That you can make a lot of money as a celebrity should come as no surprise. But some really take the cake. Who are the top 10 highest-paid celebrities in the world? And what did they earn? We can already tell you that these are staggering amounts.

Since 2021 is not over yet, we are looking at the year 2020.

Highest paid celebrities in the world

To keep it a bit exciting, we count down from number ten to number one. This list is based on Forbes figures. You can also see the entire top 100 there.

10. Dwayne Johnson

Earns per year: 73.6 million euros

Actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson needs no introduction. Why did he make this list? In 2020, he signed a $20 million Netflix deal for the film Red Notice, which he will appear in at the end of 2021 with Gal Gadot and Ryan Reynolds. As if that wasn't enough money, he also earns through sponsored posts on his social media.

9. Lebron James

Earns per year: 74.2 million euros

Even if you're not American and don't like basketball, the name Lebron James will probably sound familiar to you. The basketball player not only earns his money through sports but also his media and production companies SpringHill Entertainment and Uninterrupted.

8. Howard Stern

Earns per year: 75.7 million euros

The American Howard Stern proves that you can also become rich by making radio. He manages to achieve this list of highest-paid celebrities thanks to his eight-figure annual salary at radio station SiriusXM. In December this contract expired and he signed a new one, with which he will even earn 84.1 million euros.

7. Neymar

Earns per year: 80.4 million euros

It is not surprising that the Brazilian Neymar is on this list, because his transfer to football club Paris Saint-Germain is the most expensive in football history. His five-year contract is worth a whopping 294.6 million euros… Neymar is also the second most popular athlete on social media, which has led to collaborations with Nike, Gillette, Red Bull, and McDonald's, among others.

6. Tyler Perry

Earns per year: 81.7 million euros

Tyler Perry is not known in the Netherlands. You may know the actor from Vice and Gone Girl. Incidentally, it is not his acting that makes the big money. He also writes, directs, and produces many films and series, landing him sixth on this list of highest-paid celebrities.

5. Lionel Messi

Earns per year: 87.5 million euros

Many people call Messi the best footballer in the world and that includes a salary to match. That ensures that he was the highest-paid athlete worldwide in 2019 and 2020. His contract with Barcelona has now expired and he is in talks for a new contract that - due to financial problems at the club - may require him to give up his salary. Fortunately, he also rakes in enough through sponsor deals.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo

Earns per year: 88.4 million euros

After Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid athlete in the world. In 2018 he signed a contract with Juventus for no less than 168.6 million euros. But he also has many sponsor deals. Because he is the most followed athlete on social media, he can charge a lot of money for that. It earns him a fourth-place among the highest-paid celebrities in the world.

3. Roger Federer

Earns per year: 89.6 million euros

You don't just get rich with football, you can do that just as well with tennis. The Swiss Roger Federer proves that with his 10-year contract that is worth 253 million euros. Good to know: Federer also gives back. His foundation has already raised more than 42 million euros so that children in Africa can go to school.

2. Kanye West

Earns per year: 143.3 million euros

We are making a huge leap in earnings from number three to number two. That's impressive, considering Kanye West once had about $44.7 million in debt. Due to multiple sources of income, that is now a different story. He earns money with his music career, Yeezy shoe line at Adidas, and his clothing line.

Number 1 Highest-Paid Celebrities: Kylie Jenner

Earns per year: 487 million euros

Kylie Jenner may only be 23 years old, but she has managed to secure spot 1 on this list. And how! In 2020, Kylie earned a whopping $487 million. This is partly due to her clothing line with sister Kendall and her companies Kylie Cosmetics and Kylie Skin. That the amount is so much higher than the rest on the list is because she sold the majority share of the Kylie Cosmetics brand in 2020.