Australia’s Top Earners

AC/DC might have earned $131.4 million in 2009-10, but they still didn’t top the Business Review Weekly’s new Top 50 Entertainers list.

That honour went to animatronic special-effects company Global Creatures, which earned $140 million thanks to the success of the “Walking With Dinosaurs Arena Spectacular” that grossed $250 million and played to 6.6 million worldwide.

While AC/DC took second place, The Wiggles were No. 3 with $33.5 million and Keith Urban was No. 5 with $20 million (wife Nicole Kidman was No. 10 with $9.6 million).

Kylie Minogue took a tumble from second place and $47 million to No. 26 with $4.6 million while twins The Veronicas dropped off the list.

Paul Dainty and Dainty Consolidated Entertainment had a good year, at No. 6 with $15 million. Other promoters were Garry Van Egmond at No. 11 ($9.4m), Michael Gudinski/Frontier Touring at No. 17 ($7 million), Michael Coppel Presents at No. 18 ($6.2 million), Michael Chugg/Chugg Entertainment at No. 19 ($6.1 million), John Frost at No. 30 ($4 million), Ken West and Vivian Lees of Big Day Out at No. 32 ($3 million), and Mark James and Jason Ayoubi of Future Entertainment at No. 36 ($2.9 million).