AC/DC & U2 Top Earnings Charts

Band\'s rake in the millions over past 12 months

U2 have topped the Forbes Rich List of rock musicians in the past 12 months, despite Bono’s recent health problems.

The band topped the rich list with total earnings of $130m (£84.9m) in the past 12 months – and that is despite Bono being sidelined by a back injury that scuppered the band’s tour in May. Rolling Stone reports that U2’s 360 Tour earned a total of $311m in revenue but each show cost the band $750,000 to put on.

AC/DC follow on the list with a massive $114m earned from their Black Ice World Tour.

Bruce Springsteen also appears on the list in fourth spot.

Here’s the top 10 for the past 12 months:

  1. U2: $130m (£84.9m)
  2. AC/DC: $114m (£74.5m)
  3. Beyonce Knowles: $87m (£56.8m)
  4. Bruce Springsteen: $70m (£45.7m)
  5. Britney Spears: $64m(£41.8m)
  6. Jay-Z: $63m (£41.1m)
  7. Lady Gaga: $62m (£40.5m)
  8. Madonna: $58m (£37.9m)
  9. Kenny Chesney: $50m (£32.6m)
  10. Black Eyed Peas/Coldplay: $48m (£31.3m)

AC/DC also topped the mid-year top touring earners last month, when it was revealed that their tour from November 2009 to June 2010 had earned them a worldwide gross of $118,077,773 and they played to a total of 1,097,407 fans.