According to Nick Gatfield, the chairman and chief executive of Sony Music Entertainment UK, One Direction represented a $50 million business empire by June 2012. They were proclaimed 2012's "Top New Artist" by Billboard.[1] According to the Sunday Times Rich List, by April 2013, they had an estimated personal combined wealth of £25 million ($41.2m) making them the second-wealthiest musicians in the UK under 30 years of age.[2] In 2014, Forbes listed them the second-highest earning celebrities under 30, with the group earning an estimated $75 million from June 2013 to June 2014.[3] In June 2015, Forbes listed their earnings at $130 million for the previous twelve months,[4] and ranked them the fourth highest earning celebrities in the …show more content…
Billboard 200 history to have their first four albums debut at number one.[6] Their third album, Midnight Memories, was the biggest-selling album worldwide of 2013 despite being released in late November.[7] The band's Where We Are Tour in support of Midnight Memories and Four, was the highest-grossing concert tour in 2014, and the highest-grossing tour ever by a vocal group, generating $282 million.[8] In 2014, Billboard named One Direction Artist of the Year.[9][10] The band is temporarily on a hiatus that began in January 2016, which is expected to last around 18