From Britney Spears to Kylie Minogue – the ultimate Vegas rich list including celebs who made more than £300k per show
SHE’S the pint-sized pop princess from Down Under who started out on Neighbours – and became Australia’s highest selling female artist.
And Kylie Minogue shows no sign of slowing down having released her 93rd single, Padam Padam, in May, which reached 12 on the UK chart.
The Sun exclusively revealed the singer has now landed her first ever Las Vegas residency at the age of 55, following hot on the heels of Kelly Clarkson, 41, who opened her residency this weekend.
Kylie will take to the stage in October at brand new mega-nightclub Voltaire inside The Venetian Tower, an intimate 1,000 seater venue.
And Brand and Culture expert reckons this could be Kylie’s biggest career move yet, with the star set to earn up to £1 million per show.
He says: “Riding high on the international success of Padam Padam, Kylie is set to light up the strip with a fabulous immersive show that will showcase some of her biggest hits.”
Here, YASMIN HARISHA reveals the other singers who have earnt a killing from their Las Vegas residencies, while Nick explains what makes the Sin City performances so spectacular.
CELINE DION
Number of residencies: 2
Estimated earnings: £314.5 million
Known as the Queen of Vegas, it’s little wonder that Celine Dion holds the title for the highest grossing Vegas residency of all time.
The performer, 55, who has sold more than 200 million records worldwide, first banked an astonishing £299 million with her show A New Day, which ran between March 2003 and December 2007.
Performing 717 shows to a total of 3 million lucky fans at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Celine is said to have commanded an impressive £417,000 per performance.
The Canadian singer returned to the strip in March 2011 for another 70 performances of her show Celine, which netted her a cool £15.5 million before wrapping in June 2019.
Nick says: “Celine is a powerhouse performer with an incredible voice – she is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars in the world so it’s no surprise she has made the most cash.
“With breathtaking effects from the team behind Cirque Du Soleil, she wowed audiences with water-soaked performances of My Heart Will Go On. There were multiple costume changes and audiences loved her chat in between songs.”
LADY GAGA
Number of residencies: 1
Estimated earnings: £60.6 million
Known for her flamboyant costumes, provocative lyrics and strong vocal ability, Lady Gaga took Vegas by storm during her residency, which began in December 2018.
The pop singer, 37, who has 17 top 10 hits, earned an incredible £1.2 million per show during her stint performing The Enigma, which was held at Park MGM Hotel and Casino.
The residency featured two different set lists, one show featuring the star’s biggest hits and a separate show where she performed a string of jazz and piano favourites.
However, the show did have to take an unfortunate 21-month hiatus during the Covid pandemic, returning to the theatre in October 2021 and concluding in May 2022.
Nick says: “The Enigma show was the perfect way to showcase her performance ability. With over the top set design, energetic dance routines and incredible vocals.
“She maximised her earnings by performing jazz on some nights – which encouraged fans to book to see her twice, earning her megabucks.”
BRITNEY SPEARS
Number of residencies: 1
Estimated earnings: £78 million
AS the Princess of Pop, Britney Spears was always going to be a popular performer in Vegas, securing her place in the annals of history.
The two-time Grammy nominated singer managed to earn some serious cash while performing her Piece of Me residency at Planet Hollywood.
Brit’s show began in December 2013 and consisted of 250 performances before wrapping up in December 2017. The show achieved huge commercial success and won the Best of Las Vegas awards in 2015 and 2017.
Britney, who was under her controversial conservatorship at the time, is estimated to have banked an impressive £312,000 per show.
Nick says: “When Vegas called, Britney delivered. Her fans loved watching her perform her greatest hits – every song was a banger.
“She recreated some of her most famous music videos in the show, and fans were invited on stage to dance with her.
“She was criticised for lip synching, but being the icon that she is – people will always try to look for faults. For Britney, it’s all about the performance and fans still left happy.”
CHER
Number of residencies: 3
Estimated earnings: £116.6 million
AS one of the most iconic singers of all time, Cher earned a pretty penny while performing her three residencies at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Her first, Cher in Concert, took place between 1979 and 1982, earning the star around £233,000 per week.
She performed 223 shows over seven weeks, which earned her £1.6 million, and it eventually became Cher’s first world tour as a solo artist.
In May 2008 she returned to the strip, performing around 200 shows during her eponymous show, which ended in February 2011.
The show, which featured a troop of 14 dancers and four aerialists, grossed over £75 million during its run.
Cher also earned another £40 million from her third residency, Classic Cher, which she performed at MGM Grand Hotel between February 2017 to February 2020.
Nick says: “Cher’s shows are the stuff of legend. People flocked from near and far to see her perform her massive back catalogue of hits.
“It was a real trip down memory lane and no expense was spared – from Cher riding a huge tank, just like in the Turn Back Time video, to performing a medley from Burlesque. Her shows were pure pantomime.”
MARIAH CAREY
Number of residencies: 2
Estimated earnings: £23 million
She holds the title of the solo artist with the most number ones in chart history, so it was only a matter of time before Mariah Carey signed up for a residency in Vegas.
