A wealth comparison between the billionaire pop stars Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez, who holds bigger fortune and how did they achieve it?

Two of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez, have both achieved remarkable success over the years, building empires that expand beyond their musical career. And the duo is not only celebrated for their talents but also for reaching the billionaire status. Gomez, with an estimated net worth of 1.3 billion, has recently edged closer to her bestie, whose wealth stands at $1.6 billion.

Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift | Credit: @selenagomez via Instagram

Both have had their own path to success and have faced challenges, triumphs, and moments of reinvention. With their esteemed journeys in mind, let’s explore their struggles along the way to building their fortunes, as well as look at what might be next for these pop culture powerhouses as they continue their ascent.

How Much Are Taylor Swift And Selena Gomez Worth?

Taylor Swift, who started her career as a country pop singer, has now become one of the biggest pop stars in the world, capturing millions of hearts with her captivating music catalog. Her success as a musician and a singer is evident in the fact that she became the first artist to become a billionaire primarily through her music and performances.

The Eras Tour|Credit: Taylor Swift via YouTube

With the remarkable success of her Eras tour, the singer achieved billionaire status in October 2023, and a year later her net worth is now estimated to be $1.6 billion, as per Forbes. Her fortune includes around $600 million from touring and royalties, $600 million from her music catalog, and approximately $125 million in real estate.

Meanwhile, Selena Gomez, who rose to fame as a child star and became one of Disney’s most successful alumni, recently joined the billionaire ranks as well. As per Bloomberg, her net worth is estimated to be $1.3 billion.

Selena Gomez | Credit: @selenagomez via Instagram

However, unlike Swift, who became a billionaire primarily through her music and performances, Gomez has expanded beyond her music and acting career, and most of her wealth comes from her successful business venture, Rare Beauty, which she founded back in 2019.

Taylor Swift’s Decades-Long Journey of Musical Mastery and Record-Breaking Success

Taylor Swift has always been passionate about music, as the singer started pursuing her music at the age of 9 and later moved to Nashville to break into country music. After releasing her debut single in 2006, Swift made a strong impression with her first album, which reached #5 on the Billboard 200. This was only the beginning, as her second album, Fearless, topped the charts and gave the world timeless hits like Love Story and You Belong With Me.

Love Story | Credit: Taylor Swift via YouTube

Swift’s success continued to soar as she explored various musical styles with her subsequent albums, which include Speak Now, Red, 1989, Reputation, Lover, Folklore, Evermore, Midnights, and the most recent The Tortured Poets Department. Every release made a significant impact on the Billboard charts, cementing her place in music history.

With an estimated global sale of 200 million records, Swift ranks among the best-selling artists of all time, as per Celebrity Net Worth. Over the course of her decades-long career, she has landed numerous accolades, including 14 Grammy Awards, and she made history as the only artist to win Album of the Year four times.

The Tortured Poets Department | Credit: @taylorswift via Instagram

In 2024, she also broke Beyoncé’s record for the most MTV Video Music Awards won by a solo artist. The singer achieved remarkable success with her Eras Tour in 2023, which became the highest-grossing concert tour in history, grossing over $2 billion.

Additionally, the singer has also ventured into things beyond music over the years, including acting roles in Valentine’s Day, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Hannah Montana: The Movie along with foraying into direction with All Too Well: The Short Film.

Selena Gomez’s Journey From Child Star to Multifaceted Artist

Starting her career on Barney & Friends, Selena Gomez later gained recognition for playing Alex Russo on Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place. After establishing herself in acting, she transitioned to film roles and eventually ventured into music as part of the band Selena Gomez & the Scene.

Selena Gomez | Credit: @selenagomez via Instagram

The band released their debut album, Kiss & Tell, in 2009, followed by A Year Without Rain in 2010. They disbanded after their third album When the Sun Goes Down. In addition to her work with the band, Gomez has released three solo albums: Stars Dance, Revival, and Rare. And her most successful album was 2009’s Kiss and Tell, which sold 932,000 copies, as per Billboard. She has also collaborated with many artists on music.

Gomez has also made her mark in film and television, serving as a producer for Netflix shows like 13 Reasons Why and Selena + Chef. Since 2021, she has starred alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short in the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building. The role has earned her an Emmy nomination, adding to her list of accomplishments, which also includes several accolades and two Grammy nominations.

