The island of Ibiza is known worldwide for hosting the world’s top DJs. For years, Ibiza’s nightclubs have been the place where every electronic musician has wanted to play at some point in their career. Some, such as David Guetta and Calvin Harris, are already regulars on the island’s club bills and even have residencies in Ibiza. According to Forbes magazine, the 15 highest-paid DJs in 2019, the year before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic that forced nightlife to come to a standstill, have played in Ibiza.
1) The Chainsmokers – 42.2 million euros
Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall are the members of this North American DJ duo. The New Yorkers surpassed in 2019 the income of Calvin Harris, who in 2018 held the position of highest paid with almost 44.5 million euros. The Chainsmokers are regulars at the Ushuïa Ibiza nightclub, where they have shared the stage on occasion with David Guetta.
2) Marshmello – 36.7 million
At 27 years old, Christopher Comstock, better known as Marshmello, managed to position himself as the second highest paid dj in the world with 36.7 million euros in 2019. The American almost doubled his income compared to the previous year, when he earned 19.2 million.
3) Calvin Harris – 35.3 million
Adam Richard Wiles is his name and until 2018 he held the title of highest paid dj in the world, with almost 44.5 million euros in income. However, a year later his income fell to 35.3 million and he went on to close the podium of the ranking of the highest paid.
4) Steve Aoki – $27.5 million
Pacha, Amnesia or Ushuaïa are the clubs that have seen the American-Japanese DJ play in Ibiza. At 44 years old, Aoki remains a reference dj. In 2019, according to Forbes, he earned 27.5 million euros, half a million more than in 2018.
5) Diplo – 22.9 million
Thomas Wesley Pentz or Diplo, as he is known artistically, has DJed in nightclubs such as Pacha and Hï Ibiza. In 2019 his income reached almost 23 million euros, slightly less than in 2018, when it was 26.1 million.
6) Tiësto – 22 million
Tijs Michiel Verwest, known in the world of electronic music as dj Tiësto, enlivened for years the nights at Privilege or Amnesia. At 53 years old, the Dutch dj is still active and in 2019 he earned 22 million euros. A year earlier, in 2018, he reached 35.7 million.
7) Martin Garrix – 17.4 million
The youngest dj in this ranking is Martin Garrix, who shares nationality with Tiësto and is currently 25 years old. Martijn Gerard Garritsen, his official name, earned in 2019, with only 23 years old, 17.4 million euros, practically the same as a year earlier.
8) David Guetta – 16.5 million
By contrast, the Frenchman David Guetta, 54 years old, is the oldest of this list. However, age has never been an impediment for one of the most famous dj’s on the world scene, who continues to play in clubs like Ushuaïa Ibiza and Hï Ibiza, where he moved after many years at Pacha with his mythical party F*** Me I’m Famous. In 2019 his revenues were 16.5 million euros. In 2018 they reached 22.9 million.
9) Zedd – 15.6 million
The Russian Anton Zaslavski, known artistically as Zedd, shared the stage at Ushuaïa Ibiza with the late Avicii. In 2019 he earned €15.6 million compared to €17.4 million in 2018.
10) Armin van Buuren – 13.7 million
The top 10 is closed by the Dutch dj Armin Jozef Jacobus Jacobus Daniël van Buuren, better known as Armin van Buuren. A regular in Ibiza, where he has DJed at Ushuaïa Ibiza, Hï Ibiza or Amnesia, he earned in 2019 13.7 million euros.
11) Kaskade – 12.8 million
Pacha, Amnesia and the defunct Space have hosted the sessions of American DJ Ryan Raddon, or Kaskade, his stage name, throughout his career. In 2019, the musician achieved an income of 12.8 million.
12) Skrillex – 11.9 million
Skrillex, whose official name is Sonny John Moore managed in 2018 to earn 27.5 million euros. Just a year later, in 2019, these plummeted to 11.9. The Los Angeles, California-born DJ has played at Amnesia and Ibiza Rocks.
13) Alesso – 11.4 million
Alessandro Lindblad or simply Alesso, has taken to the stages of Ushuaïa Ibiza and Pacha to cheer up the attendees of his sessions. In 2019 the Swedish deejay made a revenue of 11.4 million euros.
14) Afrojack – 11 million
Nick van de Wall is known worldwide as Afrojack. This Dutch dj was one of the must-sees at the SuperMartXé party held by Privilege nightclub. In 2019 his revenues amounted to 11 million euros.
15) Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and DJ Snake – 10.5 million
The ranking is closed by the Belgian brothers Dimitri Thivaios and Michael Thivaios, who form the duo Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike together with DJ Snake, who earned in 2019 the same amount: 10.5 million euros. Both have DJed at Ushuaïa Ibiza, as well as at Pacha in the case of DJ Snake, where he shared a table with the aforementioned Steve Aoki.
For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.