Forbes unveils 2015 ‘World’s Highest Paid DJs’ list

Scottish DJ Calvin Harris (aka Adam Richard Wiles) has topped Forbes magazine’s highest-paid DJs list for the second year.

Earning US$66m in the annual scoring period (June 1 2014 - June 1, 2015), Harris surpasses #2 David Guetta by $29m and beat out the world’s highest paid actress Jennifer Lawrence, who earned $52m. 31-year-old Harris ties his own earnings record for DJs, which he set last year when Forbes reported he also earned $66m. His endorsement include lucrative agreements with Giorgio Armani and Sol Republic.

The placing marks the second time Harris has topped a Forbes list this year; in June, the magazine named Harris and Taylor Swift the highest-paid celebrity couple, with $146 million combined.

Tiësto rounds out the Top 3, earning $36m in the scoring period from over 100 live dates, recorded music sales and endorsement deals with Guess and 7UP. This year the Dutch DJ was also named a main judge and figurehead for the US version of Australia’s six-year-old DJ competition, Your Shot.

The #4 placing is tied this year, with Skrillex and Steve Aoki both earning $24m in the scoring period. Interestingly, the pair both have their own record labels: OWSLA for Skrillex and Dim Mak for Aoki.

24-year-old Swedish DJ Avicii takes #5 this year, having taken home a reported six-figure sum for each club show. Missing from the list is fellow 24-year-old and Skrillex protégé Zedd, who out-earned his mentor last year with $21m.

Forbes estimates artists’ earnings by collating income from live shows, merch sales, recorded music sales, endorsements and external business ventures. It uses Nielsen, Songkick, Pollstar and RIAA as its sources, as well as promoters, managers, lawyers “and some of the artists themselves.”

See the Top 9 below or over at the Forbes website.

1. Calvin Harris ($66 million)
2. David Guetta ($37 million)
3. Tiësto ($36 million)
4. Skrillex ($24 million) tied with Steve Aoki ($24 million)
5. Avicii ($19 million)
6. Kaskade ($18 million)
7. Martin Garrix ($17 million) tied with Zedd ($17 million)
8. Afrojack ($16 million)
9. Deadmau5 ($15 million) tied with Diplo ($15 million)