Yayoi Kusama Highest-Paid Artist in the World

It's been a rough year for the artist, but at least she has her millions of dollars to ease the pain. 97-year-old Yayoi Kusama has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid artists for 2026 with an estimated $82 million in combined earnings.

UPDATE 22/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Yayoi Kusama tops annual list of highest-paid artists

In 2023 it looked like the artist’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, she was back on top. People With Money reports on Saturday (March 21) that Kusama is the highest-paid artist in the world, pulling in an astonishing $82 million between February 2025 and February 2026, a nearly $50 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 Japanese artist-painter has an estimated net worth of $245 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 Kusama Burger” chain) in Tokyo, a Football Team (the “Matsumoto Angels”), has launched her own brand of Vodka (Pure Wonderkusama - Japan), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Yayoi) and a fashion line called “Yayoi Kusama Seduction”.

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

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