Jay-Z & Beyonce Land Atop Forbes' Top-Earning Couples List
Published: Thursday - November 20, 2008
Words by Liz "Red" Thomas
Jay-Z and Beyonce (Photo: Getty Images)
Who are the top earning couples in Hollywood? Forbes.com just released their list of Hollywood's 20 Top-Earning Couples, and there's a few familiar faces in the urban realm who made the cut.
Atop the list is hip-hop royalty. Thanks to a huge year and huge business deals, Jay-Z and his new bride Beyonce landed at no. 1 on the magazine's list, after collectively raking in $162 million from June 1 of 2007 to June of 2008.
The couple's empire includes Jay's the highly publicized deal with Live Nation where the company would take a stake in everything from his music to his merchandising. It was worth a reported $150, in which he banked an estimated $82 million from, according to Forbes. Beyonce on the other hand sold $50 million in concert tickets and endorsement deals.
Following Jay and B, is Hollywood power couple, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. Together, the couple hauled in nearly $85 million over the past year, putting them at no. 2 on Forbes' list. Will earned $80 thanks to movie blockbusters such as "I Am Legend," "The Pursuit of Happyness," and "Hancock," while Jada pulled in $5 million for several different jobs including roles as an actress (The Women), producer (The Human Contract), and businesswoman (a stake in beauty line Carol's Daughter).
NBA star Tony Parker and actress Eva Longoria came in on the list at no. 9, earning a combined $22.5 million last year. He made $10.5 million last year playing for the San Antonio Spurs, and from endorsement deals with VitaminWater, FedEx, Nike, Electronic Arts and Kelloggs. Eva, on the other hand, raked in $9 million from her role on "Desperate Housewives," and her own endorsement deals with L'Oréal, Bebe and Samsung.
At no. 15, earning over $15 million is singer Seal and supermodel Heidi Klum; at no. 18 is actor Josh Duhamel and rapper Fergie, who raked in $13 million; and rounding out the list is Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez, who earned a reported $11 million last year.
"Naturally, powerful people tend to gravitate toward other powerful people," clinical psychologist and celebrity researcher Jim Houran told Forbes. And it looks like he's right.
The list also includes Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, David Beckham and Victoria Beckham, and country music power couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, among others.
To check out the mag's full list of Top-Earning Couples, check it out at Fobres.com.
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