In the entertainment industry, DJs are doing well – a bit like Hollywood stars. But the rise to stardom is not easy. After the sudden death of internationally known DJ and producer Avicii in April 2018, who left a fortune of $85 billion, the world began to look at superstar DJs differently. So what’s happening in the music world right now? And, how much are the top DJs worth?
Top DJ Net Worth: Selling Dreams
Top-earning DJs have released music that was on the top charts for a long time. Names such as David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia, DJ Tiesto, and Avicii appear on the DJ Magazine, top DJ polls one year after another. In 2014, Forbes mentioned that DJs were the new rockstars, specifically in the world of electronic dance music or EDM.
Here’s a look at top DJ net worth and who these performers are.
1. Calvin Harris – $190 Million
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Adam Richard Wiles, also known as Calvin Harris is a 34-year-old Scottish DJ and record producer. Harris rose to stardom with his studio album I Created Disco, released in 2007 with world-famous singles Acceptable in the ’80s and The Girls. Today, Harris lives in Los Angeles where he performs regularly.
2. DJ Tiesto – $150 Million
The second top-earning DJ is Tijs Michiel Verwest also known as DJ Tiesto. Born and raised in the Netherlands, Tiesto started releasing songs in 1994. After his release of Just Be in 2006, the Dutch DJ and producer was knighted by the Queen of Holland. Tiesto also produced diverse genres of music, among them gabber, associated with early electronic hardcore music in Holland.
3. Swedish House Mafia – $100 Million
Third place belongs to Swedish House Mafia composed of three disc jockeys and producers. The DJ group is made up of Sebastian Ingrosso, Steve Angello, and Axwell. Formed in 1998 in Stockholm, the group released their world famous hit One (Your Name) in 2010 which hit #7 in the UK top chart.
4. Avicii – $85 Million
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Tim Bergling or Avicii was a Swedish DJ, remixer, and record producer. Found dead at 27 in Oman where he was on holiday last year, the young superstar DJ built an $85 million fortune in a decade. Suffering from numerous health problems, Avicii committed suicide with a broken wine bottle. His death somehow echoes the 27 club — the list of rock musicians found dead at 27.
5. David Guetta – $75 Million
The French house DJ and producer David Guetta has been on the list of the world’s richest DJs for the longest time. Guetta achieved international success with his hit single When Love Takes Over in 2009. Throughout his career, the French DJ worked with pop stars such as Madonna, Rihanna, and Akon, and received numerous DJ awards and two Grammy Awards as a producer.
DJs have the power to influence people and sell dreams. Dream makers, DJs, and record producers create tunes that stay with fans for a long time. Top music festivals across the world such as the Electric Daisy Carnival in the U.S. welcome more than 300,000 attendees. It’s possible that we can expect top DJ net worth to continue to increase in the future.
Do these numbers surprise you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Freelance writer and editor.