Taylor Swift And Selena Gomez’s Diverse Income Streams

Over the years, Taylor Swift has built a lucrative career through multiple revenue streams, primarily from her music and touring. The singer saw a constant rise in her income driven by album sales, merchandise, and endorsements. Notably, her record-breaking 1989 world tour generated $170 million, while her Reputation stadium tour grossed an impressive $266 million.
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour | Credit: Disney
Swift has also endorsed numerous brands, including AT&T, CoverGirl, Diet Coke, and Target, which helped in further enhancing her financial status. Her concert film of the North American Eras tour, released in partnership with AMC, garnered impressive box office success, earning $261 million. She earned over $205 million from the film, receiving 50% of its first-dollar gross from ticket sales and later selling the exclusive streaming rights to Disney.

Selena Gomez also has diversified her income through a combination of acting, music, and entrepreneurial ventures. The actress reportedly received $30,000 per episode for Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Places and she is said to earn around $6 million for her role in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.

In addition to her artistic pursuits, Selena is also a savvy investor, having co-founded the ice cream brand Serendipity and the mental health platform Wondermind, which raised $5 million at a valuation of $100 million. She later launched her beauty brand, Rare Beauty which was a quick success, as per Celebrity Net Worth.

According to TIME, sales for Rare Beauty surged 100% from 2021 to 2022 and then 200% the following year, reaching $400 million in sales from May 2023 to 2024. As reported by Business of Fashion, Rare Beauty’s valuation was approximately $2 billion as of March 2024.

Selena Gomes with her beauty brand Rare Beauty | Credit: @selenagomez via Instagram

Additionally, Gomez has also had lucrative endorsement deals, such as a two-year, $30 million contract with Puma in 2017 and a $10 million deal with Coach, where she also designed her own line in 2016, as per Celebrity Net Worth.

Her immense social media presence, particularly on Instagram with over 420 million followers, reportedly allows her to earn between $500,000 and $800,000 for a single sponsored post, further contributing to her estimated annual income of $10-15 million from various ventures.

The Pop Stars’ Investments in Real Estate

Taylor Swift in a still from Lover music video | Credit: Taylor Swift via YouTube

Both Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift also made strategic real estate investments over the years. Swift has built a substantial real estate portfolio valued at over $125 million, with properties located in Nashville, Rhode Island, Manhattan, and Beverly Hills. Among her investments, the Beverly Hills mansion stands out as the most expensive, which she purchased for $25 million and is currently valued at around $30 million.

Selena Gomez has also made noteworthy investments in real estate throughout her career. In 2011, she bought a 4,500-square-foot home for $2.175 million, which she later sold for $3.45 million in 2014. That same year, she purchased a large house in a gated community in Calabasas, which was later acquired by rapper French Montana for $6.6 million.

Selena Gomez in Love On music video|Credit: Selena Gomez via YouTube

In 2015, Gomez acquired a large property, which she eventually sold for $2.4 million. She also bought a $2.249 million home in California, which sold for $2.3 million. In April 2020, she purchased an 11,500-square-foot home previously owned by Tom Petty for $4.9 million. After making improvements, she profited $400,000 when she sold it to a non-celebrity owner.

Are Selena Gomez And Taylor Swift Still Friends?

Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez have achieved remarkable success over the years and are known to have one of the most beloved friendship duos in the entertainment industry. The two have been close friends for nearly 15 years, having first met in 2008.

A still from The Eras Tour|Credit: Taylor Swift via YouTube

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Gomez referred to Swift as “like a big sister.” However, recent reports indicate that their friendship may not be as strong as it once was.

According to Daily Mail, sources hint at Gomez’s growing disinterest in Swift’s celebrity circle, which includes Blake Lively, Lana Del Rey, Ice Spice, and Brittany Mahomes, which has contributed to their drifting apart.

“Selena feels like she has matured out of Taylor’s circle of friends,” a source told DailyMail before further stating, “She doesn’t want to be around Blake or Ice Spice, or really any of those girls anymore.”

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco | Credit: @selenagomez via Instagram

The last public appearance of the celebrity duo was at the Golden Globes Awards in January 2024. While the exact reasons for the change in their friendship remain unclear, speculation surrounds their respective romantic lives.

Swift is currently dating Travis Kelce, while Gomez is in a public relationship with music producer Benny Blanco. However, sources suggest that both stars are focused on their careers and are happy for each other as they navigate love at the same time.

Both are highly successful and have substantial earnings from their respective income sources, Swift’s dominance in music and touring gives her the edge in future earnings potential.