DJ Calvin Harris Pulls in $66M, Leaving Forbes Rivals in Dust

DJ Calvin Harris has been named by Forbes magazine as the world's highest-paid in his genre by pulling in $66 million, more than his next two rivals combined, according to a Forbes magazine list of  "electronic cash kings."

Harris, the Scottish DJ born Adam Richard Wiles, compiled the eye-popping total playing 125 electronic dance music events, better known as EDM events, according to Forbes.

"(Harris has) found great success in the pop world, working with the likes of Rihanna and Kesha, which has helped him land headline gigs not only at EDM-focused events but also at festivals like Coachella," wrote Forbes' Zack O'Malley Greenburg. "Harris continues to play regularly in Las Vegas where he has a multi-year deal at America's biggest nightclub, Hakkasan."

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According to Spin magazine, Harris said he is just riding the wave of EDM popularity at the moment.

"The rise of dance music has been astronomical in the last three years," Harris told Spin. "I happened to be in the right place at the right time."

Spin's Colin Joyce said Harris may be right and that, despite some bad publicity, entertainers and promoters continue to pour money into high-priced DJs to entertain crowds.

"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," Joyce wrote.

Harris also has long used his talent to produce music, according to The Guardian, and had his first top 10 hit in the United States this year with the song "Summer." The Guardian said he has produced songs for stars Rihanna and former girlfriend Rita Ora.

Harris is far out ahead of others in the money game, as No. 2 David Guetta made $30 million and the No. 3 spot, tied between Avicii and Tiesto at $28 million each over the past 12 months, according to Forbes.

Rounding out the top 10 electronic cash kings, according to Forbes, are Steve Aoki ($23 million), Afrojack ($22 million), Zedd ($21 million), Kaskade ($17 million), Skrillex ($16.5 million) and Deadmau5 ($16 million).

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