Madonna tops Forbes celebrity earnings list

GlobalPost

Madonna was the top-earning celebrity in the past year, according to a Forbes list released this week.

The 55-year-old material girl raked in $125 million between June 2012 and June 2013, trumping film director Steven Spielberg who came second with earnings of $100 million.

There was a three-way tie for third place between “50 Shades of Grey” author E.L. James, television personality Simon Cowell and radio shock jock Howard Stern, with a not-too-shabby $95 million each.

Forbes reckons it is the most money Madonna has made since the magazine began its Celebrity 100 list way back in 1999.

The pop star made a big chunk of the dough from her MDNA tour, which grossed $305 million after fans forked out upwards of $100 a ticket to hear her old hits “Vogue,” “Like a Virgin,” and “Lucky Star.”

Her earnings were also boosted by sales of clothing, fragrance and investments.

Of course, these figures are all just guess-timates.

Forbes compiles the earnings based on interviews with agents, managers, producers and other “in-the-know” people. They don’t include taxes, agent fees or other expenses of being a celebrity such as bodyguards, personal trainers, nutritionists, hair stylists ...

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