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Dr. Dre named highest earning music star

Dr. Dre has been named music's highest earning star.

The hip-hop producer topped Forbes magazine's annual list of the 25 Highest-Paid Musicians of 2012, earning $110 million.

However, the biggest chunk of his earnings came not from music but his Beats by Dre headphones business, earning him $100 million pretax, when he sold a 51% stake in the company.

The rest of the musicians in the top five were all from the UK and Ireland, and made most of their money from touring.

Former Pink Floyd rocker Roger Waters took second spot on the list, earning $88 million, almost entirely from his The Wall Live tour.

Elton John took third, accruing $80 million, from over 100 shows in the period in which the figures were calculated.
U2 managed to take fourth spot, with $78 million from the end of their 360 tour - which over the three years it ran was the highest grossing in history, earning $736 million in total.

British boy band Take That rounded out the top five, making $69 million, thanks to their huge Progress tour, which saw them reunite with original band member Robbie Williams. The group grossed $61 million for eight dates at London's Wembley Stadium alone, the biggest single-stadium stand recorded at that point.

Other stars making the list include Toby Keith and Justin Bieber, who tied in tenth spot, earning $55 million each.

Forbes 25 Highest-Paid Musicians of 2012:

01. Dr. Dre - $110 million
02. Roger Waters - $88 million
03. Elton John - $80 million
04. U2 - $78 million
05. Take That - $69 million
06. Bon Jovi - $60 million
07. Britney Spears - $58 million
08. Sir Paul McCartney - $57 million
08. Taylor Swift - $57 million
10. Justin Bieber - $55 million
10. Toby Keith - $55 million
12. Rihanna - $53 million
13. Lady Gaga - $52 million
14. Foo Fighters - $47 million
15. P. Diddy - $45 million
15. Katy Perry - $45 million
17. Kenny Chesney - $44 million
18. Beyonce - $40 million
19. Red Hot Chili Peppers - $39 million
20. Jay-Z - $38 million
21. Coldplay - $37 million
22. Adele - $35 million
22. Kanye West - $35 million
24. Michael Buble - $34 million
25. Sade - $33 million