Messi invests in several areas in Spain and Argentina. Lionel Messi has ties to charities, social and humanitarian aid, victims of childhood cancer, and stimulating sports around the world, dedicating part of his annual earnings to social causes and using his image for free to mobilize charity auctions.

2. Kanye West

170 million dollars

Born in 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States, Kanye Omari West, is one of the richest rappers in the world, is also a producer, composer and businessman, known for his songs and various controversies, is one of the best paid celebrities in the world, totaling more than $ 170 million.

Kanye West besides earning a lot of money with music, he receives a large part of his money with production in his record label and paid appearances, advertising and partnerships. Collaborations as stylists for major brands have made Kanye West richer.

Forbes disputes Kanye West’s fortune valued at $2.2 billion, West claimed to have the equivalent of $3 billion. Kanye West has accounted for losses after his divorce from Kim Kardashian. Kanye West is selling off his ventures to boost his fortune and remain among the most billionaires in music. West asked for the title of richest black man in the world, but was also contested, West is not the richest black man in the United States, but Robert F. Smith, of Vista Equity, with an estimated fortune of $6 billion. Aliko Dangote of Nigeria, on the other hand, with a value of $11.8 billion.

1. Kylie Jenner

500 million dollars

Kylie Kristen Jenner was born in Los Angeles, California, in the United States in 1997 and since childhood she was a model, at 14 she already had her own clothing brand along with her sister Kendall Jenner, in 2015 she launched her own line of cosmetics and is among the most influential media personalities in the world, Jenner reached the pinnacle of fame by participating in the reality show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” of the American channel E!

At the age of 21, Kylie Jenner, had her net worth reach $1 billion, making her the youngest billionaire in the world, but Forbes disputed the title which was then withdrawn after evidence of falsification about Jenner’s fortune surfaced. In 2020 the model and half-sister of the Kardashians, received $500 million in pay, money that came from her ventures, sponsorships, advertisements and due to the reality show in which she participates.

Jenner’s fortune is officially valued at around $700 million, a fortune that increased after she became the mother of Stormi Webster, the daughter she had with rapper Travis Scott. Kylie Jenner is a businesswoman and has several mansions and luxury cars, has reached the mark of 250 million followers on instagram, and is a brand ambassador.