The 10 Most Powerful Musicians

Lady Gaga

Sometimes it pays to be weird. The Queen Monster grossed $170 million on 137 shows in 22 countries over the past 12 months and has sold an estimated 15 million albums worldwide. No surprise that advertisers want a piece—endorsement deals include Polaroid, Virgin Mobile, Monster Cable, Viva Glam and PlentyOfFish.com. A Russian billionaire reportedly paid $1 million to appear in her “Alejandro” video. Her new album, Born This Way, hit stores in May; the title track clocked one million downloads in five days, making it the fastest-selling song in iTunes history.

Justin Bieber

Though he may not know where Germany is, the cherubic crooner has attained international superstardom: his new album My Life 2.0 quickly attained platinum status, his concert movie Never Say Never grossed $100 million globally and Bieber’s live shows around the world bring in $600,000 in gross ticket sales per night. The music video for Bieber’s hit song “Baby” has been viewed a YouTube record 500 million times.

U2

The ageless rockers are wrapping up the most lucrative tour in the history of music. In April the group’s 360 Tour surpassed the Rolling Stones’ Bigger Bang Tour, which grossed $554 million from 2005 to 2007. By the time U2’s tour ends this summer, the band will have sold $700 million worth of tickets over two years and played to more than 7 million people.

Elton John

Sir Elton has sold 250 million records worldwide over the past 30 years and isn’t slowing down—he grossed $204 million performing 102 live shows in the past 12 months. The Rocket Man still has time for family. With partner David Furnish, he welcomed surrogate son Zachary in 2010. Lady Gaga is the tyke’s godmother.

Taylor Swift

Whether you consider her music country, pop or both, there’s no question that Swift is a moneymaking machine. Her new album Speak Now was certified triple-platinum barely a month after its October release. Touring brings gross ticket sales of some $750,000 per night. Just don’t break her heart: scathing love ballad “Dear John” was rumored to be directed at former flame John Mayer.

Bon Jovi

Who says you can’t go home? Bon Jovi opened New Jersey’s New Meadowlands Stadium with three consecutive sold out concerts last May and another in July. The band grossed $200 million playing 74 shows over the past 12 months and released a greatest hits album. Frontman Jon Bon Jovi was named to the White House Council for Community Solutions by President Obama.

Katy Perry

The "I Kissed A Girl" singer married actor Russell Brand in a traditional Hindu ceremony in India in October. Perry’s album Teenage Dream, released in August, boasted four chart-topping singles—making it one of only nine albums to accomplish that feat in the Billboard Hot 100's 52-year history. No stranger to business, Perry shills for Proactiv, Adidas and Ubisoft, and has her own perfume line, Purr.

The Black Eyed Peas

Their Super Bowl set may have earned them critical scorn but the Peas don’t care. The business-friendly rockers grossed $68 million on 62 shows around the world over the past 12 months and added to their coffers with lucrative endorsement deals with Samsung, Pepsi, Honda, Verizon, Chase and others.

Beyonce Knowles

The Houston-born diva ranks unusually low on our list because she didn’t tour or release an album over the past year. But her fourth solo effort, 4, is on the way. The simple title was reportedly selected by her fans and is also a nod to her April 4 wedding anniversary with hubby Jay-Z. In the absence of new revenue on the music side, business-focused Beyoncé cashes in on clothing line Dereon and endorsement deals with L’Oreal, DirecTV, General Mills and others.

Usher

The R&B heartthrob is credited with discovering Justin Bieber who he performed with at the 2011 Grammys. Usher’s 2004 album Confessions sold 10 million copies in the U.S. alone, making it the No. 2 best-selling album of the ‘00s. His latest was no slouch, either: Raymond v. Raymond was his third consecutive album to debut atop the Billboard charts.

THIS IS THE LINK

Cash Kings 2011: Hip-Hop's Top Earners

These stars banked more than any of their peers over the past 12 months.

This week, Jay-Z and Kanye West dropped their long-awaited collaboration, Watch the Throne. The album's timing and title couldn't have been more appropriate-the Empire State of Mindrapper is hip-hop's top earner with $37 million in the past 12 months, claiming his fourth Cash Kings crown in five years; his partner-in-rhyme ranked third.

