Even though it’s a little hard to tell what kind of music is actually pop music anymore (Taylor Swift? Usher? The Biebs?) there is one thing for certain; pop stars are wealthier than ever before. With so much money in the bank, today’s pop stars make millions and millions of dollars more than yesterday’s, even with the cost of inflation adjusted for. Read on to find out which 25 pop stars are the richest of all time.
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Katy Perry – $55 Million
Katy Perry is by far one of the most stylish and fun pop stars in the world, and her $55 million net worth shows just how much her fans love her. Her taste in men might be questionable – and maybe even her hair color at times – but there is no denying the fact that this is one singer who is making big bucks. Her collaborations feature some of the most famous rappers of all time such as Snoop Dogg and Kanye West, which just further shows how hot she really is.
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Ricky Martin – $60 Million
He’s everyone’s favorite Latin singer, and he’s been making money since he began his career. With a net worth of nearly $60 million, he’s not the richest pop star of all time, but he’s on the list. Ricky Martin might have thought his career would end after the world found out about his sexual orientation, but it seems to have done nothing but make him even more popular.
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Kylie Minogue – $66 Million
She’s a superstar in her own right. She’s fought cancer, she’s topped chart after chart and she’s more en vogue than ever before. Kylie Minogue sings some of the best dance songs of all time, and she’s a voice you hear regularly on loud speakers, from DJs and in the car on the radio. Her $66 million net worth just goes to show that she’s in it for the long haul.
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Rihanna – $85 Million
The Bermuda-born beauty was once a nobody, and now she’s one of the most famous and iconic pop stars of all time. Her fame didn’t take a hit when she made headlines for enduring abuse from ex-boyfriend Chris Brown, and she’s only become more popular in the past few years. Worth $85 million, she’s just going to keep rising up this list. She collaborates with big names, performs one fabulous show and always has a top hit at all times.
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Christina Aguilera – $100 Million
She’s currently expecting her second child, she’s been divorced, she started her career alongside other faces on this list through Disney and she’s a judge on The Voice. She’s also a killer singer with plenty of big hits and a voice unlike any other. If you want a power ballad; she’s your girl. Christina Aguilera might be a bit controversial, but she has a net worth of $100 million, so it’s not really affecting her too much.
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Jessica Simpson – $100 Million
J. Simp is not worth $100 million because of her singing career. She has a beautiful voice, but her pop star career was sort of short-lived. Instead, she’s found her way in the world doing just about everything else; she’s an entrepreneur for sure. She has a shoe collection, a clothing line, she’s the face of a major weight loss brand and she’s even had her own reality show. She’s worth a lot, and it’s because she works for it.
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Stevie Wonder – $110 Million
He’s got one of the loveliest voices in the world, and $110 million ways to prove it. Stevie Wonder may or may not be what many would consider a pop star, but he is a star with a big net worth and a long career making listeners smile. His music never goes out of style, no matter your age or preference, which is why he’s considered a pop singer in some circles.
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Pink – $110 Million
She’s got a dirty mouth, great lyrics, and a personality you can’t help but find awesome when you see her granting interviews. She’s always angry in her lyrics, but with a great twist of sarcasm. You hear her music on the radio and you turn it up, sing along and feel good about yourself. Her man-bashing, chic music is cool, and she’s got a net worth of $110 million to prove that people love what she has to say.
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Justin Timberlake – $115 Million
He’s another former Disney star with a big bank account. He began his career as part of the boy band N-Sync and went his own way after a few years, and it worked for him. He’s known for his smooth voice, his great dancing and his dance music. You can’t help but love J.T.
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Justin Bieber – $130 Million
It’s hard to believe that Justin Bieber is worth more than Justin Timberlake, but preteen girls do spend a lot of money on their idols, which might explain this. The Canadian-born pop star was big from day one when he was just a little teen with a pretty voice and shaggy hair. Today he’s a questionable law-breaker with an entitled attitude, so it seems. Let’s just hope this one uses his $130 million to find the help he needs before he ends up ruining his very young life.
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Usher – $140 Million
He’s got insane dance skills, a smooth voice and an R&B flair. In fact, Usher could be a pop star or an R&B star depending on which song you’re listening to. If it’s 7 o’clock and you’re in your drop top cruising the streets, it’s R&B. If you feel like shouting, “Yeah!” with Lil’ John, it’s pop. Either way, Usher’s long career and gorgeous voice have earned him a net worth of $140 million.
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Shakira – $140 Million
She’s a South American beauty with a killer voice that’s just a little edgy. Her songs have always been popular and her ability to dance certainly helps. Her pop music is frequently played in clubs because it’s perfect for dancing. She has $140 million in the bank to show that what she has to sing is always going to be loved by her fans.
