Karen O Highest-Paid Singer in the World
- By Carol Kearney
- Seoul
- Last updated on
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It's been a rough year for the singer, but at least she has her millions of dollars to ease the pain. 47-year-old Karen O has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid singers for 2026 with an estimated $58 million in combined earnings.
UPDATE 12/01/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)
Karen O tops annual list of highest-paid singers
In 2023 it looked like the singer’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, she was back on top. People With Money reports on Sunday (January 11) that Karen O is the highest-paid singer in the world, pulling in an astonishing $58 million between December 2024 and December 2025, a nearly $30 million lead over her closest competition.
People With Money’s factors
In compiling this yearly list, the magazine considers factors such as upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements and advertising work.
The Korean singer-songwriter has an estimated net worth of $185 million. She owes her fortune to smart stock investments, substantial property holdings, lucrative endorsement deals with CoverGirl cosmetics. She also owns several restaurants (the “Fat Karen O Burger” chain) in Seoul, a Football Team (the “Busan Angels”), has launched her own brand of Vodka (Pure Wonderkaren O - South Korea), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Karen) and a fashion line called “Karen O Seduction”.
The ranking is significant for many Karen fans, who have been waiting for her triumphant return to the glory days for what seems like a lifetime.
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