U2 Tops Money Makers

Billboard launched it's first "Money Makers" chart which combines music sales and box-office numbers to determine who's raking in the dough. They just released the list for 2005 and U2 tops the chart. Acting like they're going to pay off Third World debt all by themselves, Bono and the boys generated a staggering $255 million in combined revenues last year.

The entire top 10 (which shows that contrary to popular opinion, pop music and touring is an OLD man's game... the average age of the top 10 is almost 49 and 50 Cent's the only one under 30):

1. U2 - $255,022,633.35
2. Rolling Stones - $152,356,754.50
3. Kenny Chesney - $87,731,463.50 (What was Renee thinking??)
4. Paul McCartney - $84,263,375.10
5. Elton John - $77,150,061.65
6. Celine Dion - $76,137,905.65 (Because there's no limit to bad taste in Vegas...)
7. 50 Cent - $75,351,514.85 (which doesn't appear to include the box office for his movie)
8. Green Day - $71,753,415.60
9. Neil Diamond - $70,203,895.50
10. The Eagles - $67,524,283.25