Madonna tops Forbes' 2013 list of highest-paid celebrities
She really is a material girl.
Pop star Madonna made more money than any other celebrity in the world over the last year, according to Forbes.
On Monday, the financial magazine released its list of 2013's highest-paid stars, and the Queen of Pop came out on top -- a surprise given the lackluster sales of her most recent album, "MDNA."
Released in March 2012, "MDNA" has so far managed to sell just 1.8 million copies, becoming the lowest-selling studio album of Madonna's career. Singles off "MDNA" like "Girl Gone Wild" and "Turn Up the Radio" failed to strike a chord with listeners.
But the 55-year-old singer's MDNA World Tour turned out to be a huge success, with a gross of $305 million. It became the 10th-highest grossing tour of all time, with many fans paying well over $100 for tickets.
Between June 2012 and June 2013 (the time period Forbes used to compile its list), Madonna took in $125 million, thanks in large part to her tour, merchandise sales and various financial investments.
Movie mogul Steven Spielberg came in at No. 2 on the list, with earnings of $100 million. As Forbes points out, Spielberg has an extensive catalog under his belt, with his films "always playing on TV somewhere in the world."
There was a three-way tie for third place. Howard Stern, Simon Cowell and author E.L. James each made $95 million. James' earnings came mostly from her "50 Shades of Grey" book trilogy, with a feature film adaptation currently in the works. Stern's earnings were primarily from his Sirius/XM radio contract and his role as a judge on "America's Got Talent," which Cowell co-created and serves as executive producer.
The complete Forbes list of top-earning celebrities can be found here.
