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From Taylor Swift to Madonna: The 14 Most Successful Concert Tours of All Time Ranked by Their Massive Earnings

  • April 8, 2025
  • 12 minute read
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Taylor Swift

had fans trading friendship bracelets while singing their lungs out to a three-hour set packed with every era of her career

. Madonna

delivered stunning visuals, political messages, and iconic dance breaks, reminding everyone why she is the Queen of Pop. Beyoncé

turned her tour into a glittering celebration of power, fashion, and flawless vocals, complete with robotic outfits and a flying disco horse. Meanwhile, Sir Elton John

played his piano in a sparkling suit as fireworks exploded during ‘Rocket Man’, giving fans a farewell they would never forget.

These were not just concerts — they were cultural resets. Fans flew across continents, tickets disappeared in seconds, and social feeds exploded every night. But beyond the lights and loud cheers, one thing quietly stole the spotlight- the money. 

With big crowds and bigger cash these 14 tours did it best

So, which artist took the crown? And how high did the numbers go? This countdown of the 14 most successful concert tours of all time reveals more than just showmanship — it reveals empires!

14. Most Wanted Tour (2024)

At number fourteen, Bad Bunny’s Most Wanted Tour

was short but explosive. With only 31 shows, he still raked in $210.9 million

—that is over $6.8 million per night! The reggaetón king did not need a hundred dates to prove his power. From wild visuals to non-stop energy, each show was a full-blown spectacle. 

So why is he last? Simple—fewer nights, fewer dollars. But back in January, he shook things up when ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’ narrowly beat Taylor Swift’s ‘Lover (Live From Paris)’

vinyl reissue on the Billboard 200. After weeks of Swift dominating the charts, it was a bold statement. With fans still buzzing and new music in the air, Bad Bunny’s just getting started. Most wanted? No doubt about it.

Read More: “We ain’t…”-Morgan Wallen Supports Taylor Swift Against the Fury of His Fans in Indianapolis

13. Hackney Diamonds Tour (2024)

Landing at number thirteen—unlucky for some, but not for The Rolling Stones.

Their Hackney Diamonds Tour pulled in a massive $235 million from just 20 shows

. That is over $11 million a night. Talk about premium rock!

With so few dates, they did not climb higher on the earnings chart, but when they hit the stage, it was pure gold. Mike Jagger still had the moves, Keith Richards still shredded, and the crowd still roared. 

12. Sticky & Sweet Tour (2008-2009)

Madonna did not skip a beat during her Sticky & Sweet Tour

. With just 85 shows, she grossed $411 million and claimed the highest-grossing solo tour record at the time

. And while Taylor Swift recently edged past her in the UK

by selling out the most number-one albums, back in 2008, Sticky & Sweet was the blueprint- fierce, flashy, and full of stamina.

 It is ranked twelfth only because the tour was shorter than most, but her influence? Massive. Only Madonna can turn a gym workout into a pop music extravaganza and still own the crowd.

11. The Wall Live (2010-2013)

Roger Waters turned his shows into full-blown spectacles. The Wall Live pulled in $460 million from 219 performances packed with giant projections, falling bricks, and sharp political messages

. It was not just built for sing-alongs—it was built to make a statement.

The Wall Live

does not rank higher because it leaned more theatrical than commercial, but fans sure did not mind. It felt like live theater, protest, and classic rock all in one. Only Roger Waters could make rebellion feel this epic—and still pack stadiums doing it.

10. Summer Carnival Tour (2023-2024)

Coming in at ten, P!nk literally flew her way to $469.3 million across 131 acrobatic shows

. This was not just music—it was Cirque du Soleil meets pop rebellion. Every jump, flip, and power note proved she is one of the hardest-working performers in the game.

Why is it not in the top five? Well, less ticket cost and a more personal vibe would be why. But who else gives you stadium stunts and sing-alongs? P!nk definitely made it a summer to remember with this one.

9. The Division Bell Tour (1994)

Ninth place goes to a trippy masterpiece. With 110 shows and an inflation-adjusted $534 million

, Pink Floyd’s final tour was a visual and sonic trip for the ages. No gimmicks, just pure immersive storytelling through music and effects.

It ranks lower because it is from 1994, but adjusted for today’s dollars, it is still a beast. Moody, mysterious, and unforgettable—this was a show that hit both your ears and your soul.

8. A Bigger Bang Tour (2005-2007)

Landing in eighth, The Rolling Stones

turned up the volume and reminded everyone that rock never retires. Their 144-show A Bigger Bang Tour pulled in a cool $558 million

, all while Mick Jagger dashed across the stage like it was still the ’70s.

