Genesis were the world’s best paid entertainers last year – despite frontman Phil Collins being too frail to tour any more.
The rock legend, 72, can no longer hold a drumstick and appeared in a wheelchair at his last ever gig after years of ill health, The Sun reports.
But Phil and his Genesis bandmates Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks and former stars Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett topped the 2022 Forbes list of the world’s highest-paid entertainers.
They had their most lucrative year ever because they sold the rights to their back catalogue and Collins’ solo classics, such as In The Air Tonight, for $US300 million ($A430 million).
They also brought in income from royalties, as well as touring, with the band playing a final gig at London’s O2 Arena last March.
It put them in the top spot in the rich list for the first time ever – banking $US230 million ($A330 million) once fees and other costs were taken into account.
Collins joked he would have to get “a real job” after Genesis’s final gig. But it would appear he has no need to after the group sold the rights to their music to Concord Music Group.
Former Police frontman Sting took second place in the top 10. He made $US300 million ($A430 million), also from selling his back catalogue, which, after expenses, saw him pocketing $US210 million ($A301 million).
In seventh spot were The Rolling Stones with $US98 million ($A140 million) thanks to their European Sixty Tour.
The only woman on the list was Taylor Swift, 33, at number nine, who made $US92 million ($A132 million).
Forbes Top 10
1. Genesis – $US230 million ($A330 million)
2. Sting – $US210 million ($A301 million)
3. Tyler Perry – $US175 million ($A251 million)
4. Trey Parker & Matt Stone (South Park creators) – $US160 million ($A230 million)
5. James L. Brooks & Matt Groening (The Simpsons creators) – $US105 million ($A150 million)
6. Brad Pitt – $US100 million ($A143 million)
7. Rolling Stones – $US98 million ($A140 million)
8. James Cameron – $US95 million ($A136 million)
9. Taylor Swift – $US92 million ($A132 million)
10. Bad Bunny – $US88 million ($A126 million)
This story originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission
Story Credit: news.com.au