DJs are professional music players that can be found in any radio station, club, etc. They select tracks that best fit the kind of party they are entertaining to or what the mood of the crowd generally is. DJs have become more fun due to their ability to engage and entertain their listeners as per their mood and situation.
The World’s Top 15 Highest Paid and Richest DJs
15 Highest-Paid DJs in the World
- David Guetta – $50 million
- Calvin Harris – $40 million
- EDM superstar Skrillex – $35 million
- Diplo – $30 million
- Afrojack – $25 million
- Robin Thicke – $24 million
- David Guetta & Nicky Romero – $23 million
- Avicii & Nicky Romero – $21 million 9. Afrojack, David Guetta, & Martin Garrix – $20 million 10. Skrillex, Diplo, and Jack Uberti –$19 million
1. Calvin Harris
The current salary for a CEO in the United States is $50 million. This is an increase of $5 million from the previous year. The average salary for a CEO in the United States is over $100 million.
Electronic dance music (EDM) is a genre of electronic music that emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It has been called “the new rock ’n’ roll” by some critics, and is generally characterized by a high tempo, syncopated rhythm, and synthesized or digital sound. Dance-pop is a subgenre of pop music that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the United Kingdom and United States. It features simple melodies with disco-influenced beats, usually performed by solo singers or small groups. Nu-disco is a subgenre of dance-pop that emerged in the early 1990s. It features synthesizers and electronic beats with elements of funk, soul, R&B, and disco. ..
Calvin Harris is a well-known Scottish DJ and singer who has won various awards during his career. He is known for his singles like “Feels”, “This is what you came for”, “We found love”, “Feel so close”, “summer” and “One Kiss”.
Calvin Harris has been nominated for a total of 118 awards, winning 32 awards including one Grammy Award, two American Music Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, and two Brit Awards. Calvin Harris is also the founder of the Fly Eye Records, a record label that was launched in May 2010.
In 2012, Calvin Harris’ album 18 months topped the UK Albums charts. This proves to be Harris’s major career breakthrough as it became the DJ’s first-ever album to appear on the list. 18 months was ranked 19th among US Billboard 200 ranking.
Calvin Harris is the 30th wealthiest British musician by Sunday Times in 2015. He has an estimated net worth of over $240 million, making him one of the highest-paid DJs in the world. He has been ruling the top spot since 2013.
2. The Chainsmokers
Pop music is a genre of popular music that typically features upbeat and catchy melodies. EDM (electronic dance music) is a subgenre of pop that typically features more complex and innovative beats and rhythms.
Alexander and Andrew are both 34 years old. ..
Andrew Taggart and Alexander Pall are the American DJ duo known as The Chainsmokers. The Chainsmokers produce music since stepping into the music industry in 2012. The song “#Selfie” helped Andrew and Alexander gain popularity in 2014. The song proved to be a career breakthrough for the duo as it was placed among the top 20 singles in multiple countries. ..
The Chainsmokers have released a number of singles, including “Don’t Let Me Down,” “Roses,” and “Closer.” Their debut album, Memories Do Not Open, topped the US Billboard 200 chart in 2017. Their second album, Sick Boy, was released in 2018. ..
The Chainsmokers have been nominated for various music awards. They have won two American Music Awards, seven Billboard Music Awards, and one Grammy Award. ..
The Chainsmokers are the second highest-paid DJ duo in the world, with an estimated income of $68 million. ..
3. Tiesto
Electro House, Progressive House, Future House, Deep House, Trance, and Big room House are all genres of house music. ..
Tiesto is a Dutch DJ and record producer who has been popular for over 20 years. He was declared the “best DJ of the last 20 years” by DJ Mag readers in 2013. Tiesto is also dubbed as the godfather of Electronic dance music (EDM) by fans and followers.
In 1997, Tiesto founded “the Black Hole Recordings” with the goal of releasing his Compact Disk series, “In Search of Sunrise”, and Magik. The success of these releases led to mainstream exposure for Tiesto. In 2000, he remixed Delerium’s “Silence” with Sarah McLachlan, which introduced him to a wider audience.
