The Highest-Paid Taiwanese Singers Of 2021 Revealed… And Jay Chou Isn’t #1

The Top 5 highest-paid Taiwanese singers of 2021 have been revealed by Apple Daily, and you could be forgiven for thinking that Mandopop king Jay Chou has topped the list again, which he’s done many times over the years.

But that wasn't the case.

Even though he made S$22.6mil this year

A few months ago, the 42-year-old was named the top-earning celeb in China from 2017 to 2020, having raked in an eye-watering 2.15bil yuan (S$461mil).

He’s had a pretty good 2021 as well. Even though his Carnival World Tour had to be put on hold due to COVID-19 (and he hasn’t released a new album in five years), he’s had 11 endorsement deals, including a global one with Tudor Watches, keeping his bank account nice and full.

In total, Jay is estimated to have pocketed NT$460mil (S$22.6mil) this year, which is undeniably impressive, but still NT$20mil (S$983,000) less than what the guy in the number one spot took home, and that person is…

#3 is Wang Leehom with S$10.3mil

Wang Leehom’s personal life may not be the most smooth-sailing right now (he recently confirmed that he and Lee Jinglei, his wife of eight years, are getting a divorce), but at least he’s still commanding big bucks.

This year, the 45-year-old took on four endorsement deals and four reality shows in China, and recorded songs for Hollywood movie Free Guy and Chinese documentary The Forbidden City, netting him a cool NT$210mil (S$10.3mil).

Oh, and that doesn’t even include what he makes from teaching online singing classes, which is estimated to be another NT$200mil (S$9.8mil). Ka-ching.

Ella Chen is at #4 with S$4.9mil

The first lady on the list is S.H.E’s Ella Chen, who’s been taking on more jobs in Taiwan so she can spend time with her four-year-old son.

As a mother and a wife, the 40-year-old is a popular pick to endorse all kinds of products — from kitchen utensils to sanitary pads — and has worked with 10 brands this year.

Add her earnings from that to what she’s been making from performing around the country, and it’s estimated that Ella brought in NT$100mil (S$4.9mil) in 2021.

Jolin Tsai rounds up the Top 5 with S$4.4mil

Rounding up the Top 5 is Jolin Tsai, whose annual income was NT$90.3mil (S$4.4mil), which is still a lot of money but also a rare drop below the NT$100mil mark for the Mandopop queen.

This is largely due to the fact that she hasn’t been able to hold more concerts around the world amidst the pandemic, although she still pulled in NT$20.3mil (S$995K) from the five Ugly Beauty World Tour shows she put on back in April, plus another NT$70mil (S$3.4mil) from seven endorsement deals.

Photos: Jay Chou/Instagram, Jam Hsiao/Instagram, Wang Leehom/Instagram, Ella Chen/Instagram, Jolin Tsai/Instagram

Jam Hsiao’s the highest-earning Taiwanese singer of 2021 with S$23.6mil

Sitting pretty in first place is Jam Hsiao, who’s been very, very busy this year and made an estimated NT$480mil (S$23.6mil) as a result. The 34-year-old also beat Jay in last year’s ranking.

In addition to the nine endorsement deals in China that brought in NT$90mil (S$4.4mil), Jam earned about NT$120mil (S$5.9mil) from holding 25 performances all around the country, and another NT$270mil (S$13.3mil) from appearing on 17 reality shows.

Told you he’s been busy.