Kanye West

   Earning: $16 million

 

Kanye West performs at at the Staples Center during the 54th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, February 12, 2012. [Forbes.com]

West didn't show up to accept his Grammys in 2012 --though his eight nominations were the most of any artist, the rapper was likely miffed that his masterpiece, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, didn't earn an Album of the Year nomination.