Forbes Lists The World’s Highest Earning DJs

15 August 2013 | 4:06 pm | Staff Writer

Not many surprises in their list.

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Calvin Harris is the highest earning DJ, Forbes has announced, with the young Scot set to rake in an estimated $46 million in 2013.

He's well ahead of number two, Tiesto, who sits on $32 million, while David Guetta is a close third with $30 million.

It's unsurprising to see him at the top of the pile; Harris has just this week broken the record for number of top ten singles from a single album on the UK charts. Thinking About You (featuring Ayah Marar) is the ninth single from last year's 18 Months record to make an appearance in the UK charts.

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The only artist who comes close to Harris' record is Michael Jackson, who scored seven top ten singles from his Bad LP back in 1987.

There are few big surprises on the list; superstar DJs like Deadmau5, Avicii, Armin van Buuren and Skrillex are right up there, while Jersey Shore cast member DJ Pauly D proves to be the list's most embarrassing addition, his $13 million apparently earned through an enormous number of dates and some outside business ventures. It's his second year in a row on the list.

The full list of DJs who make the list is below:

1. Calvin Harris – $46 million
2. Tiësto – $32 million
3. David Guetta – $30 million
4. Swedish House Mafia – $25 million
5. Deadmau5 – $21 million
6. Avicii – $20 million
7. Afrojack – $18 million
8. Armin van Buuren – $17 million
9. Skrillex – $16 million
10. Kaskade – $16 million
11. Steve Aoki – $14  million
12. DJ Pauly D – $13 million
13. Diplo – $13 million