Takashi Murakami Highest-Paid Artist in the World

It's been a rough year for the artist, but at least he has his millions of dollars to ease the pain. 64-year-old Takashi Murakami has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid artists for 2026 with an estimated $75 million in combined earnings.

UPDATE 20/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Takashi Murakami tops annual list of highest-paid artists

In 2023 it looked like the artist’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, he was back on top. People With Money reports on Thursday (March 19) that Murakami is the highest-paid artist in the world, pulling in an astonishing $75 million between February 2025 and February 2026, a nearly $40 million lead over his 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 Japanese artist-painter has an estimated net worth of $215 million. He owes his fortune to smart stock investments, substantial property holdings, lucrative endorsement deals with CoverGirl cosmetics. He also owns several restaurants (the “Fat Murakami Burger” chain) in Tokyo, a Football Team (the “Tokyo Angels”), has launched his own brand of Vodka (Pure Wondermurakami - Japan), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Takashi) and a fashion line called “Takashi Murakami Seduction”.

The ranking is significant for many Takashi fans, who have been waiting for his triumphant return to the glory days for what seems like a lifetime.

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