NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • Deloitte Fast 50
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Entertainment

70s band Genesis top Forbes list of 2022’s highest-paid entertainers

NZ Herald
14 Feb, 2023 07:19 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
James Cameron and Taylor Swift both made the top 10 Forbes list of highest-paid entertainers in 2022. Photos / Getty Images

James Cameron and Taylor Swift both made the top 10 Forbes list of highest-paid entertainers in 2022. Photos / Getty Images

Forbes have the world - and social media - aghast, announcing that Genesis were the world’s best paid entertainers last year – in spite of the band’s front man Phil Collins announcing his step back from touring on account of his frailty.

Apparently, the rock icon can hardly hold a drumstick and was seen in a wheelchair at his last ever show following years of ailment, according to The Sun.

However, Collins and his Genesis band pals Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks and former rockers Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett were at the top of the 2022 Forbes list of the world’s highest-paid entertainers.

Taylor Swift, James Cameron and Brad Pitt were all among 2022’s highest-paid entertainers – but you won’t believe who beat them all. Photo / Getty Images
Taylor Swift, James Cameron and Brad Pitt were all among 2022’s highest-paid entertainers – but you won’t believe who beat them all. Photo / Getty Images

The band had their most profitable year yet thanks to their selling of the rights to their back catalogue of songs and Collins’ iconic solo tunes, including In The Air Tonight for US$300m ($474m).

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

They also made a few dimes from royalties, on top of touring, with Genesis playing their last ever show at London’s O2 Arena in March 2022.

As a result, Genesis topped the rich list for the first time, making US$230m ($363m) after fees and other costs were deducted.

Phil Collins of Genesis performs during their The Last Domino Tour at Little Caesars Arena. Photo / Getty Images
Phil Collins of Genesis performs during their The Last Domino Tour at Little Caesars Arena. Photo / Getty Images

Collins jested that he would have to get “a real job” following Genesis’s final concert. However, it seems the rock star has no need for a nine-to-five now that the group has sold their music rights to Concord Music Group.

Police front man Sting came in at second in the top 10. He made US$300m ($473m) from selling his back catalogue of songs, which, after deducting all the expenses, saw him take home US$210m ($332m).

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Rolling Stones took seventh place with US$98m ($155m) following their European Sixty Tour.

Taylor Swift was the only woman on the list, making US$92m ($145m) and coming in ninth.

Taylor Swift was the only woman on the Forbes Top Ten list. Photo / Getty Images
Taylor Swift was the only woman on the Forbes Top Ten list. Photo / Getty Images

Forbes Top 10

1. Genesis – US$230 million ($363 million)

2. Sting – US$210 million ($332 million)

3. Tyler Perry – US$175 million ($276 million)

4. Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park creators) – US$160 million ($253 million)

5. James L Brooks and Matt Groening (The Simpsons creators) – US$105 million ($167 million)

6. Brad Pitt – US$100 million ($156 million)

7. Rolling Stones – US$98 million ($155 million)

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

8. James Cameron – US$95 million ($150 million)

9. Taylor Swift – US$92 million ($145 million)

10. Bad Bunny – US$88 million ($139 million)

Save
    Share this article

Latest from Entertainment

Opinion

Jason Momoa's 'Chief of War' turns to NZ amid Hawaiian film industry struggles

Premium
Entertainment

James Gunn didn’t want to make Superman - what changed his mind?

Entertainment

George Clarke: Homes in the Wild - Trailer

Watch

Sponsored

Sponsored: What have you missed? Tips and tricks for home DIY

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Entertainment

Jason Momoa's 'Chief of War' turns to NZ amid Hawaiian film industry struggles
Opinion

Jason Momoa's 'Chief of War' turns to NZ amid Hawaiian film industry struggles

OPINION: The series stars Momoa as a chief in the reunification of Hawaii.

02 Aug 03:20 AM
Premium
Premium
James Gunn didn’t want to make Superman - what changed his mind?
Entertainment

James Gunn didn’t want to make Superman - what changed his mind?

01 Aug 09:00 PM
George Clarke: Homes in the Wild - Trailer
Entertainment

George Clarke: Homes in the Wild - Trailer

Watch
01 Aug 08:00 PM


Sponsored: What have you missed? Tips and tricks for home DIY
Sponsored

Sponsored: What have you missed? Tips and tricks for home DIY

31 Jul 04:21 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP