With the release of Forbes’ list of the Highest-Paid Celebrities of 2015, it has been revealed that Katy Perry is the highest paid musician this year. The 30-year-old pop singer, famous for her numerous global hits such as “Roar” and “Firework,” earned approximately $135 million this year, outranking mega-stars such as One Direction and Taylor Swift who placed number four and number eight on the list respectively.
Katy’s revenue this year comes from many ventures including her 126-city Prismatic World Tour, during which she grossed approximately $2 million per city. Furthermore, Katy also sold approximately $20 worth of merchandise to each audience member at all of these shows. In late September, Katy will embark on the Latin American leg of this tour (Leg 6), beginning with her performance at the Jockey Club del Peru in Peru’s capital city, Lima. Katy’s partnerships with Covergirl, Claire’s, and skincare brand Proactiv greatly contributed to her income this year as well.
Also in the works for Katy is a new mobile application for the iPhone and Android. Earlier this year, Perry signed a deal with Glu Mobile, the same mobile company that launched Kim Kardashian’s widely popular game “Kim Kardashian: Hollywood.” Representatives from Glu Mobile state that Katy’s mobile game will feature her likeness, personality, and even her voice (which is not a part of the Kardashian application). This product is set to be released during the fourth quarter of this year and, if popular, will likely catapult Katy’s earnings of 2015 to more than $200 million.
Originally from Santa Barbara, California, Katy has certainly worked her way up from struggling artist to global pop sensation. Before getting signed with Capitol Records, Perry had a very difficult time finding success and only managed to book shows in small clubs and coffee shops. However, after her hit single “I Kissed A Girl” had its big break on major radio stations, it was all uphill from there. If Katy continues to work as hard as she does now and frequently release albums, there is no doubt that she will continue to be an extremely successful artist for many years to come.