In My Memory was released in 2001 and proved lucky for Tiesto, as it gave him multiple major hits. The album’s success led to him being named the No. 1 DJ in DJ Magazine’s annual Top 100 DJs readership poll for three consecutive years from 2002 to 2004.
Tiesto is a Grammy Award-winning DJ and producer who has collaborated with some of the biggest names in music. He has also been placed at no. 8 on the Billboard Dance 100 ranking of dance musicians. ..
Tiesto is the third highest-paid DJ on our list. His annual income is $33 million.
4. Steve Aoki
Trap music is a genre of electronic dance music that typically features a heavy bass line and drum beats. Electro House is a subgenre of trap that features a faster tempo and more upbeat sound. EDM is a genre of electronic dance music that is popular for its high energy and loud sound. Hip Hop is a genre of music that originated in the African-American community and typically features rap lyrics, beats, and percussion. ..
Steve Aoki is an American professional DJ, record producer, entertainer and music executive. He was regarded as the highest-grossing dance and music artist by Pollstar, with most of his income coming from tours. DJ mag ranked him 11th in its list of Top 100 DJs in 2018. Having worked with great music artists like Iggy Azalea, LMFAO, Lil Jon, BTS, etc, Steve Aoki is deemed as one of the most famous DJs in the world. ..
In 1996, Steve Aoki founded his record label, “Dim Mak Records”. The label housed some great artists like ShayGray, Garmiani, Kenna, Scanners, and XTRMST. Steve Aoki is also known for his humanitarian work and has founded the Steve Aoki Charitable Fund that raises money and funds for global philanthropic organizations.
In 2013, Steve Aoki’s album “Wonderland” was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album. Earning a sum of $28 million annually, Steve Aoki is the fourth highest-paid DJ in the world.
5. Marshmello
The future of trap music is bright. With new producers and artists coming up with innovative and exciting trap music, the genre is on the rise. Future bass, future bounce, and progressive house are all genres that are growing in popularity, and this is only going to continue to happen as more people learn about these styles.
Christopher Comstock is an American DJ, record producer, music artist, and electronic music producer. He gained global popularity by remixing American DJ duo Jack Ü and Russian-German DJ Zedd’s songs.
Marshmello is a producer who has produced some of the most popular songs in recent years. His tracks “Silence” and “Happier” have both been certified as multi-platinum, and they have also been placed among the top 30 in the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2019, Marshmello was nominated for International Dance Music Award (IDMA) and MTV Europe Music Award (EMI). He won the award for Best Dance Recording in 2018.
In 2017, Marshmello made an annual income of $23 million. This DJ is the 5th highest-paid on our list.
6. Zedd
Electro House, Progressive House, and Complextro are all genres of electronic music. ..
Zedd is a music artist, DJ, record producer, songwriter, and instrumentalist who was born in Russia but raised in Germany. He is known for his electro house music and progressive house styles.
In 2012, Zedd released his first single track “Clarity” which he won a Grammy award for. The song also ranked 8th on the Billboard Hot 100. Zedd’s debut album “Clarity” featured the hit single “Stay the Night”.
Zedd was ranked 7th on Billboard Dance 100 in 2018. He has been nominated for several awards of which he has won quite a few awards, including one Grammy award. With an annual income of $22 million, Zedd is one of the highest-paid DJ in the world.
7. Diplo
Electro House is a genre of dance music that typically features synthesized beats and basslines. It is often associated with the electronic music subgenre of house, but can also be found in other genres such as pop, hip hop, trap, and dancehall.
Thomas Wesley Pentz Jr. is an American music artist, DJ, record producer, and songwriter who professionally known as Diplo. He is the co-creator and lead member of Major Lazer, an American electronic dancehall music project; a member of the supergroup LSD (along with Sia and Labrinth); a member of electronic duo Jack Ü (along with producer and DJ Skrillex), and a member of Silk City (along with Mark Ronson).
In 2018, Diplo was placed at number 17 among Top 100 DJs by DJ Mag.
Income for Diplo this year was $20 million, making him the 7th highest-paid DJ in the world.
8. David Guetta
Electro House is a genre of house music that typically features synthesized beats and basslines. It is often associated with progressive house, a style of house music that is more experimental and Progressive than the typical electro-house track.
