For this episode of the Beyond The Billions podcast, Forbes Deputy Editor Giacomo Tognini chats with entertainment and media reporter, Matt Craig. They delve into the business of music’s biggest stars, examining how global icons like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are not just breaking records, but establishing billion-dollar empires. Their discussion will analyze the immense wealth of these superstars, focusing on strategies ranging from unprecedented stadium tours to lucrative catalog acquisitions. Plus, they’ll get into how tough it is to actually become a billionaire in the music industry and predict which musicians might make the cut for that exclusive group in 2026.
00:00 This Week In Billionaires…
02:15 A Day In The Life Of An Entertainment Reporter
03:51 Beyoncé’s Billion-Dollar Pivot: Inside The Beehive
07:52 The Stadium Revolution: Mini-Residencies & Tour Logistics
11:29 The Billionaire Ceiling: Why It’s So Hard To Hit Ten Figures
16:59 The Weeknd’s $1 Billion Headline: Creative Deal-Making
20:10 Taylor’s Version: Driving A $360 Million Bargain
25:45 2026 Predictions: Ariana Grande & The Next Music Billionaires
To read more about Beyonce becoming a billionaire: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattcraig/2025/12/23/beyonce-is-now-a-billionaire/
To read more about the highest paid musicians of 2025: https://www.forbes.com/sites/martinadilicosa/2025/12/30/the-highest-paid-musicians-of-2025/
To read more about Chinese AI model developers: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ywang/2026/01/09/founder-of-chinese-ai-model-developer-minimax-becomes-a-billionaire-as-shares-surge-on-listing/
To read more about OpenAI’s Chinese challenger: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ywang/2026/01/08/chinese-openai-liu-debing-challenger-zhipus-ipo-mints-new-billionaire/
To read more about billionaires who could profit from the Venezuelan incursion: https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2026/01/08/these-wall-street-billionaires-are-set-to-profit-from-trumps-venezuela-incursion/
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