DJs are the ones who can make thousands of people jump together with their magic with electronic beats. They know exactly how to manipulate the BPM that can raise your heartbeat with a thrilling essence. DJs are well renowned in every country and their versatility allows them to work with dynamic artists as well whether it is a pop singer or a rapper. The nightclubs, pubs, festivals, and musical carnivals are the most exciting when a DJ starts the set and that is why; there is a huge demand for them.
The highest-paid DJs in the world are the ones who earned their fortunes with nothing but sheer will, talent, and individuality. Whether it is performing in a gig or gaining additional income through remixes and online streaming; the top DJs around the world are quite wealthy and they are also the richest music artists in the industry. Let’s find out more about the top DJs around the world who set an example with their success and financial progress in the industry.
1. Calvin Harris:
When it comes to the top-paid DJs around the world, Calvin Harris remains at the top with his gigantic music empire that he created with years of DJing and record producing. He has been continuously making hit tracks from the beginning of his career and all of his tours and live concerts are sold out till now. The DJ has made significant progress and a great fortune out of his talent which also makes him one of the greatest and most successful music artists in the industry.
Harris received his first breakthrough in the industry with the tracks like ‘We Found Love’ with Rihanna and ‘I’m Not Alone’. He has also experience working with singers like Katy Perry and other music producers such as Pharrell Williams. What brought more fame to Harris’ musical collection are the live DJ sets that he played in different music festivals and shows that could make the crowd go crazy. He built a strong reputation as one of the best DJs in the world and started earning quite handsomely in the early days of his career.
He has been making somewhere around $46 million between 2012 and 2013. He constantly boosted his net worth in the following years by improving his craft even further along with other musical ventures. Currently, he is the label owner for Fly Eye Records and also the co-owner of the Tidal streaming service. He also owns some luxurious residencies in Las Vegas.
Net Worth - $300 Million
2. Gianluca Vacchi:
It is not always about the music but the business mindset that helps an artist gain bigger chunks of profit. Gianluca Vacchi is one of those DJs who did not only make money from music but also from dynamic business ventures. He is not only a talented DJ but also a businessman and entrepreneur from Italy. He and his cousin established a multinational Italian business Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A. (IMA) which allowed him to create great fortune.
With diversified wealth investment, he got a taste of the Playboy lifestyle while he could pursue his passion for DJing even further. Social media played a big role in this man’s musical career as he first received attention by sharing his musical work on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. He got the chance to perform with many other big-name DJs such as Nicola Zucchi, Steve Aoki, Christian Lena, and others. After signing the deal with with Spinnin’ Records, the DJ produced many tracks and could be often seen making guest appearances on stages.
Net Worth - $200 Million
3. DJ Tiësto:
Dutch DJs seem to be more powerful than the rest and that is what further established by music producer DJ Tiësto. Hailing from Netherlands, he is one of the highest paid DJs around the world who has been reigning in the music industry for several decades now. After struggling for a decade, the DJ first got his breakthrough with David Guetta along with his early releases which were gritty and hardcore. Back then, he used to team up with Da Joker and DJ Limited.
By the time of early 2000s, this talented DJ started touring with the legends like David Bowie and Busta Rhymes and he made plenty of progressive house tracks. In 2004, he was considered a Dutch icon by the Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Tiësto has been working in the industry for a long time now and he is also the first DJ ever to perform at the Olympic Games in 2004. He is best known for his versatility and unpredictability which makes his works unique and commercially sound with profits. He utilizes DJ transitions, effects on the mixer, EQ, and his creative mind to keep the crowd jumping at the concerts. His exceptional skills once helped him gain $250,000 for a single evening’s work only.
Net Worth - $170 Million
4. David Guetta:
Every specialized genre has a father or pioneer for it and David Guetta is the one for DJing. This French DJ and music producer is a veteran in the music industry right now who started his career in the mid-1980s. However, his most active years as a musical can be considered as the last decades. With his prolific music career, this DJ is making a great number of his musical creations. Till now, he has received more than 10 billion streams online along with 10 million album sales and 65 million single sales.
Guetta is a sharp-minded DJ who received much love and appreciation from music lovers around the world. He also participated and headlined in many events such as Tomorrowland and Listen Tour in 2014-15. His unique DJing skills are comprised of all kinds of DJing techniques that help him to stand out among other DJs or potential competitors. With so much of activities, Guetta’s annual income is at least $18 million and it goes up to $40 million in the profitable years. He is one of the most experienced and expensive DJs who became the best DJ in 2011 with a fan’s choice.
Net Worth - $150 Million
5. Steve Aoki:
American DJ and record producer Steve Aoki is one of the most versatile DJs in the industry who brought a new creative wave and instantly became one of the hottest and wealthiest DJs globally. For the list of highest-paid DJs in 2012, he ranked at the top and is still one of the most successful artists ever. His estimated annual income is somewhere between $30 million to $40 million. He has been DJing since the 1990s and he helped to pioneer and establish electro-house music in California.
This DJ has worked with a dynamic list of artists which includes rappers like Eminem and Kanye West as well as other DJs like Afrojack and Diplo. His professionalism and tremendous passion for craft helped him to effortlessly create a huge fanbase around the globe. The DJ has increased his net worth by making guest appearances and headlining in multiple festivals. His music is purchased and utilized for the production of entertainment mediums such as TV shows, video games, and music videos for other artists. He is the true epitome of talent and success.
Net Worth - $120 Million
6. Swedish House Mafia:
Usually DJs perform alone but that does not happen in this house. Swedish House Mafia is group of DJs that specializes in house music and it was established back in 2008. They have made some significant progress within a short span of time with their ability to resonate with the mass audiences. This DJ group is comprised with the powerful members namely Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso. They are also best known as music producers with an extended collection of musical creations.
The group has participated in multiple shows, live events, and festivals like Tomorrowland, Ulta Miami, and Creamfields and it helped them rack up a huge amount of money. Swedish House Mafia also offers many live shows and tutorial-like sessions that can help young and passionate DJs learn and nurture their skills. Their shows offered amazing light, impressive visuals, and spectacular music which made each show a house-full event. Each of the members of the group has also gained much attention with their solo careers.
Net Worth - $100 Million
7. Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (Daft Punk):
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Everybody developed an ‘Instant Crush’ for this dynamic DJ duo known as Daft Punk. Whether it is their futuristic helmets or the clever use of electronic vocals, Daft Punk always stood out for their smooth and crispy musical creations. Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo is one of the members who is quite popular as a DJ, singer, songwriter, and record producer as well. He established Daft Punk with Thomas Bangalter and is still one of the best DJs in the world. Their work back in the 1990s was avant-garde and mesmerized people by building a bridge between the past and the present. They performed in various prestigious nightclubs in Paris as well as all around the world. With their musical popularity, they earned a massive amount through record sales of singles and album projects. Working under the labels of Virgin and Warner Music has also helped them to improve their net worth. What makes Homem-Christo more successful is his own record label, called Crydamoure.
Net Worth - $90 Million
There are some special mentions as well such as, Skrillex and The Chainsmokers who took the youth by storm. Their high-octane and groovy compositions helped become popular, successful and favorites to many. Another DJ who could have been the most successful DJ by now is Avicii who the industry lost too early. He started at the age of 16 and unfortunately passed away when he was 28 years only. He will always be a part of the top DJs.