Sure, ticket prices and production costs were lower than the flashy modern tours, but what made this epic? They pulled it off deep into their legendary career. Decades in, and still filling stadiums like it is their prime—that is pure Stones power.

7. Renaissance World Tour (2023)

Queen Bey comes in at seven—but do not let that number fool you. With only 56 shows, she made a sweet $579 million

. That is over $10 million per show, which is wild! And the momentum rolled right into theaters. Her Renaissance

film opened to $5.1 million in previews back in 2023, edging out Taylor Swift

’s $2.8 million Eras Tour preview debut.

Her futuristic visuals, robotic horses, and ballroom flair turned every stadium into a high-glam dream. While she did not tour as long as others, every night was a front-page story!

6. Love On Tour (2021-2023)

Harry Styles’ Love On Tour

grabs sixth with glitter, boas, and charm. Love On Tour made $617 million from 169 fabulous shows that were more like parties than concerts

. Fans danced like nobody was watching, and Harry Styles owned the stage like a rock god in feather pants.

Though not quite in the billion-dollar club yet, but every night felt intimate. He might not top the chart, but his heart-on-sleeve vibes delivered one of the most adored tours in recent years.

5. 360° Tour (2009-2011)

Fifth on the list and still a visual icon, U2’s 360° Tour brought in $736 million with only 110 shows

—talk about high stakes, high earnings. Their stage, which resembled a spaceship, The Claw

, delivered a literal 360-degree experience. They had fewer dates and greater dollars.

So why are they not higher? The others stretched longer or charged more, but Bono and the crew redefined stages. It was more than just a concert—it was this sci-fi stadium adventure no one saw coming.

4. Divide Tour (2017-2019)

Ed Sheeran proved you do not need backup dancers to break some records. Just 255 shows, one loop pedal, and raw talent brought in $776 million

. He is fourth because while the simplicity worked, the tickets were way friendlier than the glitzy giants above him. Now, while the Divide era lives on in tour history, Sheeran’s recent tour stop in India and his hints of a new music chapter in 2025

, is proof that Ed Sheeran is not done making waves just yet!

Nevertheless, his power to fill stadiums with nothing but his voice and a guitar made this tour feel like magic. Every night, it was just Ed Sheeran and thousands of fans singing their hearts out.

3. Farewell Yellow Brick Road (2018-2023)

In third place, Sir Elton John did not go quietly. Across a record 328 performances, he bid adieu in sparkly style and cashed in $939 million doing it

. It was the end of a five-year glam parade, and fans across the globe clung to every piano key.

Why not higher? Fewer dollars per show, but his long, emotional farewell touched generations. He did not just bow out—he made the exit legendary.

2. Music of the Spheres (2022-2024)

Coldplay’s radiant, eco-powered tour blasted off like a rocket across 184 shows and earned a cosmic $1.2 billion

. From LED wristbands to sustainable confetti, it was a full-on space party. So why second place? They did have more shows than Taylor Swift, but the average gross was lower.

Still, Chris Martin and the crew made going green look cooler than ever. The vibe? Peace, love, and stadium-sized sing-alongs.

1. The Eras Tour (2023-2024)

Taylor Swift took the crown and never looked back. With 149 stadium-filling shows and a whopping $2.2 billion gross

, she did not just beat the record, she doubled it. Fans turned up in sequins and friendship bracelets to relive every Swift era in one unforgettable evening. Massive setlists, surprise songs, and pure fan worship made The Eras Tour

 feels like history in motion. Even after the final show, Swifties kept the energy alive, fueling a merch obsession

that refuses to fade. This tour was not just big—it was the tour that changed the concert game forever!

Just like that, the lights dim, the confetti settles, and the final chord echoes through the crowd. Taylor Swift takes a final bow after rewriting touring history. Coldplay’s glowing sea of fans fades into the night. Sir Elton John steps off stage with a smile that says goodbye and thank you. Beyoncé leaves the floor shaking, and The Rolling Stones prove, once again, that legends do not age; they grow better. 

From Ed Sheeran’s acoustic charm to Madonna’s fearless reinventions, every artist wrote their own page in concert history. Some played hundreds of nights, others just a few, but all walked away with something bigger than numbers, moments burned into the hearts of millions. The tour may be over, but the memory plays on.

Read More: Is There a Netflix Show About Taylor Swift? Is It the Eras Tour? Here’s All You Need To Know

Who gave you chills, who made you cry, and which concert would you pay anything to see again? Drop your favorite tour memory in the comments below!

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