To make us feel a little sorry for ourselves, Forbes just released its 2018 list of top 100 highest paid entertainers in the world.

Representing 17 countries (South Africa wasn’t one of them, more’s the pity), these celebs raked in a combined $6,3 billion (R83 billion) pre-tax over the past 12 months.

That’s a decent increase of 22% from last year, making it the third highest sum in the list’s 20-year history.

Add the fact that 11 of these entertainers have earned $100 million (R1,3 billion) or more over the past year alone – more than double the number from the past two years combined – and you’ll have more than enough reason to explain to your colleagues why you’re shedding a few tears in the office.

Take a look at this year’s top 10 entertainers – there’s definitely variety in this year’s list:

1. Floyd Mayweather – $285 million (R3,7 billion)

The boxer missed last year’s list, but his August 2017 fight versus Conor McGregor in Las Vegas generated more than $550 million in revenue, with Money Mayweather earning $275 million as the “A” side of the bout and for his role as promoter.

Mayweather also took top spot in Forbes’ Top 100 Highest-Paid Athletes list for 2018, which caused a bit of controversy when it was released last month.

2. George Clooney – $239 million (R3,1 billion)

British liquor giant Diageo purchased Casamigos, the tequila company the movie star cofounded with pals Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman, for $700 million. The sale gives Clooney the best annual take-home of his–or any actor’s–career.

No actor has ever made more in a single year that Clooney, which might take some of the sting out of that crash he suffered last week.

3. Kylie Jenner – $166,5 million (R2,1 billion)

The most junior member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan is also its richest thanks to her fast-growing makeup brand Kylie Cosmetics … Kylie Cosmetics has sold more than $630 million worth of makeup since its founding in February 2016.

The jury is still out on whether Jenner is a self-made millionaire, though. Speaking of jury …

4. Judy Sheindlin, aka. Judge Judy – $147 million (R1,9 billion)

Judge Judy’s eponymous show has been on the air for 22 seasons and is watched by an average of more than 10 million viewers a day. She sold the rights to her extensive library for an estimated $100 million in 2017.

Nah, didn’t see this one coming. Seems like a lot of people are sat at home doing bugger all during the day.

5. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – $124 million (R1,6 billion)

The former wrestler tallied the highest ever acting take-home in Celebrity 100 history, thanks to giant upfront paychecks and a cut of profits on blockbusters including Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. A huge social following allows him to negotiate an extra seven figures atop his standard contract for promotion, helping nearly double his 2017 earnings.

6. U2 – $118 million (R1,5 billion)

The immortal Irish rockers’ Joshua Tree Tour, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the album of the same name, grossed $316 million, as some 2.7 million fans turned out to make it the most lucrative outing of 2017.

7. Coldplay – $115 million (R1,5 billion)

Chris Martin and company’s A Head Full Of Dreams Tour grossed more than half a billion dollars in its two-year, five-continent run.

Oh, I guess Coldplay are still a thing.

8. Lionel Messi – $111 milion (R1,4 billion)

Messi finished the 2017-18 season as the top scoring player in the Top 5 European Leagues with 45 goals in all competitions. In November 2017, he agreed to a contract extension with Barcelona that will keep him with the club through 2020-21 and pay him an annual salary and bonus in excess of $80 million, making him the highest-paid for his work on the pitch.

9. Ed Sheeran – $110 million (R1,4 billion)

Just 27 years old, Sheeran is the highest-earning solo musician on the list, stemming from billions of streams of his songs over the past year and his ascent to stadium act status.

Need proof? Look no further than when South African fans crashed Computicket to buy tickets to his concert, which you can read all about here.

10. Cristiano Ronaldo – $108 million (R1,4 billion)

Ronaldo netted 44 goals in 43 matches in all competition this past season, and added a fifth Ballon d’Or, given to the world’s best player, and his fifth Champions League title to his trophy shelf. His current contract with Real Madrid is set to pay him over $50 million for the next three years through his 36th birthday. His lifetime Nike contract is worth upward of $1 billion.

It’s tough not to be a little green with envy.

Forbes put together a neat interactive site for you to browse through the full list – and have a proper cry while you’re at it – so check it out here.

[sources:forbes&forbes]