The EDM artist raked in an estimated $46 million over the past year, edging out DJ Tiesto and David Guetta.
- Aug 16, 2013
AceShowbiz - Scottish DJ Calvin Harris tops Forbes' Highest Paid DJs List after earning an estimated $46 million over the past 12 months coming mostly from live performances on the road and including income from endorsements, production deals and song royalties. It's considered an astonishing feat since the 29-year-old record producer didn't even make it to last year's list when Forbes compiled it for the first time.
Now his estimated earnings were more than enough to take the No. 1 spot from last year's highest paid DJ Tiesto, who despite improving his annual earnings from $22 million to $32 million could only manage second place. Even the third and fourth highest paid EDM acts this year overshadowed the Dutch DJ's previous $22 million pay packet with French DJ David Guetta pulling in $30 million and Swedish House Mafia bringing in $25 million.
As expected, the other top EDM acts/DJs also made it to the coveted list, with Deadmau5 making it to No. 5 with $21 million and Swedish DJ Avicii trailing close at No. 6 with $20 million. The rest of the list was likewise closely contested with a million dollars separating them from one another: Afrojack with $18 million, Armin van Buuren with $17 million, Skrillex and Kaskade each with 16 million.
Just outside the top ten at No. 11 is Steve Aoki with $14 million while rounding up the top 12 money makers is "Jersey Shore" cast member DJ Pauly D who made $13 million from his career as a DJ, something that he was already doing before he starred on the hit reality TV show.