Her first, Infinity, which ran between May 2015 and July 2017, featured all 18 of her US number-one singles in chronological order and was performed at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Despite being criticised for poor vocals and lip-syncing, the singer, 54, still earnt around £17.8 million.
The Butterfly Returns was Mariah Carey’s second residency at Caesars Palace between July 2018 and February 2020, earning her £5.4 million, which is around £217,000 per show.
Nick says: “As one of the biggest selling female artists of all time, Mariah had to come to Vegas.
“It felt like such a natural home for her, where she could perform her greatest hits. The show was a big budget musical extravaganza where Mariah played up to her diva reputation – think butterflies and lots of glitter.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she returned for a third stint soon.”
ADELE
Number of residencies: 1
Estimated earnings: £18.3 million
HER Las Vegas residency may have got off to a slow start after pulling the plug last minute due to the show “lacking intimacy”, but Adele made sure she brought it back with a bang.
The residency, Weekends With Adele, was the first by the north-London singer and has been running since November 2022.
Consisting of Friday and Saturday night shows at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, her stint on stage was originally set to conclude in March.
But Adele, 35, promised to return three months later as she said the residency, which earnt her a reported £536,000 per show, had “brought me back to life.”
She added: “Playing to 4,000 people for 34 nights is not enough, and I know that.
“I know it’s not enough, so I am coming back.”
Nick says: “Adele has taken Vegas by storm with a classy show with less pyrotechnics and more performance – and of course lots of chatting to the audience.
“Her show isn’t a camp extravaganza, more like a sophisticated show that focuses on her vocal ability.
“It’s been a huge success and suffice to say Adele could carry on for as long as she wants.”
JENNIFER LOPEZ
Number of residencies: 1
Estimated earnings: £79.1 million
ORIGINALLY known as Jenny from the block, Jennifer Lopez had humble beginnings – but her earnings prove she has left that life firmly in the past.
J.Lo, 54, earned just over £79 million in ticket sales from 121 shows of her All I Have residency between 2016 and 2018.
The show, at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino’s Zappos Theatre, grossed just over £659,000 for every performance. She holds the title for highest-grossing residency by a Latin artist.
Nick says: “With her fabulous dancing and hit singles, J.Lo shut down critics who claimed she couldn’t sing with a 90-minute non stop show that showcased how talented a performer she really is.
“Every show was sold out and left the audiences wanting more – I’m sure she’d be welcomed back to Vegas in a heartbeat.”
KATY PERRY
Number of residencies: 1
Estimated earnings: £33.5 million
KATY Perry proved to be a real Firework with her Play residency at The Theatre of Resorts World Las Vegas which began in December 2021.
Originally scheduled to finish in January 2022, her shows proved so popular that a string of extra dates were added, and in March she announced that the residency will finally come to an end this November.
Katy, 38, has earned around £481,000 per show, proving she’s not only a pop icon, but a Dark Horse too.
Nick says: “Post pandemic the world wanted to have some fun and Katy Perry knew exactly what to do with her Play show.
“From giant toilet seats to her famous shark from the 2015 Super Bowl, Katy brought her humour to the stage and put on a very entertaining show.
“With a whole host of stars clambering to see her from the Kardashians to Barbara Streisand she could well be the next Queen of Vegas.”
JANET JACKSON
Number of residencies: 1
Estimated earnings: £10 million
FROM being part of one the biggest selling bands of all time to, selling over 100million albums and getting five Grammys under her belt, you’d be forgiven for thinking Janet Jackson had hit her career peak.
But the American singer-songwriter sent her star to new heights in 2019 when she launched an 18-day residency at Park MGM hotel and Casino.
The stint – known as her Metamorphosis residency – coined her a whopping £10million and celebrated the 30-year anniversary of Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 – her fourth studio album released in 1989.
Janet, 57, performed a 30-song set list to over 4,000 fans a night and it became of the most
lucrative Vegas performances to date.
Nick says: “With her world class hits, star quality and amazing dance moves, fans were expecting the best of the best – and Janet delivered.
“Her epic show replicated her most famous dance videos making it one of the biggest residencies in Vegas.
“It was called Metamorphosis for a reason – Janet shone brighter than ever and claimed her crown as the queen of pop.”
CARRIE UNDERWOOD
Number of residencies: 1
Estimated earnings: £7.7 million
SHE might not be a huge star in the UK, but American Idol winner Carrie Underwood is wildly popular across the pond – with her Vegas residency proving it.
The eight-time Grammy winner launched her Reflection residency in 2021, with a 90-minute set showcasing her biggest hits from the past 15 years.
And due to popular demand country singer Carrie, 40, has extended her current run by adding a trio of new dates in December.
Performing at the Resorts World Theatre in front of 5,000 people per show, Carrie puts on a show bolstered by an array of costumes and indoor fireworks.
She reportedly earns £365,000 each time she hits the stage.
Nick says: “Carrie is one of the first ever reality stars to sing in Vegas and with her country vibes she will always stand out from the crowd.
“She has special duets with other country stars visiting the strip too – so it’s no wonder this is raking in the big bucks.”
