Sean 'Diddy' Combs4.jpg King of the hill Combs

Forbes has released its list of the top 100 highest-paid celebrities and occupying the number one spot is Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. He has earned the most this year with $130m, pushing him up from last year’s 22nd spot.
His success is attributed to his recent US tour, a marketing deal with a vodka company and selling a third of his Sean John clothing line.
Anticipating the joys of twin motherhood, has not slowed Queen Bey one bit. Beyonce Knowles joins P-Diddy in cracking the $100million mark and sits on the number two spot.
Harry Potter creator JK Rowling is back among the heavy hitters at the number three spot, but women comprise just 16% of the world’s top-earning celebrities.
However, Queen Bey’s husband Jay-Z only reached number 55!
Newcomers include Kylie Jenner, at number 59, who is the youngest list member at the age of 19.
Her earnings come from her family’s reality TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, as well as her cosmetics company and clothing line, plus various endorsements.
Half of the top 10 are made up of musicians.
Just two athletes make the top ten echelon with Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and basketball superstar LeBron James also making the cut.
Here’s a look at the top 20:

1. Big money maker Sean “Diddy” Combs, leapt up 21 spots from last year – $130m

Sean 'Diddy' Combs3.jpgThe top money maker Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs got the number one spot 

Grammy award-winning rapper Combs used to be best known for best-selling albums such as No Way Out and Forever.
But the entrepreneur’s business interests have catapulted him into the big time, and he’s jumped from number 22 in last year’s list to nab this year’s top spot.

2. Beyonce Knowles – $105m

Pregnant Beyonce and JayZ leave hotel in Venice Italy3.jpgBeyonce beat her husband Jay-Z [right], by 53 places at number 2

Queen Bey needs no introduction but she’s made a big leap up the chart, from number 34 last year. The breakdown comes largely due to profits from her Formation tour and her most last album ‘Lemonade’.

3. Biggest mover JK Rowling, jumps back into the top 100 headed for the top – $95m

JK Rowling4.pngJK Rowling returned to the top 100 

JK Rowling returns to the top 100, thanks to the publication of the two-part play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and the film release of Potter spin-off, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

4. Drake, doubling last year’s take – $94m

Drake2.jpgDrake has had a lot of endorsements 

The Canadian hip hop star has jumped from number 69 to number four, more than doubling his fortune through touring and endorsements with the likes of Nike, Sprite and Apple.

5. All time leading scorer for Real Madrid FC, Cristiano Ronaldo  – $93m

Cristiano Ronaldo3.jpgPerennial Golden Boots winner is still up among the winners 

The Real Madrid footy star drops just one place on this year’s list.
On top of his soccer earnings, the current Fifa world player of the year also has a line of branded products including underwear and jeans, plus a lifetime deal with Nike.

6. The Weeknd. The entertainer joins the big leagues in the sixth position – $92m

The Weeknd 2The Weeknd cracked the top 10 for the first time 

The Weeknd has cracked the top 10 for the first time, having made it to number 30 last time round. His latest album, Starboy, had the third-largest debut sales week in the US of 2016.

7. Radio shock jock Howard Stern, hanging on tight – $90m

Howard Stern2.jpgHoward Stern is halfway through a five-year radio contract 

US “shock jock” and self-styled “king of all media” Howard Stern holds on to the seventh spot he occupied last year.
The former America’s Got Talent judge is currently part way through a five-year deal with Sirius XM Radio.

8. Coldplay – $88m

Coldplay2.jpgA massively successful tour has propelled Coldplay into the top 10 

Coldplay return to the list following the success of their worldwide Head Full of Dreams tour, which finished in Australia and New Zealand in December.
That’s good news for the charity sector, as the band donate 10% of their profits to good causes.

9. Prolific author James Patterson – $87m

James Paterson2James Patterson is collaborating on a novel with Bill Clinton

This author has published more than 130 titles in his name and is believed to be the world’s best-selling living author.
Former US president Bill Clinton is currently writing a novel about the White House in collaboration with him.

