(LOOTPRESS) – Pop superstar Taylor Swift has officially been named the world’s richest female musician, reaching a net worth of $1.6 billion, according to Forbes. At 34, Swift’s rise to billionaire status was propelled by her record-breaking Eras Tour and her latest album releases. She now surpasses Rihanna, whose net worth recently dropped to $1.4 billion from a previous high of $1.7 billion.
Swift first crossed the billion-dollar threshold in October 2023, largely due to the financial success of The Eras Tour and her newly recorded albums. Remarkably, Swift is among the few musicians to reach billionaire status through music alone, without major outside ventures, according to Bloomberg.
The Eras Tour kicked off in Arizona in March 2023 and spanned the U.S. throughout the summer, concluding its first leg in Los Angeles in August 2023. Swift then took the tour international in February 2024, with performances set to wrap up in December. The tour is projected to generate $1.5 billion in revenue, depending on ticket prices, as reported by Forbes. In addition, Swift’s concert film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, released exclusively in theaters on October 13, 2023, earned $92.8 million during its opening weekend.
Following her billionaire milestone, Swift released her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, in April 2024, further boosting her earnings in an era where many artists have struggled due to the shift to digital streaming.
“Taylor is in a unique position when it comes to monetizing her talent,” branding expert Doug Eldridge told FOX Business. “While many artists lost millions as album sales were replaced by digital downloads, she has adapted to the tech wave, thriving in the modern music landscape.”
Dr. Sonja Stribling, a retired U.S. Army Major and author of From the Battlefield to the Boardroom, echoed this sentiment, saying Swift has reshaped the music industry for female artists. “Only a small fraction of people in the industry will achieve what she has, and she makes it look effortless,” Dr. Stribling said.
“It’s not just about the money,” she added. “Taylor is creating a pathway for others to follow. She and Beyoncé are leading the way for women in the industry, setting high goals and paving the way for the next generation of artists.”
As Swift continues to break barriers, she’s poised to leave an indelible mark on both the music industry and the world of business, inspiring countless others along the way.
