Madonna still the Material Girl as income tops $125m

She’s still the Material Girl. Pop diva Madonna, 55, is the world’s top-earning celebrity, according to a Forbes list, raking in an estimated $125m (€93m) in the past year, mainly from her $305m-grossing MDNA tour, but helped by sales of clothing, fragrance, and various investments.

Steven Spielberg — who had a big hit last year with Lincoln — was a distant second with earnings of $100m in the year to June, most of which came from his catalogue of past hits such as ET and Jurassic Park, which continue to bring in big money.

“Madonna’s success, at age 55, just goes to show the incredible power of a successful music career,” Forbes reporter Dorothy Pomerantz said, noting that Lady Gaga has been channelling Madonna’s career.

“The young star is certainly emulating Madonna when it come to raking in money,” Forbes said, with her $80m in earnings largely from the singer’s Born This Way Ball world tour, placing Gaga 10th on the list.

Forbes compiles its annual list of celebrity earnings using input from agents, managers, producers, and others to calculate its estimates for each celebrity’s entertainment-related earnings.

The figures do not reflect tax deductions, agent fees or “the other expenses of being a celebrity”.

Oprah Winfrey took a big pay cut this year, according to Forbes, falling to No 13 on the list with earnings of $77m.

At No 3 with earnings of $95m in the past year was a three-way tie among Fifty Shades of Grey author EL James, radio shock jock Howard Stern, and music and television producer Simon Cowell.