Rapper Diddy tops Forbes list of highest paid celebs

By Safvan Allahverdi

NEW YORK (AA) - The world's 100 highest-paid entertainers earned more than $5 billion in the past year, according to a Forbes magazine analysis.

Rapper and music producer Sean John Combs, also known as “Diddy”, was the highest-paid entertainer raking in $130 million. More than half of that figure, $70 million, came from selling a one-third stake in his Sean John clothing line.

Beyoncé was second on the list with $105 million, thanks to her Lemonade album and world tour.

British author J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame placed third with a whopping $95 million, thanks in part to her new book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

She was followed by Canadian hip-hop star Drake who pocketed $94 million, while Portuguese superstar footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and Canadian R&B artist, The Weeknd, rounded out the top five, each with $93 million.

A little more than one-third of this year's top 100 earners hail from outside the United States, according to Forbes.

The U.K. claims 12 entries, while four Canadians made the cut.

About 20 percent of the celebrities on this year's list are from Europe and 5 percent from Asia.