The Weeknd beats Taylor Swift and Beyoncé in highest paid musician ranking

The Weeknd has been named the highest paid musician of 2025, according to Forbes, adding another milestone to a career that has already produced some of the biggest commercial successes in modern music. The Canadian superstar, born Abel Tesfaye, reportedly earned $298m during the year, placing him ahead of fellow music heavyweights Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.

The ranking was highlighted as part of Forbes’ Iconoclast 50 list and reflects a year in which The Weeknd continued to dominate both the touring and recording industries. Much of his reported income came from his hugely successful AFTER HOURS TIL DAWN TOUR, which became one of the most lucrative concert tours ever staged by a solo artist.

According to Forbes, The Weeknd’s earnings were driven by several revenue streams. Alongside profits generated from more than 40 live performances during 2025, he also benefited from a major catalogue deal involving his music rights. The combined impact of touring, streaming and business agreements helped elevate him to the top spot among musicians worldwide.

The AFTER HOURS TIL DAWN TOUR has been one of the defining live music events of the decade. Live Nation previously confirmed that the tour surpassed $1bn in gross revenue after selling more than 7.5 million tickets across 153 shows spanning North America, Europe, Latin America and Australia. The achievement established the tour as the highest grossing ever by a solo male artist.

The Weeknd’s commercial success has also been supported by the continued popularity of his catalogue. Songs such as “Blinding Lights”, “Starboy” and “Save Your Tears” remain among the most streamed tracks of the streaming era, while his 2025 album Hurry Up Tomorrow debuted strongly and further strengthened his position as one of the industry’s biggest global stars.

Forbes placed Taylor Swift second on its highest paid musicians ranking with estimated earnings of $202m, while Beyoncé followed in third place with $148m. Other artists in the top tier included Kendrick Lamar, Coldplay and Shakira, demonstrating the continued financial power of large scale global touring.

The latest recognition underlines how The Weeknd has evolved from a breakout artist of the early 2010s into one of music’s most commercially successful figures. More than a decade after first emerging with House of Balloons, he now sits at the top of Forbes’ earnings rankings, supported by a record breaking tour, a powerful catalogue and an audience that continues to fill stadiums around the world.