Trent Reznor ($70 million)
Reznor wasn’t always on the fast track for musical success, but the path that brought him here helped him develop a unique sound that drove Nine Inch Nails through the 90s. Reznor showed an interest in playing music when he was 5 years old although he did not pursue music professionally until later in his life. He studied computer science in college and played in synth-driven bands until he eventually got a job at a recording studio and made his own music after hours under the name Nine Inch Nails. Since then, Reznor has published 5 albums and wrote three movie scores, netting him a Golden Globe and an Academy Award in 2010 for his work on The Social Network.