Spinning records and mastering the art of DJing is hard work and like any other job, hard work pays off! Your favorite DJs are paid a lot of money after years and years of hard work (of course). If you think you’re going to book some of your favorite DJs just be prepared to cough up a lot of cash. Here’s a list of the highest paid DJs last year and how much they made.
Calvin Harris
$66 Million Dollars
Calvin Harris is the highest paid DJ out there! It’s hard to believe that his last job before music was a grocery store clerk. He’s literally started from the bottom and now he DJs for artists such as Britney Spears, Kesha, Rihanna and he even has Coachella under his belt! Not only does he top the list of the highest paid DJs but he’s in the top twenty on Forbes Highest Paid Celebrities list. It doesn’t hurt that he’s dating the adorable Taylor Swift!
“How Deep is Your Love” — Calvin Harris
David Guetta
$30 Million Dollars
Mr. Guetta is most likely in your top five favorite DJs and if he isn’t, he should be! He’s sold over nine million albums and thirty million singles worldwide. He has a tour with Rihanna under his belt and his F**k Me I’m Famous residency in Ibiza. He’s penned hits for Britney Spears and even Lady Gaga. It’s quite possible that at this point in his career, Guetta makes money in his sleep. He doesn’t just DJ parties be assured that wherever Guetta goes, he is the party!
Avicii
$28 Million Dollars
“Wake Me Up” woke everyone who was sleeping on Avicii and his talent up and in 2013 you couldn’t help singing to the tune. That hit was the first electric dance track to ever move more than four million units in the US. Even if you don’t know who Avicii is, you’ve heard of him.
Tiesto
$28 Million Dollars
They say hard work pays off and if that’s the case, Tiesto is making bank! He’s played well over a hundred shows last year and has a residency in Hakkasan in Vegas. This guy is so big he played the opening ceremony at the Olympics making him the first DJ to play live at such an event. This Grammy winning producer/DJ has been around for over a decade and he shows no signs of slowing down.
Steve Aoki
$23 Million Dollars
If “Team No Sleep” had a captain, Steve Aoki, would be the captain. Steve sometimes performs three shows in one day and sleep is not on his agenda. He has contracts with Bud Light and Guitar Center, just to name a few and stake in the popular Sol Republic headphones. When you’re not hearing his tracks on the radio, you’re most likely to hear his awesomeness on the big screen.
Afrojack
$22 Million Dollars
He’s partnered with Nike, G-Star, Raw, and even has a residency in Vegas. Afrojack dropped his debut album just a year ago but listening to some of his hits it seems like it’s been so much longer. He runs his own label Wall Recordings and has co-produced with greats like David Guetta and Madonna. He’s spun records at everything from Tomorrowland to Coachella.
Zedd
$21 Million Dollars
Zedd doesn’t just make music, this guy produces masterpieces. He’s produced for artists like Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga. His Grammy Award winning hit “Clarity” went platinum and cemented his place in the electronic dance world. If you’ve ever dreamed of having him spin records at your party, expect to drop lots of money being that he makes six figures a show! No wonder he made $21 million last year. It’s not hard when you’re getting that type of bread on a nightly basis.
Kaskade
$17 Million Dollars
This Grammy nominee is known for not only making great music but he’s also very outspoken on social media. This American DJ has worked with deadmau5, headlined Ultra Music Festival and even has some video game credits under his belt. You know you’ve made it when your music is featured on Grand Theft Auto.
Skrillex
$16.5 Million Dollars
With six Grammy’s under his belt, Skrillex pretty much has a solid fan base. Even if you have no idea who he is, you know his music and you cannot avoid it. His music has been featured in movies like Wreck it Ralph to some of your favorite commercials. He has quite the crossover appeal and is featured on rapper A$AP Rocky’s “Wild for the Night.” Him and producer/DJ Diplo currently make up the duo Jack U and are making incredible moves right now.
Deadmau5
$16 Million Dollars
Deadmau5 has to be the second favorite famous mouse (next to Mickey of course). This guy earns half of mil a night when it comes to festival money. He sure has a lot to celebrate. He has quite the credits when it comes to video game appearances. Gamers can hear Deadmau5 on everything from The Sims 3 to Grand Theft Auto. Disney dislikes this guy for his similarities to their mouse, but everyone else can collectively say they’re fans of Deadmau5.
Not just anyone can spin records all night and make a million each gig (Paris Hilton), if you’re persistent though anything is possible. Being a producer and DJ isn’t just playing music for a crowd in a both. It’s an art of transitioning from one song to the next and bringing the originality and energy.