Fueled by the tail end of his Blueprint 3 Tour and a vast portfolio of business interests, Jay-Z barely edged second-ranked Diddy-who raked in $35 million, roughly half of that total coming from a lucrative partnership with Diageo's Ciroc vodka-but handily topped West, who earned $16 million. The duo is steaming ahead with plans for co-headlining tour starting this fall.

"Jay-Z and Kanye are hip-hop ambassadors," says Steve Stoute, chief of Translation Marketing and author of The Tanning of America. "They bring the art form around the world, and they've taken production and everything to the next level. Now they've got a chance to grow with their global audience."

The Watch The Throne rappers aren't the only ones making millions by going global. Fresh off a eight-month jail stint, Lil Wayne released a new album and performed a slew of shows from Buffalo to Vancouver, netting $15 million over the past year. That sum tied him with his mentor and label boss, Cash Money Records co-founder Birdman, for the fourth spot.

"If we ain't number one now, we'll be there soon," said Birdman, in the midst of discussing his billion-dollar dreams with Forbes. Farther down the list, Swizz Beatz also looked to the future: "I will be #1 next year," he wrote in an email. Wiz Khalifa-whose high earnings landed him at No. 11-seemed pleasantly surprised to learn he'd be making his Cash Kings debut. "I'm one of them?" he exclaimed. "That's what's up!"

The Top 10

1. Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, $37 million --Hip-hop's reigning Cash King continues to reap the benefits of a 10-year $150 million Live Nation deal, as well as stakes in the New Jersey Nets, the 40/40 Club chain, ad firm Translation and others. This year marked the first time he out-earned wife Beyonce since their marriage in 2008.

2. Sean "Diddy" Combs, $35 million -- Music now accounts for less than 20% of earnings for the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy, thanks to big stakes in clothing lines Sean John and Enyce, record label Bad Boy and marketing firm Blue Flame. But it's his Ciroc vodka deal that led Forbes to estimate his net worth at $475 million this winter.

3. Kanye West: $16 million -- The self-proclaimed Louis Vuitton Don returns to the top three for the first time since 2009. His new album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, hit stores in November, earned critical raves and quickly went platinum. His follow-up, Jay-Z collaboration Watch the Throne, debuted on August 8^th.

4. Dwayne "Lil Wayne" Carter, $15 million -- The lyricist reportedly wrote his first song at age 8 and signed a record deal with Cash Money a year later. Today he's one of rap's richest, despite serving eight months in jail last year. His latest release, I Am Not A Human Being, made him the first artist since Tupac Shakur to have a No. 1 album while incarcerated.

4. Bryan "Birdman" Williams, $15 million -- The Cash Money chief continues to rake in cash from the label he cofounded, home to fellow Cash Kings Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj. Excluded from previous lists because we deemed him more executive than rapper, Birdman was included this year because most of his peers now have a similar job description.

6. Marshall "Eminem" Mathers, $14 million -- Eminem doesn't tour as much as many rappers and his outside business interests are limited, but music alone was enough to blast him back into the upper reaches of the list this year. His album Recovery sold 5.7 million copies worldwide and earned 10 Gramm nominations. Normally non-commercial, he added to his coffers with Super Bowl spots for Lipton and Chrysler.

6. Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Broadus, $14 million -- The ageless wonder of the West Coast turned in another strong year, boosted by new albumDoggumentary, heavy touring and endorsements with companies from Metro PCS to Pepsi Max. Icing on the proverbial cake: A verse on Katy Perry's smash hit "California Gurls."

6. Andre "Dr. Dre" Young, $14 million -- The man who launched the careers of fellow Cash Kings including Snoop Dogg, Eminem and 50 Cent keeps bringing in cash-namely from producer fees and Beats by Dre, his lucrative headphone venture with Interscope chief Jimmy Iovine.

9. Aliuane "Akon" Thiam, $13 million-- The Senegalese-American singer-songwriter-producer extraordinaire caked up on a string of international concerts from Australia to Zimbabwe, a lucrative World Cup spot with Pepsi, a host of business ventures and hit song "I Just Had Sex," which has garnered over 115 million YouTube views since its December debut.

10. Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges, $12 million -- The self-proclaimed Mouth of the South makes money from much more than just music. This year, he earned big on movie roles including Fast Five, No Strings Attached and New Year's Eve, as well as endorsements with Tag body spray and Trojan condoms. He also struck partnership deals to launch Soul By Ludacris headphones and a cognac called Conjure.

tHIS IS THE LINK

Five Surprising $100K Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree

1. Nuclear Power Reactor Operator (90th Percentile Pay: $128,000; Median Pay: $86,200)
D'oh! Are you prepared to follow in Homer Simpson's career footsteps? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of nuclear power reactor operators is expected to grow faster than average due to new plant construction and new rules to prevent operator fatigue.

Workers with vocational degrees will have advantages in finding jobs as well as more advancement opportunities. These workers typically undergo extensive on-the-job training.

Find nuclear power jobs.

2. Director of Security: Physical, Personnel, Grounds, et. al (90th Percentile Pay: $123,000; Median Pay: $68,700)

A director of security manages teams, systems and procedures that protect people and property against harm, fire, theft, vandalism and illegal activity. Duties may vary from one employer to another, but attention to detail is key -- in addition to protection, security personnel often must write detailed reports, interview witnesses and testify in court.

The key to a high salary in this position is stick-to-itiveness. Many people enter this profession in security guard jobs, and according to the BLS, opportunities for advancement are good because turnover is high. Guards with management skills (or advanced training) will move up in the field, or they may open their own security agencies.

Find security director jobs.

3. Licensed Massage Therapist (90th Percentile Pay: $112,000; Median Pay: $52,200) 

This career really lets you reach out and touch someone. Massage therapists can specialize in more than 80 different types of massage, including Swedish massage, deep-tissue massage, reflexology, acupressure and sports massage. The BLS predicts employment in this field will grow faster than average as more people learn about the benefits of massage.

This is a great career for people who need a flexible or part-time schedule -- many therapists work part-time or are self-employed. Most states require formal training before granting a massage license.

Find massage therapist jobs. 
4. Elevator Mechanic (90th Percentile Pay: $109,000; Median Pay: $72,900)
You'll move up in this career. This is another job with great prospects. Elevator mechanics are typically less affected by construction slowdowns, since much of the work involves maintenance and repair -- and not just to elevators. These workers also assemble, install and replace escalators, chairlifts, dumbwaiters, moving walkways and similar equipment.

According to the BLS, most elevator mechanics belong to a union and enter the occupation through a four-year apprenticeship program.

Find elevator techician jobs.

5. Court Reporter (90th Percentile Pay: $105,000; Median Pay: $57,200)
Let your fingers do the talking -- and earning. Court reporters create transcripts of speeches, conversations, legal proceedings, meetings and other events. The BLS says job prospects for certified court reporters are excellent and that growing demand for real-time broadcast captioning will spur employment growth in the field. 

THIS IS THE LINK

Most dangerous job ever

Fisherman

Median Annual Salary: $44,141*

Death rate: 200 per 100,000

Why it's so dangerous: Hauling and maneuvering nets or cages weighing several hundred pounds (or more) is tricky enough even without heavy rain, wind, slippery decks, and ice cold waves splashing and sloshing everywhere. And of cours

e drowning is always a very real possibility.

2. Logger

Median Annual Salary: $40,278*

Death rate: 61.8 per 100,000

Why it's so dangerous: Loggers work at great heights and on unstable, uneven terrain with chain saws and logging machines that are dangerous even when used properly. They're also required to negotiate the incredible momentum and massive weight of falling trees and tree limbs, often in inclement weather and in remote locations where proper health care faciltiies are not readily available.

3. Aircraft Pilot

Median Annual Salary: $117,948*

Death rate: 57.1 per 100,000

Why it's so dangerous: Bush flying, crop dusting, banner towing and piloting commercial flights are all included in this group. Crop dusting and bush flying are by far the most dangerous due to the fact that they fly in small planes, very close to the ground, and often work long hours. Also, as with all pilots, if something goes wrong there's little option other than to come crashing down.

