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Calvin Harris named highest-paid DJ in the world ahead of David Guetta and Avicii

The Scottish DJ has earned a massive $66m in the past twelve months

Jess Denham
Wednesday 20 August 2014 10:26 BST
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Calvin Harris is the highest-paid DJ in the world for the second year running, after raking in a massive $66 million (£39.8 million) in the last 12 months.

The “Summer” star, 30, saw his annual earnings rise by $20 million after previously grossing $46 million, Forbes has announced.

Harris has performed more than 50 gigs but insists that his fortune is in part down to being “in the right place at the right time”.

“The rise of dance music has been astronomical in the last three years,” he said.

David Guetta is the second highest-paid DJ after earning $30 million, while Avicii and Tiesto are tied in third place with $28 million and Steve Aoki completes the top five with $23 million.

The combined earnings of the top ten highest-paid DJs hit $268 million in an 11 per cent increase on last year.

Forbes calculated the figures from ticket sales, music sales, merchandise, endorsements and “external business ventures”. The time period ran for a year from 1 June 2013.

Scottish DJ Harris has been hitting headlines after ex-girlfriend Rita Ora alleged he had banned her from performing her single “I Will Never Let You Down” at the Teen Choice Awards.

Harris must approved televised performances of the song as its sole writer and producer. When he did not give permission, Ora took to Twitter to blast her former lover, only for Harris to respond in a cryptic post of his own.

“You’ll only know one side of the story because I choose not to talk to the papers about every aspect of my personal life,” he tweeted. “But just know I had a damn good reason”.

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Their public quarrel followed drama surrounding the ceremony after fans claimed the awards had been “rigged” and got the #TeensDontHaveAChoiceAwards hashtag trending.

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