Beyoncé is the highest paid woman in music in 2014, with estimated earnings of $115 million, while Simon Cowell Forbes has been named the top-earning entertainment personality in the US, taking $95 million in just one year.

The huge sum, most of which was from her world tour, propelled Beyoncé, 33, from fourth place last year and put her firmly ahead of pop star Taylor Swift, 24, with $64 million, who jumped up one spot from last year to No. 2.

Pop singer Pink, 35, climbed up from No. 8 in 2013 to third with $52 million.

“Beyoncé played 95 shows during our scoring period, bringing in an average of $2.4 million per city,” said Forbes, citing data from the Pollstar trade magazine.

The R&B singer’s self-titled album released last December and endorsement deals pushed her earnings up further assuring her the top spot.

Barbados-born Rihanna, 26, with $48 million and Katy Perry, 30, who earned an estimated $40 million, rounded out the top five on the annual list.

Madonna, 56, ranked No. 1 last year, failed to make the top 10 in 2014. Lady Gaga, 28, slumped from No. 2 in 2013 to ninth place this year with estimated earnings of $33 million.

Forbes compiled the list after estimating pre-tax income calculated for the 12 months from June 2013 to 2014 based on record sales, concert tickets, touring information merchandise sales and interviews with concert promoters, lawyers and managers. It also looked at data from the Pollstar, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) and tracking firm Nielsen SoundScan.

Meanwhile, Forbes puts The X Factor judge Cowell, 55, at the top of the list of big-earners for estimated earnings for the 12 months to June 2014.

The publisher said that the TV and music mogul’s millions came from his X Factor and Got Talent earnings around the globe, as well as chart-toppers One Direction.

Shock jock Howard Stern, who is also a judge on America’s Got Talent, took joint first place with Cowell at the top of the list.

Forbes talked to agents, managers and lawyers to come up with estimates for entertainment-related earnings for each celebrity.

Oprah Winfrey was fourth with $82 million, while chat show host Ellen DeGeneres was sixth with $70 million.

The top 10 also featured US right-wing TV host Glenn Beck, Dr Phil host Phil McGraw, British chef Gordon Ramsay, US entertainer Rush Limbaugh, US TV host Ryan Seacrest and Judge Judy star Judge Judy Sheindlin.

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