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Robin Gibb – $148 Million
You might not recognize him by name, but he’s a member of the Bee Gees, one of the original pop groups ever formed. He’s worth $148 million, and has continued to amass more money since his 2012 death. The Bee Gees sing some of the most famous songs of all time, and the group’s music is still played at weddings, proms and just about everywhere in between.
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Taylor Swift – $150 Million
She’s a country cutie whose music is so popular it’s also played on every pop station in the world. She’s known for writing her own songs, particularly as they pertain to her old boyfriends. While it’s entertaining to her fans, guys might become a bit scared to date her if they don’t want to hear their personal stories played on every radio station on the planet for the rest of their lives. She has $150 million reasons not to care, however.
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Miley Cyrus – $150 Million
She’s made headlines recently for questionable behavior, but that doesn’t change the fact that this former Disney star is worth $150 million and she’s not going anywhere anytime soon. She started her career as a regular girl turned pop star living a secret double life with her once famous country star father on the Disney Channel’s hit show Hannah Montana. Now she’s edgy, rocker-ish and still worth more than most people.
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Janet Jackson – $150 Million
Over the course of her long career, Ms. Jackson has amassed quite the wealth. She’s had songs on the top of the charts for longer than many of the people reading this article have even been alive. It doesn’t matter, though, because everyone knows her music. She’s part of a multi-talented family, too.
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Lady Gaga – $190 Million
Mother Monster is one of the wealthiest pop stars of all time. With $190 million to her name, she’s got all the reason in the world to love her fans, as she proclaims she does. Lady Gaga is always making headlines, whether it’s for her hit pop music or her ensemble. She’ll always be the woman who wore a dress made solely of meat to an awards show. In fact, I’m not sure many people even know what she really looks like beneath the big wigs, bit hats and crazy clothes.
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Lionel Richie – $200 Million
His smooth, soulful voice and his romantic lyrics are some of the most famous of all time. Perhaps that’s why Lionel Richie is worth $200 million. Even if you are too young to have grown up listening to him, you know his music. It’s the kind of pop that makes you sway your hips, bob your head and smile because you know all the lyrics.
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Britney Spears – $200 Million
She’s another of the Disney lot to make it big – and very, very wealthy. She dated Justin Timberlake before she had a bit of a breakdown in front of the whole world, but she’s back on track now. Her music is dance music all the way; she’s also currently rocking a gig in Vegas that’s paying her a lot of money, only adding to her $200 million wealth.
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Cher – $305 Million
If you believe in life after love, you are part of the reason Cher is worth $305 million. Her long career has earned big bucks for the pop star. Once a part of the duo Sonny and Cher, she’s now just Cher. She’s still making music that’s making money and she’s certainly looking more fabulous than ever. She’s been a fashion icon for years, and her music is just about the only thing more popular than her bold looks.
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Beyonce – $350 Million
Jay-Z’s wife is worth more than he is, which is no easy feat. She’s not one for the limelight, typically avoiding interviews and talk shows in favor of performing for her fans and going back to her private life. However, her music, which began fronting the girl group Destiny’s Child, is the stuff pop legends are made of. She’s still singing, dancing, and making the rest of the world move to the beat even after spending half her life on stage and welcoming her first child two years ago.
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Shania Twain – $350 Million
She’s another of the pop star questions; is her music country or is it pop? Much like Taylor Swift, it’s a little of both. Shania Twain has been on the scene for a long time, singing dance tunes and love ballads that people dance to at their weddings. She’s got songs that everyone likes, even if they don’t particularly care for country music.
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Celine Dion – $400 Million
Celine Dion has one of the most beautiful voices of all time, and it’s worth about $400 million right now. She’s been singing since she was a teenager, and she has not lost her skill over the past several decades. She’s beautiful, elegant and can sing anything you throw her way. She’s also the famous voice behind the beautiful Titanic song that makes everyone think of Jack and Rose and their final goodbye.
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Mariah Carey – $500 Million
She’s a diva, but with $500 million in the bank, no one can blame her. She’s got the voice of an angel and the personality to entertain the world. She’s been singing for decades and no one has tired of listening to her yet. Her music has earned her a half billion dollars, and she’s not going to stop anytime soon.
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Michael Jackson – $600 Million
One of the most famous pop stars of all time (the most famous?), Michael Jackson would be one of the richest if he were still here to enjoy his money. Despite going through rumored financial problems shortly before his untimely death, the pop star is worth more now than ever before. His smooth moves, catchy tunes and questionable behavior did nothing but make him famous over the years, and his fame just continued to build his net worth.
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Madonna – $650 Million
The Material Girl is by far the richest pop star of all time. However, she has her music career and business ventures to thank for it. The Like a Virgin singer is an entrepreneur in her own right, as well as the woman we all grew up wishing we could be. Even after decades of singing, her fans are still listening and still wishing they could be Madonna. She’s still making music that’s topping charts and earning her big bucks.
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