Taylor Swift might find the blow of last week’s Twitter spat softened somewhat by the news that she’s Forbes magazine’s top earning celebrity with a cool $170 million coming into the coffers last year.
In second with a nearly as bank manager-pleasing $110m are One Direction, which means Niall Horan earned more in 2015 than the members of U2 who are back in 30th having to share $55m and shopping in Aldi.
Third place goes to that one-man thriller publishing industry James Patterson whose retirement fund swells by another $95m.
Jointly placed at no. 4 with $88m are respective top TV and sports earners Dr. Phil and Cristiano Ronaldo. Lional Messi is at no. 8 with a measly $81.5m.
Elsewhere, no. 6’s Kevin Hart becomes the first comedian to out-gross Jerry Seinfeld with his $87.5m.
Adele is at no. 9 with $80.5m while Madonna and Rihanna weigh in at no. 12 and no. 14 with $76.5m and $75m pay-days.
Garth Brooks, who’s rumoured to be Ireland-bound in 2017, bags the no. 15 position with $70m.
The world’s top grossing band (sorry One Direction but you ain’t one!) are AC/DC at no. 17 with $67.5m. One place below them with $66.5m are the Rolling Stones.
Top of the EDM pile at no. 21 is Calvin Harris whose turntablist activities have earned him $63m.
Other notable earners are Jackie Chan $61m, Bruce Springsteen $60.5m, Paul McCartney $56.5m and Justin Bieber $56m.