The Weeknd Tops 2025 List as Music’s Highest-Paid Artist

As 2025 draws to a close, Abel Tesfaye—known globally as The Weeknd—has emerged as the year’s highest-paid musician, according to Forbes. The 35-year-old artist secured the top spot following a landmark $1 billion catalog partnership with Lyric Capital, a deal that significantly reshaped the music industry’s approach to artist ownership.

Unlike traditional catalog sales, the agreement allows Tesfaye to retain an ownership stake in his master recordings while preserving full creative control over his six-album body of work. Forbes estimates the transaction resulted in an immediate post-fee payout of approximately $200 million, cementing one of the most lucrative deals ever made by a recording artist.

The historic payday coincides with Tesfaye’s plans to retire “The Weeknd” persona, a transition he has begun signaling through his upcoming film and companion album, Hurry Up Tomorrow. His earnings placed him at the forefront of an exclusive group of nine-figure music earners in 2025, alongside global touring powerhouses such as Beyoncé, Coldplay, Shakira, and Kendrick Lamar.