Calvin Harris Tops Forbes List For Highest Earnings, Performs Ice Bucket Challenge

Calvin Harris is being dubbed the “Electronic Cash King” to beat by Forbes magazine. Zack O’Malley Greenburg of Forbes surmised Calvin Harris’ domination of the EDM scene for the second year running:

“When Calvin Harris topped last year’s Electronic Cash Kings list with a stunning $46 million in annual earnings, it seemed symptomatic of a bubble in the burgeoning EDM scene. But since then, the only thing that has popped is the income of the world’s highest-paid DJs.” -Zack O’Malley Greenburg/Forbes magazine

It would appear, however, that since topping last year’s list after raking in $46 million, Calvin Harris is again the front-runner, pocketing an astounding $66 million since then.

According to the report, Calvin is one of ten other electronic music gurus who comprised a total annual earnings of more than $268 million. Calvin Harris has even been able to out-earn music moguls like Jay Z and Toby Keith this year. On his success, Harris offered the following insight to Forbes:

“The rise of dance music has been astronomical in the last three years. I happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

A rather humble remark from Scotland’s own highest paid DJ.

Spin magazine also reported Harris’ earnings, with the following commentary:

“Obviously the genre has seen its share of growing pains, as events become further associated with drug-related deaths and arrests, but based on the upward trending profits (this year’s top 10 earned $268 million in total, 11 percent more than last year) it seems like the bubble still has a ways to go before it bursts.” -Colin Joyce for Spin

Just for sake of reference, here is a look at the top ten “Electronic Cash King” earners for 2014 according to Forbes:

1. Calvin Harris, $66 million
2. David Guetta, $30 million
3. Avicii, $28 million (tie)
3. Tiësto, $28 million (tie)
5. Steve Aoki, $23 million
6. Afrojack, $22 million
7. Zedd, $21 million
8. Kaskade, $17 million
9. Skrillex, $16.5 million
10. Deadmau5, $16 million

In unrelated news, Calvin Harris also has joined the deluge of industry entertainers who are taking the ice bucket challenge to support research for ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. You can see the rather brief video of a shirtless Harris dumping a bucket of ice water over himself here:

Perhaps the calmest that anyone in the history of ice bucket challenges has performed. It must have something to do with the zen prayer he did at the beginning of the challenge.

Either way, it seems like the future holds a bright spot for the Scottish DJ, especially if his earning trends continue.

[Photo credit: For Wallpaper]