30 highest-earning celebs under 30

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $26 million

Occupation: Movie actress

Age: 29

Academy Award-winner Emma Stone appeared in a variety of minor roles before wowing audiences with her turn as Jules in 2007’s “Superbad.” Soon after, she was taking the lead in successful movies like “Easy A” and “La La Land,” thereby cementing her A-list status. Catch her right now on the Netflix show “Maniac,” where she stars opposite former “Superbad” co-star Jonah Hill.  

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $26 million

Occupation: Football player

Age: 28

After being the only player in the modern era to earn a Heisman Trophy, a national championship, and the first NFL draft pick in the same year, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton went on to snag Rookie of the Year in 2011 and MVP in 2015. As if all that wasn’t enough, he also starred in Nickelodeon’s “All in With Cam Newton,” and co-founded a production house, Iconic Saga Productions. 

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $28.1 million

Occupation: Basketball player

Age: 29

More than a seasoned NBA player, Detroit Pistons power forward Blake Griffin has appeared in commercials for brands like Subway, Kia Motors, and GameFly. Meanwhile, he recently dated fellow superstar Kendall Jenner. Griffin has checked off all the high profile boxes for a modern athlete and has raked in tons of cash as a result.

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $29.9 million

Occupation: Basketball player

Age: 26

Cavaliers fans are still basking in the glow of Kyrie Irving’s late-game three-pointer in the 2016 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, which helped lead the Cavs to victory. Nowadays, the former Rookie of the Year and MVP plays point guard for the Boston Celtics, who were #2 in their division last season. In 2012, Irving starred in a Pepsi-sponsored web series called “Uncle Drew,” followed by a 2018 film adaptation of the same name. In summary: the man keeps busy and makes bank.

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $30 million

Occupation: DJ

Age: 30

His name is Sonny John Moore, but audiences know him best as Skrillex, an award-winning DJ with an unorthodox, blitzkrieg style of electronic dance music. After first garnering attention as the lead singer for American post-hardcore band From First to Last, Skrillex embarked on a solo career in 2007. By 2010, his breakout hit “Kill Everybody” had taken the club scene by storm, and he’s been one of the foremost names in electronic music ever since.

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $31.1 million

Occupation: Football player

Age: 29

NFL star Eric Berry is a bona fide comeback kid, who’s previously overcome injuries and cancer scares on his path to success. After signing a lucrative contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, Berry became the highest-paid safety in the NFL. Unfortunately, Berry continues to be plagued by injuries, and it’s still unclear as to whether he’ll be healthy enough to play the full 2018–2019 season.  

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $31.9 million

Occupation: Football player

Age: 29

The NFL’s ratings might be in a continual state of uncertainty, but that hasn’t stopped players like Antonio Brown from earning tens of millions of dollars. To think, Brown was originally a sixth-round draft pick in 2010, before becoming an absolute asset for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. As famous Brown might be for his blatant talent, he’s also gained a fair amount of attention for his inspired touchdown rituals.

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $33 million

Occupation: Rapper

Age: 25

While growing up in Chicago, Chancelor Jonathan Bennett culled from a broad spectrum of influences when developing his sound and style. Soon, he emerged as Chance the Rapper, a versatile artist of considerable talent, who rocketed to success on the heels of his second mixtape, “Acid Rap.” More than just a big earner, Bennett also supports numerous causes and even donated $1 million to Chicago’s public schools.

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $33.3 million

Occupation: Baseball pitcher

Age: 30

In 2014, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw signed the largest contract for a pitcher in baseball history—for a whopping $215 million. To this day, he remains one of the highest-paid athletes in all of professional sports, and also has choice endorsement deals with companies like Wilson, Subway, Muscle Milk, and Under Armour. 

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $33.4 million

Occupation: Football player

Age: 27

Since being drafted in 2012, defensive tackle Fletcher Cox has been a three-time pro-bowler and NFC Defensive Player of the Month. With his help, the Philadelphia Eagles not only advanced to the 2018 Super Bowl, but also dethroned the Patriots in a surprising upset. In 2016, Cox signed a $103 million contract, the most ever for a non-quarterback at the time.  

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $33.9 million

Occupation: Tennis player

Age: 28

The first and only Japanese tennis player ever to be ranked inside the men’s ATP top five in singles, Kei Nishikori is also one of the highest-paid celebs under the age of 30. Currently ranked #12 in the world, Nishikori recently renewed endorsement deals with Asahi, NTT, Japan Airlines, Nissin, and Lixil. He was last seen playing in the Moselle Open, where he lost in the semi-final round.

