U2 are the highest paid act in the world, according to Forbes magazine.The magazine's poll of the highest grossing acts of the last 12 months reveals that the band's spectacular 360 degree world tour earned $195m, way ahead of their nearest rivals, Bon Jovi, whose Circle tour grossed $125m.
Elton John came in third, netting $100m from his show's last year's. Lady Gaga was fourth with earnings of $90m, thanks to her sell-out Monster Ball tour and back-to-back albums.
By the time it comes to an end later this year, the 360 degree tour is expected to have earned a total of $700m. Every concert in the tour has sold out, sometimes within minutes. The band were forced to put on a third concert in Dublin's Croke Park in July 2009, when the first two nights sold out in just 40 minutes.
The show is staged on a elaborate scale, with The Edge saying: "We're actually at the limit, the absolute limit, when you consider the economics and the practicality of transportation. We're really as big as we could ever get."
After the show, it takes six hours for production to dismantle the set and 48 hours to dismantle and load the steel structure and remove it from the stadium.
The Forbes Top 10 Highest Paid Musicians in 2011
1. U2 ($195 million)
2. Bon Jovi ($125 million)
3. Sir Elton John ($100 million)
4. Lady Gaga ($90 million)
5. Michael Buble ($70 million)
6. Sir Paul McCartney ($67 million)
7. The Black Eyed Peas ($61 million)
8. The Eagles ($60 million)
9. Justin Bieber ($53 million)
10. Dave Matthews Band ($51 million)
source :
http://www.independent.ie/ 