4. Farmer/Rancher

Median Annual Salary: $30,450

Death rate: 38.5 per 100,000

Why it's so dangerous: Farmers and ranchers face an array of on-the-job hazards including being crushed or entangled by heavy machinery such as combines and balers, kicked or trampled by livestock, trapped inside silos or grain elevators, and exposed to toxic levels of pesticides and other chemicals. All this while working extremely long hours during planting and harvest seasons.

5. Roofer

Median Annual Salary: $36,895*

Death rate: 34.7 per 100,000

Why it's so dangerous: Heights, severe inclines, slippery surfaces, uneven footing, a lack of safety harnesses or netting, and tasks that usually require both hands, make falls are a very real possibility for roofers. Add in searing heat, wind, sun, and dehydration, and you have a potentially fatal workplace environment.

6. Structural Iron/Steel Worker

Median Annual Salary: $47,013*

Death rate: 30.3 per 100,000

Why it's so dangerous: No matter how coordinated, balanced, and focused you are walking 4-inch wide metal planks, climbing ladders, and dodging falling debris all day at dizzying heights (sometimes dozens or even hundreds of feet above the ground) is risky business.

7. Refuse Collector

Median Annual Salary: $35,945*

Death rate: 25.2 per 100,000

Why it's so dangerous: The seemingly mundane job of "garbage man" is a surprisingly hazardous one, in part due to risks associated with operating heavy lifting and compacting equipment, but mostly because of the way they ride from house to house clinging to the sides and back of their garbage trucks. They often perch precariously on narrow ledges and running boards -- just one little slip and they can easily be caught under the wheels of the truck and/or hit by passing traffic.

8. Industrial Machinery Maintenance Worker

Median Annual Salary: $46,645

Death rate: 18.5 per 100,000

Why it's so dangerous:Large-scale machinery designed to crush, melt, bend, or reform metal or other industrial materials can easily crush or mangle a human in seconds if something goes wrong. There's also the risk of fire or explosion, exposure to toxic chemicals, and falling or shifting debris.

9. Truck Driver

Median Annual Salary $*43,048

Death rate: 18.3 per 100,000

Why it's so dangerous: Driving is hazardous for anyone for any length of time but especially for those that drive for a living. Long hours and boring stretches of road make staying alert and focused a challenge, while high speeds, very large vehicles, and heavy loads make the consequences of even a small error or lapse exponentially more serious.

10. Construction Worker

Median Annual Salary $*66,422

Death rate: 18.3 per 100,000

Why it's so dangerous: Construction workers labor in all sorts of environments including underground, at great heights, and on busy highways and building sites. In addition they often work with hazardous materials, explosives, heavy equipment, and power tools.

11. Bodyguard 

When you are paid to serve as a human shield for a president, rock star or businessman, you know you have to say "I love you" to everyone every time you walk out the door. Kevin Costner was the most recent man to glamorize the profession, but there is no "bull" (bad pun) about it, "bodyguard" makes the list.

12. Bomb Squad

Can you say kamikaze? How many professions do you know that come close to this one in terms of facing risk and danger head-on? I always wondered what the failure rate is for bomb squad school.

13. Armored Car Guard

I was walking down the street once, enjoying a nice summer evening when I heard, "Stop, stand back!" I looked straight ahead and realized that I was staring down the barrel of gun. Puzzled (more like tipsy...), I asked "what did I do?" Lo and behold, the bank guards were loading cash into the ATM, and they had full discretion to blow my head clean off...

14. Policeman

The men in blue: policemen. Often chastised, vilified, criticized... sometimes justifiably, sometimes unfairly. Regardless, most times, a policeman is a sign of peace, calm and reassurance. These men and women have some of the most stress-packed jobs in the world.

15. Firefighter

Whether you're fighting a fire in the forest, killing the flames in a residential area or running into a burning house to save children and animals, there is a reason why women fancy firefighters; they're peaceful and help everyone despite all odds.

16. Miner

American society has shifted from industrial to more service-oriented, so "miner" is less mentioned in such lists. But this does not change anything, as this is one profession that leaves health concerns down the road and takes lives when accidents happen.