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $34 million

Occupation: MMA fighter

Age: 29

When the “Notorious” Conor McGregor isn’t fighting in the UFC, he’s partaking in lucrative boxing matches, releasing his own Irish whiskey, signing a range of endorsement deals, posting on Instagram to over 26 million followers, or just raising a massive scene. Had this list stretched just a few months further, McGregor would likely rank even higher—he reportedly earned around $100 million for his bout against Floyd Mayweather in August of 2017. Put simply, McGregor is a quintessential celebrity athlete of the modern era, with millions upon millions of dollars to show for it.    

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $34 million

Occupation: Soccer player

Age: 28

Known for his exceptional speed and powerful kick, Gareth Bale plays soccer—or football, depending on where you’re from—for Spanish club Real Madrid during the regular season and the Wales national team for World Cup tournaments. In addition to his athletic skills, Bale also makes for quite the savvy entrepreneur, with multiple endorsement deals, and even a trademark on his goal celebration gesture and jersey number.

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $29 million

Occupation: Basketball player

Age: 29

Point guard Derrick Rose played just one (subsequently controversial) year of college basketball before heading to the NBA, where he snagged the first overall pick in the 2008 draft. At the age of 22, Rose was named the youngest MVP in NBA history, having led the Chicago Bulls to the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Due to numerous knee injuries, Rose is not the phenom he once was, however, his bank account is arguably as healthy as it’s ever been.  

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $34.5 million

Occupation: Professional golfer

Age: 25

In 2015, Jordan Spieth became the second-youngest golfer ever to win the Masters, putting him right behind Tiger Woods. One year later, Spieth was named among Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People,” with Tony Romo saying he “exemplifies everything that’s great about sports.” Despite all the momentum, Spieth has been on a bit of a losing streak in 2018, though there’s still time to turn things around.

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $36 million

Occupation: Pop singer

Age: 30

Superstar Rihanna is such a long-standing fixture in pop culture that it might be surprising to discover she only turned 30 this year. Indeed, the Barbadian singer first appeared on the Billboard charts as early as her debut album in 2005, though it was the 2007 hit single “Umbrella” that made her a household name around the world. Not only is Rihanna the top-selling digital artist of all time, but she also oversees a wildly successful line of beauty products, Fenty Beauty. To date, it’s reported that she’s worth a whopping $245 million.

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $37 million

Occupation: Pop singer

Age: 27

British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is living proof that there’s still plenty of money to be made in music, provided that one is supremely talented on multiple fronts. Sheeran earned his keep the hard way, generating a massive fanbase on his own before signing with a major label. His 2017 album, “÷ (Divide),” was a veritable smash, and its lead single, “Shape of You,” broke the record for most weeks spent in the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 10. Of course, those are just two among Sheeran’s many accomplishments, which helps explain his substantial fortune.

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $37 million

Occupation: Soccer player

Age: 26

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, or just Neymar for short, is among the world’s most prominent goal scorers, and reportedly the most expensive soccer player in the history of the sport. He represents his native country of Brazil during World Cup tournaments and plays for French club Paris Saint-Germain during the regular season. He’s also a major presence on social media, with over 100 million followers on his Instagram feed alone.

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $38.4 million

Occupation: Basketball player

Age: 28

In 2015, NBA all-star Damian Lillard extended his contract with the Portland Trailblazers, to the tune of about $120 million. Additionally, Lillard’s signature Adidas shoe is among the brand’s best sellers. Between those two revenue streams alone, the former Rookie of the Year has no problem making ends meet. He’s also considered one of the NBA’s foremost talents.

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $38.6 million

Occupation: Basketball player

Age: 29

Russell Westbrook isn’t even 30 years old, and he’s already a seven-time NBA All Star, two-time league scoring leader, and the 2016–2017 MVP. He’s also the first player since 1962 to average a triple-double for an entire season. In 2017, Westbrook signed a $205 million contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and that’s on top of his endorsement deals with brands like Nike and Mountain Dew.
 