Pierre David Guetta is a French DJ, record producer, music programmer, and songwriter. He has sold over 30 million singles and 9 million albums worldwide. ..
David Guetta is a veteran DJ in the music industry who has produced many singles and music albums. His latest album, 7, was released in 2018.
Guetta has been declared the number one DJ in the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll for both 2011 and 2021. His single track “When Love Takes Over” was declared as the number one dance-pop collaboration of all time in 2013.
In 2002, Guetta released his debut album, “Just a Little More Love”. The album spawned the hit singles “When Love Takes Over”, “Gettin’ Over You”, “Sexy Bitch”, and “Memories”. In 2004, he released his second album, “Pop Life”. The album spawned the hit singles “Laugh Now Cry Later” and “Dancing on My Own”. In 2007, he released his third album, “Laugh Now Cry Later”. The album spawned the hit singles “Till It’s Over” and “One Dance”.
In 2011, Guetta released his follow-up album “Nothing but the Beat”. The album included some hit singles such as “Where Them Girls At”, “Little Bad Girl”, “Without You”, “Titanium”, and “Turn Me On”. Guetta is called the ‘grandfather of EDM’ by his fans and music pundits.
David Guetta was appointed the music ambassador for the UEFA Euro 2016. His song “This One’s for You” featured Zara Larsson. He performed his official song in the opening and closing ceremonies of the tournament. ..
David Guetta is one of the highest-paid DJs in the world, drawing a paycheck of $15 million every year. ..
9. Kaskade
Electro House, Progressive House, and House genres are all popular in the dance music industry. They are all characterized by a heavy bass line and synthesized beats. ..
Kaskade is an American DJ, remixer, and record producer. He has been named one of the best DJs in America by DJ Times and DJ Mag. He has also been included in lists of top 100 DJs compiled by other publications. His debut single, “What I Say,” was released in 2001. ..
Forbes magazine has ranked Kaskade as the world’s eighth highest-paid DJ in 2014, with an approximate sum of $17 million. Kaskade began his career in the music industry in 1989 and has launched numerous albums including Love mysterious (2006), Automatic (2015), and Kaskade Christmas (2017). ..
The veteran DJ, Kaskade, has been nominated for several awards this year, including the Grammy Awards. He has been estimated to have a salary of over $13 million. This nomination is significant because it shows that Kaskade is one of the most popular and successful DJs in the world. ..
10. Martin Garrix
Dutch House is a genre that is popular in the Netherlands. It is a mix of Electro House and Progressive House music. Future Bass music is also popular in the Netherlands.
Martin Garrix is a Dutch DJ and music producer who has achieved international success. He has been ranked number one on DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs list for three consecutive years, and his most famous singles include “Animals,” “In the Name of Love,” and “Scared to Be Lonely.” ..
Garrix has a record label that he founded at the age of 24. His label features some renowned artists, like Dillon Francis, Julian Jordan, and Syn Cole. In 2014, Garrix became the youngest music artist to perform at the Ultra Music Festival.
Martin draws an annual sum of around $13 million that makes him one of the highest-paid DJs in the world.
11. Axwell & Ingrosso
Electro House is a genre that is popular in the United States. It is a type of music that is played on electronic devices. Progressive House is a type of music that is played on acoustic devices.
Axwell Ingrosso is a Swedish DJ, music artists, record producers, and remixers. They were formerly the members of the Swedish House Mafia. Axwell and Ingrosso joined their forces in 2014 and released some famous tracks like “This Time”, “On My Way”, “I Love You” and “Sun Is Shining”.
The duo has been nominated for numerous awards and has won Grammys Awards in 2018 for the tracks “I Love You” and “More Than You Know”. The Swedish duo was placed among DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs in 2018. ..
Axwell Ingrosso is one of the highest-paid DJs in the world. He makes a salary of $12 million every year, which puts him in the top 5 percent of earners for this profession.
12. Kygo
Deep House is a genre that typically refers to house music that is downtempo and/or tropical. Downtempo house music often features synthesized pads and basslines, while tropical house music typically features upbeat rhythms and percussion. Progressive house music, which is sometimes referred to as tech-house, can be more upbeat and techno-oriented.
