Taylor Swift vs Rihanna, who is richer? 'Bad Blood' singer's net worth hits a whopping $1.6B

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Taylor Swift has officially overtaken Rihanna to become the world’s richest female musician — with her net worth now at a whopping $1.6 billion.

The pop star's rise has been nothing short of incredible — and it was confirmed on Saturday, October 5, when Forbes updated its numbers. Swift’s fortune has surged following the massive success of her record-breaking Eras Tour and the continuing popularity of her extensive music catalog.

But it goes beyond being the wealthiest female musician: Swift has now climbed to the number two spot on the list of richest musicians overall, right behind Jay-Z.

The rap mogul is still the top dog with a staggering $2.5 billion fortune. So while Rihanna’s net worth remains at a solid $1.4 billion, Taylor has soared past her and only has Jay-Z left to catch up with.

Rihanna vs Taylor Swift

What makes Taylor Swift’s journey stand out is the way she earned her billionaire status. When she first joined the billionaire club in October of last year, it was noted that she was the only musician in history to reach that level of wealth primarily through her recordings and live performances.

Unlike others who might lean on various business ventures, Swift’s fortune is largely based on her music career.

A year after she first hit the billionaire mark, Forbes now estimates that Swift’s wealth includes $600 million from royalties and touring alone. Another $600 million comes from the value of her extensive music catalog, which includes not just her re-recorded albums but her entire body of work.

On top of that, she has $125 million in real estate holdings. All of this combined has pushed her total wealth to the new $1.6 billion mark. It’s worth mentioning that back in 2020, Swift’s net worth was valued at $365 million, which means she’s accumulated over $1.2 billion in the past four years.

While Taylor has taken the crown for the moment, Rihanna still holds a distinguished title of her own. Though her current net worth is $1.4 billion, she once had a peak valuation of $1.77 billion — making her the Richest Female Musician of All Time, Consequence reported.

However, Swift might not be far from stealing that title as well. With her Eras Tour still ongoing and set to wrap up later this year with final dates in the US and Canada, there’s a good chance her net worth could increase even further, putting her in the position to claim Rihanna’s record.

Taylor Swift’s endorsement sparks drama

Taylor Swift has also been making waves in politics. Recently, she publicly endorsed Kamala Harris for president in the upcoming election. Taking to Instagram, Swift shared a photo from her Time Person of the Year cover story and made it clear where she stands.

"I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election," she wrote. "I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos. I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades."

The endorsement, of course, didn’t sit well with Donald Trump. Following Swift’s statement, Trump took to his own social media platform Truth Social, and declared that he "hates" the pop star, even suggesting she might "pay a price for it in the marketplace."

The former president's comments may have turned his supporters further against the singer, some of whom went as far as destroying memorabilia — including one man who allegedly smashed a guitar supposedly signed by Swift.