Top 10 Most Profitable Concert Tours in History

Live music offers an unparalleled experience. The joy of seeing your favorite performer in a packed venue, surrounded by fans who share your passion, makes it easy to overlook steep ticket costs, endless restroom queues, and overpriced drinks. In today’s digital age, where isolation is common, concerts provide a vital sense of connection and community.

These events are also a massive industry, as shown by this ranking of the top 10 highest-earning tours ever (updated August 2024). The lineup features legendary rock bands, iconic pop stars, and two trailblazing women whose impact reaches far beyond the realm of music. Their identities are likely no surprise.

10. The Rolling Stones’ No Filter Tour (2017–2021) // $547 million

The Stones earned over half a billion dollars from just 58 performances across North America and Europe. The No Filter Tour began in 2017 and concluded in November 2021, delayed by COVID-19. Tragically, it was the final tour for drummer Charlie Watts, who passed away on August 24, 2021, at 80 years old.

9. The Rolling Stones’ A Bigger Bang Tour (2005–2007) // $558 million

This highly profitable two-year tour featured two iconic nights at New York City’s Beacon Theater, captured by Martin Scorsese for the documentary Shine a Light, and a memorable halftime show at Super Bowl XL in Detroit. In 2006, the band also performed one of the largest free concerts ever, entertaining 1.5 million fans at Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach.

8. Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour (2023) // $579 million

With only 56 performances in 2023, Beyoncé secured her place among the greatest touring artists of all time. She stands out as the sole Black artist and one of only two women in the Top 10.

7. Guns N’ Roses’ Not in This Lifetime… Tour (2016–2019) // $584 million

After years of tension, original GNR members Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan reconciled and embarked on a tour that generated massive earnings. The Not in This Lifetime… tour lasted over three years and became a major success, despite a shaky beginning: Axl fractured his foot before the second Las Vegas show and performed seated in a custom throne previously used by Dave Grohl during his own leg injury.

6. Harry Styles’s Love On Tour (2021–2023) // $617.3 million

Initially planned for 2020 but delayed by the pandemic, Love On Tour ran for almost two years and supported two albums: 2019’s Fine Line and 2022’s Harry House. Highlights included two unforgettable Halloween shows at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, where Harry dressed as a clown and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.

5. U2’s U2 360° Tour (2009–2011) // $736 million

With decades of experience, U2 continually innovates to keep their fans engaged. For the U2 360° Tour, the band performed on a massive 164-foot circular stage known as “The Claw.” As reported by Rolling Stone, this structure was double the size of the stage used in The Rolling Stones’ A Bigger Bang Tour, which previously held the record for the largest stadium setup. U2 360° became the top-grossing tour ever—until it was surpassed by the next entry on this list.

4. Ed Sheeran’s The ÷ (Divide) Tour (2017–2019) // $776 million

By August 2019, with 12 shows left, The ÷ (Divide) Tour overtook U2 360° as the highest-earning tour in history. According to The Guardian, Sheeran’s blend of pop and folk-rock reached smaller crowds—averaging 34,541 attendees per show compared to U2’s 66,091—but ticket prices were 14.2 percent lower. He compensated by performing a total of 255 concerts.

3. Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour (2018–2020, 2022–2023) // $939 million

Sir Elton’s farewell tour sold 6 million tickets, nearly reaching the billion-dollar mark. The tour included a historic performance at the Glastonbury Festival, promoted as his final UK show.

2. Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour (2022–2024) // $945 million

Eco-friendly band Coldplay collaborated with BMW to create the “first rechargeable concert battery,” which powered their highly profitable Music of the Spheres World Tour. Chris Martin and the group also pledged to plant a tree for every ticket purchased. Initially trailing Elton John’s farewell tour in earnings, Coldplay moved into second place after Billboard reported the update on August 16, 2024.

1. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour (2023–2024) // $1.04 billion (and counting)

By December 2023, with many shows still scheduled, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour made history as the first tour to surpass $1 billion in earnings. The tour cemented Swift’s position as the world’s most iconic figure. Featuring friendship bracelets and unexpected song performances, her -hour concerts became legendary. The release of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour in October 2023 further solidified her dominance, becoming the top-grossing concert film ever.