Forbes released its annual list of highest-paid celebrity couples and Beyonce and Jay-Z were crowned as the highest paid dynamic duo.
Albums released by both of R&B/hip-hop’s number one couple last year certainly helped bolster those numbers, with Jay-Z’s international tour also providing a substantial boost. The pair took home about $78 million last year, besting the former champions Gisele Bundchen and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady by $6 million. The ladies were actually the leading bread winners within the top two, with Beyonce’s various endorsements and clothing like House of Dereon helping her break $40 million, compared to Jay-Z’s $38 million. Gisele continues to out earn her husband as the world’s heighest paid model, bringing in a shocking $45 million on her own, easily beating out Brady’s combined $27 million from his NFL contract and endorsement deals.
British superstars David and Victoria Beckham moved up the list into third place this year, with a combined $54 million, the majority of which comes from David’s advertisement deals, and his big-time contract with the MLS’s Los Angeles Galaxy. Victoria’s post Spice Girl endeavors have included forays into fashion, as her self-titled line scores annual sales of $40 million, and is growing at a rate in the double digits. The top five is rounded out by a pair of Hollywood couples known for big-time blockbusters, with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie bringing in $45 million, while Will and Jada Pinkett Smith bring home $40 million, respectively.
Though they may be one of the entertainment world’s highest profile new couples, Kim Kardashian and Jay-Z’s Watch the Throne partner Kanye West didn’t manage to make it on to the list. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart tumbled from their fifth place slot on last year’s list, but that may be due to recent reports of infidelity, rather than financial losses.
