Beyonce And Jay-Z Are The Highest-Paid Celebrity Couple In The World

First couple of hip-hop tops annual Forbes list, beating out Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady, who were #1 in 2011.
By Jocelyn Vena

<P><a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/knowles_beyonce/artist.jhtml">Beyonc&#233;</a> and <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jay_z/artist.jhtml">Jay-Z</a> are not only the undisputed first couple of hip-hop, but they are also the world's highest-paid celebrity couple, according to <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/andersonantunes/2012/08/06/the-worlds-highest-paid-celebrity-couples-2/" target="_blank"><i>Forbes.</i></a></P><P>The music moguls rose to the top of the ranks after getting beat out by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/08/20/jay-z-beyonce-make-forbes-top-power-couples-list/">back in 2011</a>.</P><P>This year, despite Beyonc&#233;'s seemingly lower profile in the music world, she still managed to rack in $40 million thanks to her many ventures in and out of music, including her 2011 album <i>4.</i> As for Hova, well, <i>Forbes</i> notes he brought in slightly less with an income of $38 million thanks to his <i>Watch the Throne</i> album and tour with Kanye West, as well as his own enterprises outside of music.</P><P>While their combined $78 million makes them the couple to beat, last year's #1 couple Gisele and Tom are following close at #2 with $72 million in a combined salary. They've earned their keep on the list through modeling gigs (for both partners) and his contract with the Patriots, which runs through 2014.</P><P>What other power couples made the list? Well, Posh Spice Victoria Beckham and her Los Angeles Galaxy soccer-playing hubby, David Beckham, come in at #3, but are more than $20 million behind in salary. But don't feel too bad for them: They raked in a combined $54 million through endorsement deals, clothing lines and royalties. The <i>Forbes</i> list is compiled using data taken between May 1, 2011 and May 1, 2012. In that time, the #4 couple, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, walked away with a combined $45 million. They earned their money as actors in both big- and small-budget films, and through modeling gigs like Jolie's with Louis Vuitton.</P><P>The final couple in the top 5 is Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. Their $40 million was made thanks to investments, endorsements and bankable roles in films like "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" and "Men In Black 3."</P><P><a href="http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1617615"><img src="http://www.mtv.com/news/photos/s/spotted/banner/spotted.jpg"></a></P>

Related Artists

• Beyoncé
• Jay-Z

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1691395/beyonce-jay-z-highest-paid-celebrity-couple.jhtml

Selma Blair Jolene Blalock Cate Blanchett Alexis Bledel Yasmine Bleeth