10 Highest Paid Celebrities from Forbes Under 30 List and their Philanthropic Efforts

Combining celebrities and philanthropy is not a new concept but it does seem that it’s becoming more and more prevalent which is a good thing. I previously wrote about this in the 20 Celebrities Doing Good to Benefit Nonprofit Fundraising & Missions in 2011 Part 1 (and Part 2), the 10 Most Charitable Celebrities from the 2012 Oscar Nominees, the 10 Top Forbes Power Celebrities and the Charities They Support as well as Celebrities that Combine Personal Causes with Retail. I find it interesting to see how the rich and famous use their star power and influence to help nonprofit fundraising and awareness.

Forbes recently released their list of the highest paid celebrities under 30 and I decided to explore the charity work of this younger generation with the help of Look to the Stars. Forbes based their rankings by looking “at earnings between May 2011 and May 2012.”

• 1) Taylor Swift, the 22 year old country singer made a reported $57 million. Taylor supports Children in Need, Clothes Off Our Back, DonateMyDress.org, Feeding America, GRAMMY Foundation, Habitat For Humanity, Hands On Nashville, Heroes in Heels, MusiCares, Music for Relief, Save The Music Foundation, Shoe Revolt, Soles4Souls, Tug McGraw Foundation, UNICEF, and Wish Upon A Hero Foundation.
•  2) Justin Bieber, the 18 year old, Canadian pop phenomenon made $55 Million. Bieber has been on many lists and featured here several times and he always scores tops marks. In the past, he has donated proceeds from the sales of his Christmas album, Under the Mistletoe, and perfumes Someday and Justin Bieber’s Girlfriend. His main charities are Pencils of Promise and the Make-A-Wish Foundation but he also has given to his local food bank in Stratford, Ontario. Other charities the teen heartthrob has contributed to include Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, City of Hope, Cure Duchenne, Food Bank For New York City, Give Back Hollywood Foundation, GRAMMY Foundation, It Gets Better Project, Jumpstart, Musicians on Call, Red Cross and his mentor Usher’s New Look Foundation.
•  3) Rihanna, at 24 the pop star made $53 million. In 2006 she launched her Believe Foundation with the goal of the foundation being to help terminally ill children. She has supported and performed to raise funds for various causes including Bear Necessities, Pediatric Cancer Foundation, City of Hope, Designers Against AIDS, DKMS, DoSomething.org, Feeding America, Kids Wish Network, Live Earth, GRAMMY Foundation, Mission Australia, MusiCares, Raising Malawi, Red Cross, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Stand Up To Cancer and UNICEF.
•  4) Lady Gaga, the 26-year-old mother monster’s salary was $52 million. She recently launched her Born This Way Foundation, which helps to empower youths but in addition to her foundation she has also supported Alzheimer’s Association, Born This Way Foundation, CLIC Sargent, It Gets Better Project, Lupus Foundation of America, Oxfam, Stand Up To Cancer, M•A•C AIDS Fund’s VIVA Glam and Artists for Peace and Justice.
•  5) Katy Perry, the recently divorced 27-year-old, whose movie Katy Perry: Part of Me came out this summer made $45 million. She has supported charities such as Generosity Water, GRAMMY Foundation, Habitat For Humanity, Keep-a-Breast, MusiCares, Music for Relief, Musicians on Call, Project Clean Water, Red Cross, Save The Music Foundation, Stand Up To Cancer, STOMP Out Bullying and United Service Organization.
•  6) Adele the 24-year-old British pop diva made $35 million with the release of her smash album 21, which sold over 23 million copies. “Live Nation announced that those Concert Club members with complimentary tickets to Adele’s event at the House of Blues in Boston May 15, 2011 were required to pay a $20 contribution to Adele’s identified charity, the Stillborn & neonatal death charity (SANDS).” The Rolling in the Deep singer has also supported Amnesty International.
•  7) Kristen Stewart, the 22-year-old star of Snow White and the Huntsman and the Twilight Saga, whose personal life has been tabloid fodder of late, made a reported $34.5 million. She has supported Oxfam, Red Cross, and Shoe Revolt.
•  8) Lil Wayne, the 29-year-old rapper made $27 million. He started his charity the One Family Foundation to help urban youth. Through the foundation he works to “rebuild the athletic fields at his old school, Eleanor McMain Secondary School, after they were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.”
•  9) TIED - Taylor Lautner, the 20-year-old Twilight Saga star made $26.5 million. He has been a long time supporter of the Lollipop Theater Network.
•  9) TIED – Robert Pattinson, the 26-year-old Cosmopolis and Twilight Saga star made $26.5 million. “He donated auction lots for both the 2009 and 2010 GO Campaign galas.” Pattinson has also supported American Foundation for AIDS Research, GO Campaign, Midnight Mission, and PACT.

These young actors and singers are clearly making an impact when it comes to non-profit fundraising and charity work. Their youth and star power makes them role models to millions, and by giving back they are setting a good example. Celebrities like Bieber and Lady Gaga are making giving back to charity trendy. Here’s hoping that those on the list continue to expand upon their good work and inspire their fans to give back as well.

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