Ayumi Hamasaki

                              

Ayumi Hamasaki – $400 million

 Depending on who you talk to, Ayumi Hamasaki (called Ayu) is worth somewhere between $70-, $185-, and $400-million. Throughout her entire career, Ayu has written her own lyrics, produced her own music, and has enforced her position as an artist, rather than a “product.” This has helped make her the wealthiest Japanese artist of all time.
Ayu has sold over 53 million records in Japan alone, making her the best-selling solo or duo artist in Japan (female or male). She has the most #1 hits as a female artist, the most consecutive #1 hits by a solo artist, and the most million-sellers.
Thanks to smart stock investments, substantial property holdings, and lucrative endorsement deals (such as with CoverGirl), Hamasaki is far-and-away the richest Japanese entertainer. She owns several restaurants in Tokyo, a football team (the “Fukuoka Angels”), and has launched her own brand of Vodka, perfume, and a fashion line.
Though Time magazine has noted that she lacked talents such as the dance moves of Namie Amuro, or the “vocal pyrotechnics” of Hikaru Utada, her music is often considered one of the major factors in shaping Japan’s current music trends.