Taylor Swift tops Forbes celebrity rich list

Taylor Swift has been named Forbes' top-earning celebrity. Photo/AP

Forbes has named its top-earning celebrities for the past year, but the No 1 placeholder could have taken out another title if it wasn't for a break-up.

Taylor Swift was named No 1 on the 2016 Forbes Celebrity 100 list after the 26-year-old singer made US$170 million (NZ$236m) over the past year.

Swift's earnings came from her 1989 world tour, along with sponsorship deals with brands including Diet Coke, Keds and Apple.

The Shake It Off hitmaker - currently dating actor Tom Hiddleston, 35 - more than doubled her earnings of US$80 million from the previous year.

And she is set to rake in the cash after partnering with Glu Mobile Inc on a new game.

Speaking in February, Glu Chairman and CEO Niccolo de Masi said: "Bringing with her over 227 million social followers, I am thrilled to welcome Taylor Swift, an award-winning singer, musician and songwriter, to Glu's family. We understand that Taylor and her global fan base expect a new and highly differentiated mobile gaming experience ...

"Glu is equally committed to designing never-before-seen gameplay elements that use Taylor's unique creativity. Accordingly, we will spend the required development time to ensure this innovation is achieved."

Meanwhile, Swift's former boyfriend Calvin Harris, who she split from in May, takes the No 21 spot on the list with US$63 million.

Forbes reports that if they had stayed together they would have been the top-earning Celebrity 100 couple.

Swift beat off competition from One Direction (US$110 million) who placed second on the list, Kevin Hart at six with US$87.5 million, Howard Stern in seventh place (US$85 million), Adele at nine with US$80.5 million, Madonna in 12th place (US$76.5 million), Rihanna at number 12 (US$75 million) and Katy Perry at No 63 (US$41 million), to take the top spot.