Global music icon Beyoncé has officially been declared a billionaire by Forbes, becoming the fifth musician to enter the business magazine’s exclusive list of the world’s wealthiest entertainers.

The American superstar now joins an elite group that includes Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen and her husband, Jay-Z, whom Forbes estimates to be worth $2.5 billion (£1.85 billion).

Earlier this month, Forbes had valued Beyoncé’s net worth at $800 million (£593 million), projecting that she would cross the billionaire mark following a series of highly successful projects spanning music, touring, film and brand partnerships.

A major driver of her financial leap was the 2023 Renaissance World Tour, which grossed nearly $600 million, cementing her status as one of the most commercially powerful artists in global pop music. The tour marked her first solo outing in seven years and was followed by a concert film that Beyoncé produced herself and distributed directly through a partnership with AMC Theatres. The film earned $44 million (£33 million) worldwide, with Beyoncé reportedly retaining close to half of the proceeds.

Her momentum continued with the release of her 2024 album Cowboy Carter, a critically acclaimed project that explored and celebrated the Black roots of country music. The album earned Beyoncé her first Grammy Award for Album of the Year after four previous nominations, a milestone achievement in her decades-long career.

Forbes also estimates that the Cowboy Carter tour generated more than $400 million in ticket sales, alongside an additional $50 million from merchandise. The tour featured high-profile guest appearances, including Jay-Z, two of the couple’s three children, and Beyoncé’s former Destiny’s Child bandmates.

Despite breaking ticket records at major venues such as London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Paris’ Stade de France, the tour faced challenges in some markets, with promoters cutting prices to boost attendance. Nevertheless, it recorded the highest top-priced concert ticket of any artist visiting the UK in 2025, with premium seats selling for up to £950, while the lowest-priced tickets cost £71.

Beyond music and touring, Beyoncé’s earnings were bolstered by lucrative media and commercial deals. Forbes said a special halftime performance during Netflix’s first Christmas Day NFL game generated an estimated $50 million, alongside a further $10 million from a series of Levi’s advertising campaigns.

Meanwhile, the billionaire status of musicians continues to attract debate. Bloomberg, which maintains its own billionaire index, recently included Selena Gomez with a reported net worth of $1.3 billion (£962 million). However, Forbes has disputed the figure, instead valuing Gomez’s wealth at approximately $700 million (£518 million).

Beyoncé’s rise to billionaire status underscores her evolution from chart-topping artist to global business powerhouse, driven by strategic control of her music, performances and brand. (AriseNews TV)

•Beyonce attends the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (photo credit: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

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