Taylor Swift is not only a phenomenally successful artist, but also one of the most generous.
Sources confirm to PEOPLE that the pop superstar — who’s set to play six sold-out shows at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium — recently gave bonuses totaling over $55 million to everyone (from her dancers to riggers, sound technicians and catering, among others) working on her Eras Tour.
TMZ also previously reported that Swift gifted truckers on her tour $100,000 each ahead of her concert stop in Santa Clara over the weekend.
According to Forbes, Taylor Swift was the highest-paid female entertainer in the world in 2022, with $92 million in earnings. She ranked 9th on the list of the highest-paid entertainers overall, behind Genesis, Sting, Tyler Perry, and others.
Most of her income in 2022 came from her back catalog, including revenue from streaming and album sales. She also released her 10th studio album Midnights in October 2022, which broke several records and became the best-selling album of the year.
In 2023, thanks in large part to her Eras Tour, Taylor Swift’s net worth increased to $740 million as of June, according to ClutchPoints. This was a significant jump from her net worth of $570 million in 2022.
Her Eras Tour broke the record for most tickets sold in a single day and had a potential 9-figure payout; it’s therefore understandable that she would want to reward all the people that made it possible—though we can’t be sure that any other performer would have been as grateful or generous.
She also wanted to reward her employees for their hard work and dedication during the pandemic. The Eras Tour was one of the biggest and most complex shows ever, with 44 songs spanning her entire career, stunning visuals, costumes, and effects. It took a lot of effort and coordination from everyone involved to make it happen.
On every level, both commercially and critically, it was a huge success, breaking records for attendance, revenue, and streaming. Swift also released several re-recorded albums during the tour, reclaiming her musical legacy and earning more acclaim and awards.
This was not the first time that Swift has been acknowledged for her unusual generosity. She has stated that she wants to create a culture of generosity and kindness in her workplace, and it is obvious that she leads by example. Swift has always been known for her philanthropy and activism, supporting various causes and charities. She also cares deeply about her fans, the “swifties,” often surprising them with gifts, messages, and invitations. By giving bonuses to her employees, she showed them that she values them as people, not just as workers.
Reportedly, she treats her employees like family and often surprises them with amazing gifts and perks. She once flew her entire team to Australia for a vacation after wrapping up her 1989 World Tour. She rented out a luxury resort and paid for all the expenses, including flights, accommodation, food and activities.
She regularly sends flowers, cards and personalized notes to her employees on their birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. She also remembers their names, hobbies and interests, and makes sure to check in on them regularly.
She donated $1 million to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, which helps music industry workers who have been affected by the pandemic. She also personally reached out to some of her employees who were struggling financially and offered to help them with their bills and expenses.
Still, $55 million in bonuses must be a record-breaking wallop of generosity even for her (pun intended).
