Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women 2024 list: Taylor Swift named top entertainer, followed by Oprah and Beyonce
In another “it’s Taylor Swift‘s world and we’re all just living in it” moment this year, the singer has been named the most powerful female entertainer by Forbes.
The magazine’s 21st annual 100 Most Powerful Women list was released overnight and while the 34-year-old was the first performer on the long list, she didn’t make it to the Top 10.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen topped the list followed by a raft of other women from politics, business and philanthropy, including Melinda French Gates and MacKenzie Scott.
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The ex-wives of Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, respectively, both used their multibillion-dollar divorce settlements to start major philanthropic endeavours.
Swift, with a current net worth $US1.6 billion ($2.5 billion) according to Forbes, came in at No.23 on the list.
“Taylor Swift became a billionaire in October 2023, thanks to the earnings from her Eras Tour and the value of her music catalog,” the editor said of the 14-time Grammy winner.
“Swift is the first musician to make the billionaire ranking primarily based on her songs and performances.”
Oprah Winfrey was the next entertainer on the list, 10 places down at No.33, while Beyoncé trailed closely at No.35.
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Australian businesswoman Gina Rinehart was the first of four Aussies to make the list, coming in at No.50.
The mining magnate, who is Australia’s richest citizen according to Forbes, was followed by managing director of Macquarie Group, Shemara Wikramanayake, at No.58.
Former prime minister Julia Gillard came in at No.88 on the list for her philanthropic, rather than political, work.
“In April 2021, Gillard became the chair of the UK’s Wellcome Trust, a biomedical research foundation with a more-than £36 billion ($72 billion) endowment,” Forbes said.
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Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour in numbers
Aussie businesswoman Melanie Perkins, 37, the founder of design software Canva, made it in at No.90 and is among the youngest on the list.
But the youngest person to make the list is 22-year-old American basketballer Caitlin Clark, who came in at No.100.
In the week when Swift ended her record-breaking world tour and turns 35, she’s also finished the year at No.24 on Forbes‘ list of America’s Self-Made Women 2024.
It’s understood the singer’s Eras Tour raked in more than $US2 billion ($3.14 billion) across its 21-month stretch – with 149 shows across five continents.
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