In the period between May 2011 and May 2012, along with catalog sales and payment for performances like his headlining set with Snoop Dogg at the Coachella fest, Dre raked in 100 million pretax when HTC bought a 51 percent stake in his Beats headphone company last year, according to Forbes.
Dre replaced rock band U2, who topped last year's list with USD 195 million earned, thanks to the band's record-shattering 360 tour. This year, the veteran rockers slip to No 4, with USD 78 million over the 12-month period.
This year's list top five is rounded out by former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters, who grossed USD 88 million this year due largely to his epic The Wall tour; Elton John, whose rigorous touring schedule helped him collect USD 80 million and UK boy band Take That, whose reunion trek contributed to a USD 69 million sum.
Other notable on the 2012 Forbes list include 18-year-old Justin Bieber, whose music and merchandise sales totalled USD 55 million, making him the youngest artist on the list; Lady Gaga, who slips to No 13 on this year's list with USD 52 million earned; and Beyonce, who, with USD 40 million accrued, out-earned her husband Jay-Z (USD 38 million) at No 18.