Kygo is a Norwegian music artist, DJ, record producer, and songwriter. He has achieved success in his home country and internationally. In 2018, DJ Mag ranked him 32nd in its Top 100 DJs list while Billboard placed Kygo at 3rd position on the Billboard Dance 100. ..
Kygo is a renowned musician with many hit singles and remixes. He has reached 1 billion streams on Spotify. ..
Kygo, an estimated annual income of $11 million, is one of the highest-paid DJs in the world.
13. DJ Snake
French House is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in France. It is characterized by its fast-paced rhythms and catchy melodies.
DJ Snake is a French music artist, DJ, and record producer who has been affiliated with well-known record labels like Mad Decent, Interscope, Columbia, Spinnin’, and Premiere Classe.
In 2013, DJ Snake released his single “Bird Machine” which became a global hit. He collaborated with Diplo in 2015 and released the single track “Lean On”. Snake launched the track “Taki Taki Rumba” featuring some famous names like Cardi B, Selena Gomez, and Ozuna in September 2018.
DJ Snake is currently a member of the Pardon My French squad, comprising of four French DJs including Tchami, Malaa, and Mercer. Billboard placed DJ Snake at No. 9 in its Dance 100 ranking for dance musicians. ..
In 2017, DJ Snake made an estimated $11 million dollars as a DJ. This makes him one of the highest-paid DJs in the world.
14. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike
Electro house, Dutch house, big room house, future bass, future house are all genres of electronic music. ..
Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike is a duo of music artists, DJs, and record producers comprising of two brothers Dimitri Thivaios and Michael Thivaios hailing from Belgium. The two brothers are best known for their hit single “Get Lucky” which was released in 2013 and has been featured on numerous dancefloors around the world. They also own a record label titled “Smash the House” which was founded in 2010 and features some famous artists like Ummet Ozcan, Bassjackers, and twoloud.
The Belgian duo, Mike and Vegas, has been nominated for several awards of which they have won six International Dance Music Awards, three MTV Europe Music Awards, and one NRJ Music Award. DJ Mag ranked Mike and Vegas 2nd in its Top 100 DJs list in 2018. They have remixed tracks by famous artists like Lady Gaga and The Chainsmokers.
The pair, who are known as the “High Rollers,” are among the highest-paid DJs in the world. They have an annual income of over $10 million and are placed among the highest-paid DJs in the world.
15. Afrojack
Dutch House, Trap, Electro House, Progressive House, Big Room House
Nick van de Wall is a Dutch music artist, DJ, record producer, songwriter, and music programmer. He started his DJ career at the young age of 14 and has been affiliated with the industry since 2003. Van de Wall has been nominated for numerous awards, including Grammy Award for the Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical category in 2011.
Afrojack, one of the world’s most popular DJs, has been named one of DJ Mag’s top 100 DJs. He is also the CEO of LDH Europe, and has his own record label, Wall Recordings. ..
Afrojack has released many singles. “Bed of Roses” released in 2018 featuring Stanaj and “Another Life” released in 2017 featuring David Guetta are among his best tracks. Afrojack has also been featured in David Guetta’s single “Hey Mama” in 2015.
Afrojack is one of the highest-paid DJs in the world. His estimated annual income is $10 million.
- David Guetta
- Calvin Harris
- EDM superstar DJ Snake
- Afrojack
- Diplo
- Robin Thicke
- David Guetta feat. Pharrell Williams
- Usher
- Lil Jon
- Skrillex
- Diplo ft Madeon
- Nicky Romero 13. Afrojack vs David Guetta vs Calvin Harris vs EDM superstar DJ Snake vs Afrojack vs Robin Thicke vs David Guetta feat Pharrell Williams vs Usher ft Lil Jon & Skrillex
The top 15 highest-paid DJs in the world are as follows:
- Calvin Harris
- David Guetta
- Swedish House Mafia
- Deadmau5
- Tiësto
- Afrojack
- Kaskade
- LMFAO
- Tiesto & Calvin Harris
- Skrillex ..