10. No slouch on or off the court LeBron James – $86m

LeBron James1.jpgLeBron James has had tons of endorsements 

Probably the US’s best-known basketball star, the Cleveland Cavaliers player’s $31m (£24.4m) salary in 2016-17 made him only the third NBA player to earn $30m in a season after Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.He’s also endorsed brands such as Nike, Coca-Cola and Beats by Dre.

11. Guns N’ Roses – $84million
Guns N' Roses1.jpg

12. Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh – $84million

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Conservative radio talk show host Limbaugh is tied with Coldplay at $84million

13. Singer Justin Bieber – $83.5million

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Singer Justin Bieber hovers around what appears to be a benchmark for some years now at 83.5million

14. Lionel Messi – $80million
 Lionel Messi1.jpg

15. Dr. Phil McGraw – $79million
Dr. Phil McGraw1

 

16. Ellen DeGeneres – $77millionEllen DeGeneres1.jpg


17. Bruce ‘ The Boss’ Springsteen – $75million

Bruce Springsteen1.jpg

18. Adele – $69million
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19. Jerry Seinfeld – $69million
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20. Actor Mark Wahlberg – $68million

Mark Wahlberg1.pngActor Mark Wahlberg rounds up the rop 20 at $68million

 

21. Metallica $66.5million

22. Dwayne Johnson $65million

23. Roger Federer $64million

24. David Copperfield $61.5million

25. Kevin Durant $60.6million

26. Garth Brooks $60million

27. Elton John $60million

28. Gordon Ramsay $60million

29. Ryan Seacrest $58million

30. Chris Rock $57million

31. Vin Diesel $54.5million

32. Paul McCartney $54million

33. Red Hot Chili Peppers $54million

34. Louis C.K. $52million

35. Jimmy Buffett $50.5million

36. Adam Sandler $50.5million

37. Andrew Luck $50million

38. Rory McIlroy $50million

39. Jackie Chan $49million

40. Calvin Harris $48.5million

41. Robert Downey Jr. $48million

42, Stephen Curry $47.3million

43. Dave Chappelle $47million

44. Judy Sheindlin $47million

45. James Harden $46.6million

46. Lewis Hamilton $46million

47. Kim Kardashian West $45.5million

48. Drew Brees $45.3million

49. Taylor Swift $44million

50. Simon Cowell $43.5million

51. Phil Mickelson $43.5million

52. Tom Cruise $43million

53. Kenny Chesney $42.5million

54. Steve Harvey $42.5million

55. Luke Bryan $42million

56. Celine Dion $42million

57. Jay-Z $42million

58. Sofia Vergara $41.5million

59. Kylie Jenner $41million

60. Bruno Mars $39million

61. Tiesto $39million

62. Russell Westbrook $38.6million

63. Sebastian Vettel $38.5million

64. Damian Lillard $38.4million

65. Shah Rukh Khan $38million

66. Jennifer Lopez $38million

67. The Chainsmokers $38million

68. Novak Djokovic $37.6million

69. Amy Schumer $37.5million

70. Tiger Woods $37.1million

71. Salman Khan $37million

72. Neymar $37million

73. Bill O’Reilly $37million

74. Dolly Parton $37million

75. Ed Sheeran $37million

76. Dwayne Wade $36.2million

77. Fernando Alonso $36million

78. Sean Hannity $36million

79. Rihanna $36million

80. Bon Jovi $35.5million

81. Akshay Kumar $35.5million

82. Billy Joel $35million

83. Dr. Dre $34.5million

84. Florida Georgia Line $34.5million

85. Toby Keith $34.5million

86. Jordan Spieth $34.5million

87. Derrick Rose $34.3million

88. Usain Bolt $34.2million

89. Gareth Bale $34million

90. Conor McGregor $34million

91. Britney Spears $34million

92. Kei Nishikori $33.9million

93. Fletcher Cox $33.4million

94. Clayton Kershaw $33.3million

95. Chance The Rapper $33million

96. Katy Perry $33million

97. Carmelo Anthony $32.6million