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $41 million

Occupation: Reality star

Age: 20

Before recently making headlines as the queen of a $900 million empire, reality star Kylie Jenner was already earning tons of cash in 2016 and 2017. Most of that money came (and still comes) from Kylie Cosmetics, which she launched in 2015 under the name Kylie Lip Kits. Of course, what really drives Jenner’s success is her ubiquitous presence in tabloids, her recurring appearances on TV, and her massive popularity on social media. Speaking of social media, she has over 115 million followers on Instagram alone.

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $44 million

Occupation: Pop singer

Age: 28

Pop phenom Taylor Swift signed her first record deal at the young age of 15 and continues to dominate the pop culture landscape over a decade later. Her most recent album, 2017’s “Reputation,” was the last in a string of successful releases, and the first album to sell over 2 million copies since 2015. That’s all joined by lucrative deals with Pepsi, Apple Music, and a slew of other relevant brands.
 

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $46.6 million

Occupation: Basketball player

Age: 28

Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden has gone from the league’s best sixth man to its Most Valuable Player over the course of his nine-year career. His recent $228 million deal was the biggest extension contract in NBA history while the list of his major brand partners includes names like Adidas, Foot Locker, State Farm, and Beats by Dre. Put it all together, and the result is one seriously beefed up bank account.

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $47.3 million

Occupation: Basketball player

Age: 30

According to recent reports, Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen “Steph” Curry is coming off the best summer training of his career, which is saying a lot as it’s been one heck of a career thus far. Often pointed to as the best shooter in NBA history, this NBA All Star has achieved more milestones than can fit on the back of a basketball card, including two MVP titles and three championship trophies. Given Curry’s list of professional accomplishments and a bevy of endorsement deals, it’s no shocker that he’s among the league’s most “valuable” players in every possible sense of the word.  

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $50 million

Occupation: Professional golfer

Age: 29

Ireland’s Rory McIlroy currently ranks #6 in the world, but back in 2012, he snagged the #1 spot and then held onto it for 95 weeks in a row. A bona fide prodigy, McIlroy won his first major trophy in the World 9-10 Year Old Championship and went on to become the youngest person ever to win both the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship. Of course, that was merely the start to his wildly successful career, which comes complete with wildly lucrative endorsement deals.  

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $50 million

Occupation: Football quarterback

Age: 29

Quarterbacks are common among the most well-paid athletes in all of professional sports, yet Colts franchise QB Andrew Luck still manages to stand out from the pack, fiscally speaking. In 2016, he signed a $140 million five-year extension contract, reportedly the richest deal in the history of the NFL. That’s accompanied by endorsement deals with brands like Nike, TD Ameritrade, and DirecTV. Recent concerns about Luck’s throwing ability and overall health might have one wondering if he’s worth all that cash, to which Luck might reply, “no refunds.”   

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $60.6 million

Occupation: Basketball player

Age: 29

Steph Curry might be one of the NBA’s best players, but that doesn’t mean he can’t use a little assistance now and then. Enter Kevin Durant, who likewise led the Golden State Warriors to back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. Suffice to say Durant was most definitely worth the $54.3 million that the Warriors paid for him back in 2016. Of course, the real question is how much will the Warriors pay to keep him in 2019, presuming he wants to stick with them?

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $69 million

Occupation: Pop singer

Age: 30

In an era where singers frequently exploit their personal lives in order to remain relevant, Adele primarily gets by on the power of song. Her albums likewise defy trends, selling millions of copies when the competition is lucky to get anywhere close to those numbers. In return for keeping it both real and fantastic, Adele has generated a massive fan-base and an equally massive bank account.

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $83.5 million

Occupation: Pop singer

Age: 24

In contrast to singers like Adele or Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber’s music often takes a backseat to any number of headline-grabbing ordeals, though that’s not to say the Canadian superstar doesn’t know how to release a hit song or embark on a massive tour. Between his professional endeavors, endorsement deals, and massive social media following, the Biebs continues to rake in—and spend—ridiculous amounts of cash.

Annual earnings (June 2016 to June 2017): $92 million

Occupation: R&B singer

Age: 28

Like Justin Bieber, Canada’s Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, a.k.a. The Weeknd, launched to fame after garnering attention through YouTube. Jump ahead a few years and The Weeknd has capitalized on the potential of both streaming and touring to a wildly profitable extent, which isn’t to mention his endorsement deals with brands like H&M, Puma, and Bacardi. Thanks to all that and more, he was the highest-earning celeb under 30 from June 2016 to June 2017.