Taylor Swift is reportedly the world’s richest female musician at $1.6 billion

Taylor Swift, the world’s biggest popstar and its most famous “childless cat lady,” is now also the planet’s wealthiest female musician, according to Forbes - a title was most recently held by singer and cosmetics mogul Rihanna.

Forbes estimates that Swift is worth $1.6 billion. When it comes to musicians, only hip-hop mogul Jay-Z is worth more than Swift, at $2.5 billion.

But what makes Swift’s fortune special is where it comes from. While most musicians have generated their wealth by cashing in on lucrative lifestyle brands and corporate partnerships, Swift has amassed her fortune primarily through her music.

According to Forbes, which tracks the net worth of the world’s richest people, she’s the first musician to become a billionaire chiefly through her musical success - including revenue from her record-breaking Eras tour and the value of her catalogue.

This should come as no surprise to the legions of Swifties who tried to get tickets for the Eras tour, which began in March 2023 and was the first in U.S. history to gross more than $1 billion. The tour has spanned five continents and gave the United States economy a $5.7 billion boost in 2023, according to a Washington Post analysis.

The success of the tour launched Swift to billionaire status for the first time in October last year. Forbes estimates that Swift has made $600 million in touring and royalties alone.

Forbes values Swift’s musical catalogue at another $600 million. That’s more than Bruce Springsteen’s, which he sold to Sony Music for $550 million in 2021, but less than Queen’s, which Sony Music acquired for $1.2 billion earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Swift’s wealthiest musical peers have largely owed their fortunes to lucrative side projects and partnerships.

Despite persistent pleas from her fans, Rihanna hasn’t released a studio album since 2016′s “Anti.” But the star’s cosmetics line Fenty Beauty, launched in 2017, catapulted her into the category. Forbes places the Bajan singer’s net worth at about $1.4 billion (Rihanna owns a 49.9 percent stake in the brand, which is valued at $2.8 billion.)

More and more the money is not made from actual music but from monetizing on their fame - and their brands. A similar calculus holds true for hip-hop’s first billionaire - and current world’s wealthiest musician. Jay-Z’s last studio album was a 2018 collaboration with his wife, Beyoncé, “Everything Is Love.” It was ranked only the 70th most popular album of that year, according to Billboard. The 54-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee has won Grammys and an Emmy for his work producing the Super Bowl halftime show, but his riches come primarily from his other businesses, including his champagne brand, Armand de Brignac (also known as Ace of Spades), and his cognac brand, D’Ussé. Jay-Z also has stake in companies such as Uber, CashApp parent company Block and music streaming service Tidal.

While Swift is on a break from the Eras tour - it resumes Oct. 18 in Miami - the singer has been flexing her political influence. Swift endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in September, citing Harris and running mate Minn. Gov. Tim Walz’s support of abortion rights, IVF and LGBTQ+ rights.

“She fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,” Swift said of Harris.