Sunday, September 9, 2012

Young, Talented and Loaded

The Sunday Times Rich List released this week gave us every reason to be envious, as young talented actors and musicians are reeling in the big bucks!

Not solely the lead role in the Harry Potter films, but Danielle Radcliffe also took the lead role in the Young Rich List of millions with earnings totalling £54m. Who would have thought that a glasses wearing wizard boy had the potential to command such high earnings?! The earnings amassed by the Radcliffe last year were resultant of his lead role in the final instalment of Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, and the success of his most recent film, The Woman In Black also contributed to topping up his earnings by £6m this year.

It was however ‘Someone Like You’ singing sensation, Adele, who topped the young musicians poll. Her album entitled ‘21’ sold 10 million copies last year, and also trebled her wealth in the meantime soaring from earnings of £6m to £20m in a mere year. Not a bad year, eh?!

Acting remains the means by which one can amass significant earnings. This is evidenced by Robert Pattinson’s pay packet for his contributions to the Twlight Saga, which this year added a supplementary £8m to his wealth. The Twlight Star is now worth approximately £40m. Kiera Knightley features as the third highest paid actress with earnings of £30m. This starlet registered no increase to her wealth last year…. my heart bleeds for you Kiera, given the fact the rest of us were stripped of bonuses and salary increments to basic salaries, you can hardly complain!!

In 2010 Jessie J didn’t even feature in the Young Music Millionaires Top 20, but in 2011 her ‘Price tag’  (see what I did there?!) was an estimated £5m. The meteoric rise to fame of Rosie Huntington-Whitely secured the Victoria’s Secret lingerie model and now actress secured her earnings of £5m also. So it appears that it is possible to be plucked from obscurity one year, and included in the top young earners list the next, not a bad year’s work at all work for either starlet!!

It is also worth pointing out that on further inspection of the rich list, it appears that Mr Nasty himself, Simon Cowell, is behind many of youngsters listed this year. Juxtaposing his creation of several reality talent shows, and his influence in the music industry, X Factor sensations, JLS and Leona Lewis, and former X Factor judge Cheryl Cole also make the cut with earnings of £12m, £5m (per member) and £12m respectively. So whilst many will slate BGT, X Factor and the likes, there appears to be a hefty reward for those who go the distance once the talent shows come to a close. No doubt, the members of One Direction will be joining this rich list next year given the current success they are experiencing on an international scale.

So it seems the talented youth of today are earning mega bucks, I, like many others, am extremely envious, and wish there was some way I could feature on next year’s list!!

Now to find myself a vocal coach that can cure my tone deaf singing habits and ensure I sail through an X Factor audition…. or a drama teacher who can land me a coveted walk on role in Fair City….  

14 April 2012 - The Forgotten Irish Graduate