Lady Gaga Tops Forbes List of Highest Earning Women

Lady Gaga crushed her female musician competitors in 2011, at the top of a list of highest earning women with an estimated $90 million in income, according to a Forbes.com survey.

Gaga made more than double her nearest rival, country/pop artist Taylor Swift, thanks to multiple endorsement deals and an estimated $1.3 million nightly gross ticket sales from her concert tour.

Swift earned about $45 million, thanks to her hit album “Speak Now”, perfume line, and other deals, just ahead of “Teenage Dream” singer Katy Perry with $44 million.

Forbes.com drew up its list from data on pre-tax income compiled through record sales, touring data and interviews with music lawyers, managers and concert promoters.

Beyonce’s 2011 income dipped to an estimated $35 million, mostly because of her relatively small amount of touring this year, but her new album “4″, fashion line, and two fragrances helped to put her in 4th place.

Rihanna rounded out the top 5, earning an estimated $29 million from sales of her album “Loud”, and endorsements from cosmetics company CoverGirl.

Taylor Swift Becomes Newest Covergirl

(PRNewsFoto/Procter & Gamble)

Multi-platinum singer-songwriter Taylor Swift can now add COVERGIRL to her list of accomplishments. The 20-year-old, GRAMMY award-winning star has just finished shooting her first advertisements for the beauty giant, and will represent a new line of luxury products for the brand. The ads are scheduled to debut in January 2011. Read more