1. Rolling Stones-Total earnings: $88 million

Still gathering no moss, the Stones had the highest-grossing tour in North America last year, bringing in $139 million. They doubled that abroad. The "Bigger Bang" tour, which kicked off back in 2005, has grossed $437 million to date, making it the top-generating tour in history. This time around, Keith Richards, not Mick Jagger, dominated headlines thanks to his star turn in the recent Pirates of the Caribbean sequel, in addition to comments made this spring that he once snorted his father's ashes. (He later recanted.)

2. Jay-Z: Total earnings: $83 million

While most of us pine for retirement, the native New Yorker couldn't stand the view from the sidelines following his 2003 farewell Black Album. Despite a busy schedule as chief of Def Jam, his comeback album, Kingdom Come, debuted at the top of Billboard's pop and rap charts. Owns a small stake in the New Jersey Nets, plus two locations of his 40/40 clubhouse. In March, he sold his Rocawear apparel label to Iconix for $204 million. Did we mention Beyonce?

3. Madonna: Total earnings: $72 million

Madonna crisscrossed the globe last year for her tour, "Confessions," which drew over 1 million fans and grossed $194 million, making it the top-earning tour by a female artist in history. NBC cut the Material Girl a hefty check to broadcast the "Confessions" tour live last November, though ratings proved disappointing. In March, the always fashion-forward singer linked up with retailer H&M for her own clothing line, M. (Rhinestones a-plenty, but no cone bras.) Generated a maelstrom of negative publicity last year for her adoption of a baby in Malawi.

4. Bon Jovi: Total earnings: $67 million

Only a couple of years away from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame eligibility, Bon Jovi is still selling albums and cleaning up at the box office. Mega-tour promoter AEG won a publicized bidding war for the band's "Have A Nice Day" tour, which brought in $110 million last year in ticket sales. Bon Jovi sold 3 million records worldwide last year. Their new album hit stores in June. Guitarist Richie Sambora earned the band additional press for his controversial relationship with his ex-wife's former close friend Denise Richards.

5. Elton John: Total earnings: $53 million

Between performances of his appropriately flamboyant Las Vegas show, "The Red Piano," Elton John grossed over $60 million in tickets for worldwide shows. This year, he celebrated his 60th birthday with his 60th concert at Madison Square Garden, a sold-out affair that drew A-listers like Bill Clinton, Jon Bon Jovi and Sharon Stone. Theatergoers still snap up tickets to hear his music in "Aida," "Billy Elliot" and "The Lion King." John's latest release, Rocket Man: Number Ones, debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard charts in April, selling 50,000 copies in its first week.