HOLLYWOOD:Beyonce and Jay-Z Richest Showbiz Couple
by: Mary Ann Chua
Beyonce and Jay-Z have topped the Forbes magazine Hollywood couples rich list for the second year running, making them shiny flecks town’s top-earning showbiz pairing.
The musical man and wife beat the David&Victoria Beckhams and Brad Pitt&Angelina Jolie to the top spot in Forbes' couples Rich List. The musical duo, whose combined earnings in their collective bank account in an impressive estimated $122 million$ (£75.1m) from June 2008 to June 2009. Bigger than any other celebrity couple in the entertainment industry, according to Forbes magazine's new list of Hollywood’s Top-Earning Couples.
Surprisingly, second place went to Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford and his actress wife Calista Flockhart came second on the list, but their estimated combined earnings of $69m (£42.5m) failed to top Beyonce's earnings alone.
After a big year that saw her releasing an album, touring and starring in and co-producing the movie Obsessed, Beyonce made the lion's share, amassing a huge £53.9m.
The hip-hop duo out-earned the third placer none other done BrAngelina According to Forbes, Pitt had one of the biggest hits of his career with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Jolie has “embraced her inner action hero” by shooting 2008’s Wanted and the upcoming film Salt. And The Beckhams and Will&Jada Smith for the top spot.
The Forbes Magazines spoke to agents, managers, producers and lawyers to took into the account of the celebrities’ couples earned.( Movies, touring, album sales and endorsements were all taken into account.)
Forbes' top five earning couples:
1. Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles - $122m
2. Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart - $69m
3. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie - $55m
4. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith - $48m
5. David and Victoria Beckham - $46m
No one should be surprise Beyoncé brought home most of the bacon with approximately $87 million, while Jay-Z, who co-created (and later sold) clothing brand Roca wear, and is a co-owner of the New Jersey Nets NBA team and upscale sports bar 40/40, wasn’t too shabby as an earner, either (his haul: a cool $35 million).
The mind simply boggles at the thought of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s $122 million whopper revenue. But the twosome may be feeling the economy’s pinch after all, if you check what they made the previous year (June 2007 to June 2008). On that edition of Forbes’ wealthiest celeb couples list, they also placed first -- but with combined income of $162 million. So in just a year their income actually dropped about $40 million. An economic downturn for sure, but somehow, we’re certain Beyoncé and Jay-Z will manage that.
