In the past couple of years, we've all witnessed the stratospheric explosion of EDM, with DJs and beatmakers earning rabid followings, playing massive shows and making a ton of cash in the process. Just how much cash, you ask? To shed some light on the matter, Forbes has ranked the world's top 10 highest-paid DJs with its Electronic Cash Kings list.
According to the magazine's calculations, Dutch dance king Tiësto is the top-paid DJ in the world, having raked in $22 million in the past 12 months. Rounding out the top three are dubstep poster boy Skrillex and Scandinavian trio Swedish House Mafia. The lone Canadian in the top 10 is deadmau5, who came in at No. 6 with $11.5. That's not bad for just pushing play.
Forbes points out that DJs are especially profitable because of their low overheads -- they don't require much equipment and their production costs are often lower than many pop and rock acts. The bulk of their money comes from shows, with extra funds coming in through music sales, merch and endorsements.
Check out the list below. As you'll see, the DJs still have a little ways to go before they catch up with the Hip-Hop Cash Kings, but if they can start diversifying their brand, they might get there eventually.
Forbes' Electronic Cash Kings:
1. Tiesto - $22 million
2. Skrillex - $15 million
3. Swedish House Mafia - $14 million
4. David Guetta - 13.5 million
5. Steve Aoki - $12 million
6. deadmau5 - $11.5 million
7. DJ Pauly D - $11 million
8. Kaskade - $10 million
9. Afrojack - $9 million
10. Avicii - $7 million
According to the magazine's calculations, Dutch dance king Tiësto is the top-paid DJ in the world, having raked in $22 million in the past 12 months. Rounding out the top three are dubstep poster boy Skrillex and Scandinavian trio Swedish House Mafia. The lone Canadian in the top 10 is deadmau5, who came in at No. 6 with $11.5. That's not bad for just pushing play.
Forbes points out that DJs are especially profitable because of their low overheads -- they don't require much equipment and their production costs are often lower than many pop and rock acts. The bulk of their money comes from shows, with extra funds coming in through music sales, merch and endorsements.
Check out the list below. As you'll see, the DJs still have a little ways to go before they catch up with the Hip-Hop Cash Kings, but if they can start diversifying their brand, they might get there eventually.
Forbes' Electronic Cash Kings:
1. Tiesto - $22 million
2. Skrillex - $15 million
3. Swedish House Mafia - $14 million
4. David Guetta - 13.5 million
5. Steve Aoki - $12 million
6. deadmau5 - $11.5 million
7. DJ Pauly D - $11 million
8. Kaskade - $10 million
9. Afrojack - $9 million
10. Avicii - $7 million
