How Taylor Swift makes and spends her US$740 million net worth: The Eras Tour will soon make her a billionaire, but she already lives a blessed life, from a property portfolio to charity donations

Jul 8 , 2023

Taylor Swift is undoubtedly one of the most successful pop stars today. Photo: @taylorswift/Instagram

At 15 years old, she was the youngest songwriter to ever sign with Sony. She now has 12 Grammys on her shelf, several tours under her belt, an endless list of chart-topping songs and albums, and a beloved fan base who dub themselves “Swifties”.

A clean haul: Taylor Swift poses with her six trophies during the 50th Annual American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California, US, in November 2022. Photo: AFP

Such success makes Swift one of the world’s highest-paid celebrities and one of the richest female singers. According to Forbes, she has an estimated net worth of US$740 million – and that’s only expected to rise once she wraps up the US and South American legs of The Eras Tour. If you consider the international dates in Japan, Singapore and Australia next year, her total take could be even higher.

Taylor Swift bathes in a bathtub full of bling for her “Look What You Made Me Do” video. Photo: YouTube

That said, Swift has been strategic and generous with her money, investing in a sprawling US$84 million property portfolio and often donating to causes she supports and people in need.

We look at how pop diva Swift earns and spends her impressive fortune.

Inside Taylor Swift’s US$740 million net worth

Taylor Swift performs onstage on the first night of her “Eras Tour” at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 31, 2023. Photo: AFP

Swift’s net worth has grown exponentially in the last few years. Forbes reported her main sources of income are record sales, concert tours, merchandise sales and endorsements, partnering with Capital One, AT&T, Stella McCartney, Elizabeth Arden perfumes, American Express, Keds, Diet Coke, Walmart and Apple.

Touring is her biggest moneymaker

Taylor Swift performs during her 1989 World Tour at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, US, in July 2015. Photo: AP

Aside from brand partnerships and endorsements, touring is Swift’s biggest moneymaker. The 1989 World Tour grossed more than US$250 million in 2015, according to the Los Angeles Times.

She earned even more during her Reputation Stadium Tour in 2018. It ended up being the second highest-grossing tour that year, making US$315 million on more than 2.6 million ticket sales.

Taylor Swift performs during the first Chicago show of the Chicago Eras Tour at Soldier Field, on June 2. Photo: TNS

Swift’s The Eras Tour, which she is currently performing across the US, could make her a billionaire. Forbes estimates that the 52-date, five-month US leg will potentially between gross US$620 million – of which she could keep about US$500 million.

Factor in the global dates that will keep Swift on the road through to August 2024, and estimates go into 10 figures – making it the first ever billion-dollar tour in history.

Moneymaking Swift merch

Taylor Swift poses with fans at the Spotify Mural on album release day in New York City, US, in August 2019. Photo: Getty Images

But her tours don’t just bring in ticket sales. She also makes an insane amount of money off her merch. Forbes estimated that her coveted on-site merchandise – which she sells at an average price of US$80 – could add an estimated US$87 million in proceeds to her fortune.

That smash hit 10th studio album Midnights

Taylor Swift at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles, US, in November 2019. Photo: AP

Swift amassed an estimated US$230 million in record sales following the release of her 10th studio album Midnights in 2022. The Guardian reported her massive sales brought in US$230 million for Swift’s label Universal.

With 1.58 million equivalent album units earned in the US in its first week, Midnights landed the biggest week for an album in seven years, according to Billboard.

Taylor Swift accepts the award for video of the year for “All Too Well” at the MTV Video Music Awards in August 2022. Photo: AP

Forbes also reported that Swift made US$52 million in 2021 after re-recording and subsequently releasing earlier work that was sold by her much-maligned former manager Scooter Braun. Her new version of Red was one of the year’s top-selling albums and “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)“ topped the charts when it was released.

Not to mention, some of her income that year came from lucrative endorsement deals with Peloton and Starbucks.

All in all, Swift has amassed an impressive fortune – and she knows how to spend it.

US$80 million real estate portfolio

Taylor Swift’s US$32 million Hollywood mansion in California. Photo: Google Maps

Her real estate portfolio is worth over US$80 million. It consists of eight properties in four different states.

In Nashville, she owns a 3,240 sq ft condo worth an estimated US$3 million and a 5,600 sq ft Greek Revival estate worth an estimated US$2.5 million. The latter is the cheapest property she owns. Across the country in LA, Swift owns a 10,982 sq ft Beverly Hills mansion worth nearly US$32 million and in 2017, she was trying to turn it into a historic landmark.

Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island estate is an inspiration for one of her songs. Photo: Zillow

Swift also owns an estate with seaside views in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, for which she reportedly paid US$17.75 million, according to the New York Post. With 12,000 sq ft, it has plenty of room for parties and even inspired her song “The Last Great American Dynasty”.

Taylor Swift’s Tribeca townhouse, the Big Apple. Photo: Google Maps

But that’s nothing compared to the estimated US$40 million worth of property Swift owns in New York City on the same block in Tribeca. Taylor Swift bought this townhouse last year located at 153 Franklin St. It’s next to a complex where she now owns three units. That includes an 8,309 sq ft large duplex penthouse and a four-story townhouse.

Swift’s achingly luxurious lifestyle

Taylor Swift arrives at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, US, in 2013. Photo: FilmMagic

Swift needs a way to travel among all these homes and she reportedly owns two Dassault private jets. There’s no word on how much she paid for them but Elon Musk owns a similar model that cost around US$26 million.

Taylor Swift and model Karlie Kloss at Sarabeth’s in New York City, US, in 2014. Photo: @OnThisTAY/Twitter

The “Anti-Hero” singer often spends money dining out with her friends and romantic partners, especially when in New York City. In the past, she’s been spotted at The Fat Radish, The Spotted Pig, Sarabeth’s and L’Asso.

Tay Tay is pretty generous with her money

Taylor Swift leaving McNally Jackson bookstore in New York. Photo: @OnThisTAY/Twitter

Swift has always been generous with her money, supporting causes and helping those in need.

According to People, on her 24th birthday, she donated US$100,000 to the Nashville Symphony. She’s provided support during natural disasters, donating US$1 million to the victims of Louisiana floods and US$500,000 to the Nashville flood relief. She also raised US$750,000 through a Speak Now Help Now benefit concert for victims of tornadoes in the southern US in 2011.

Swift is also supportive of education – she pledged US$4 million to the Country Music Hall of Fame to fund the Taylor Swift Education Centre. She also donated US$50,000 to public schools in New York City.

Helps out those in need

Taylor Swift arrives for the world premiere of Cats at the Alice Tully Hall in New York City, US, in December 2019. Photo: AFP

In 2020, Swift gave US$50,000 to a mother of five who lost her husband to Covid-19 days before Christmas. She and her mum Andrea Swift quietly made the donation, according to USA Today. She also gifted US$13,000 each to two mums who were also struggling financially because of the pandemic.

Then there are the two famous cheques she wrote for US$1,989 – an ode to her bestselling album – sent to two fans to pay a student loan and to donate to a dance marathon benefit. The checks were sent out in 2014, according to People.

Taylor Swift performs onstage during NSAI 2022 Nashville Songwriter Awards at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, in September 2022. Photo: TNS

More recently, she has been donating to food banks across America that coincide with her The Eras Tour route. She made a sizeable donation to the Arizona Food Bank Network as she kicked off the tour in Glendale, Arizona, and has done the same at other stops including Las Vegas, Nevada, and Detroit, Michigan.

Kesha performs “Praying” at the 60th annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York City, in January 2018. Photo: AP

Swift gave Kesha US$250,000 to help with legal fees during her lawsuit against music producer Dr. Luke. Rolling Stone reported the donation in an interview with Kesha in 2017. In the article, the singer said Swift “very, very sweet, very, very genuine, extremely generous, picks up the phone every time I call her. My mum doesn’t even always pick up the phone!”

Savvy with investments

Taylor Swift had a hunch that crypto exchange FTX was tanking. Photo: TNS

In 2022, she pulled out of a US$100 million sponsorship deal with Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX after she questioned the company if it was selling “unregistered securities”.

Many other celebrities such as Tom Brady and Stephen Curry failed to do so and are now being sued for endorsing the now-bankrupt crypto exchange.

This article originally appeared on Insider.

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Fame and celebrity

The Eras Tour is expected to be the first tour to make a billion dollars – plus an extra US$87 million expected to come from merchandise, with souvenir take-homes priced at an average of US$80 a pop
Besides investing in prime real estate across the US and living a luxe lifestyle, the “Anti-Hero” singer has shown her altruistic side by donating to food banks across America and paying off fans’ student debts