The Highest-Paid DJs In The World For 2018 Might Make You Nauseously Envious


While you scrounge around for loose change in your couch to afford nacho fries from Taco Bell, these DJs are raking in ridiculous cash for spinning tracks. For the sixth straight year, Calvin Harris dominates the list. Wait until you see how much Calvin Harris made and how jealous you’ll be of him.

[Forbes] released their list of the highest-paid DJs of 2018 and it’s enough to make one sick with envy. For the Forbes’ list, they use the methodology of “ranking electronic acts around the globe using their pretax earnings from June 1, 2017, through June 1, 2018, before deducting fees for lawyers, agents and managers.

Estimates are based on numbers from Nielsen, Pollstar, Bandsintown and Songkick, as well as interviews with industry experts and many of the stars themselves.”

At number one is Scottish superstar DJ Calvin Harris with a whopping $48 million. Followed by The Chainsmokers at $45.5, and EDM veteran Tiesto at third with a measly $33 million. Marshmello jumped from #8 in 2017 to #5 in 2018 with a remarkable $23 million. Not bad for dressing in all white with a funky marshmallow hat.

Also making Forbes’ list are EDM superstars Steve Aoki, Diplo, David Guetta, Kaskade, Martin Garrix, and Zedd.

Here are the top 15 highest-paid DJ’s of 2018:

  1. Calvin Harris – $48 Million
  2. The Chainsmokers – $45.5 Million
  3. Tiësto – $33 Million
  4. Steve Aoki – $28 Million
  5. Marshmello – $23 Million
  6. Zedd – $22 Million
  7. Diplo – $20 Million
  8. David Guetta – $15 Million
  9. Kaskade – $13.5 Million
  10. Martin Garrix – $13 Million
  11. Axwell Λ Ingrosso – $12 Million
  12. Kygo – $11.5 Million
  13. DJ Snake – $11 Million
  14. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike – $10.5 Million
  15. Afrojack – $10 million

The moral of the story is to learn to get down on the ones and twos or Fortnite.