Let’s take a trip through the amazing history of concerts in Las Vegas. It all started in 1944 with Liberace, the biggest star then. After him, we saw awesome performers like Lady Gaga, Cher, Bruno Mars, Diana Ross, Usher, and Bette Midler.
Then came other cool acts like Nat King Cole, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, and Harry Belafonte. These folks knew how to put on a great show for the audience.
One of the big stars in Vegas was Frank Sinatra. He first sang there in 1951 at the Desert Inn. Sinatra was a big deal – he had a huge orchestra with 70 musicians and did some cool shows with his friends, known as The Rat Pack.
In the 1960s, Elvis Presley and Tom Jones brought their charm, making everyone fall in love. And in recent times, we’ve had amazing female icons like Jennifer Lopez, Shania Twain, and Mariah Carey. Right now, people are super excited about Adele, who might perform in Vegas in 2022.
Let’s talk about something exciting – the top five highest-earning Las Vegas residencies. Our team did smart math using Billboard data and casino earnings, including games like roulette and blackjack.
These famous shows made a lot of money; we even adjusted for inflation to show how much they would be worth in today’s dollars.
So, if you’re curious about the concerts that made the most money in Vegas history, keep reading. These shows are still talked about a lot, even today.
5. Elton John’s “The Million Dollar Piano”
- Time Elton John spent there: 2011–2018
- Place: The Colosseum at Caesars Casino
- Money Elton John made: $131.2 million
- Money adjusted for inflation: $147.6 million
Elton John is a big hit in Las Vegas. After finishing his first set of shows, “The Red Piano,” in 2009, he returned to perform at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for “The Million Dollar Piano” from 2011 to 2018.
During these years, lots of good things happened. Elton John and his partner, David Furnish, had another baby boy, Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John, born on January 11, 2013. Their first son, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, was born on December 25, 2010. The two dads got married on December 21, 2014, and both sons were there to celebrate.
That same year, Elton John’s successful album “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” got special treatment for its 40th birthday.
On March 23, 2015, “The Million Dollar Piano” reached its 100th show. Talking about “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” Elton John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour in North America and Europe” is starting on May 27, 2022, in Frankfurt.
4. Britney Spears’ “Piece of Me”
- Time Britney spent there: 2013–2017
- Place: The Axis at Planet Hollywood
- Money Britney made: $137.7 million
- Money adjusted for inflation: $157.9 million
Britney Spears shared the exciting news about her Vegas show, “Piece of Me,” in a super cool way—she arrived on a helicopter on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
More than 1,000 Britney fans did something special in the Nevada desert with cards to let everyone know that the famous singer would be performing at The Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 27, 2013.
“Piece of Me” was such a big hit that Britney’s original plan for a two-year show was extended until December 2017.
In December 2013, Britney also released her album “Britney Jean.” The last show of Britney’s residency happened on December 31, 2017, on New Year’s Eve, and she also appeared on ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.”
Guess what? The final show of “Piece of Me” created history in Vegas by making the most money for a single show—$1.172 million. It was a record-breaker.
3. Elton John’s “The Red Piano”
- Time Elton John spent there: 2004–2009
- Place: The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
- Money Elton John made: $166.4 million
- Money adjusted for inflation: $217.6 million
Elton John is a super famous singer who has sold more than 300 million records worldwide. That’s a huge achievement! He has one diamond, 32 platinum or multi-platinum, and 21 gold albums.
Guess what? Elton John had his first-ever Vegas show called “The Red Piano.” It happened from 2004 to 2009 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
While doing “The Red Piano,” Elton John had some really big moments. In 2004, he got a special honour called the Kennedy Center Honor.
Then, in 2005, Elton John and his friend David Furnish had a special ceremony to make their partnership official. During that time, a musical called “Billy Elliot The Musical,” with music by Elton John, started in London.
And on his 60th birthday, Elton John threw an awesome concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden. It was his 60th sold-out show there—breaking a record.
2. Celine Dion’s “Celine”
- Time Celine spent there: 2011–2019
- Place: The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
- Money Celine made: $292.2 million
- Money adjusted for inflation: $321.5 million
Celine Dion, the amazing singer, decided to have her first Vegas show, “A New Day,” because she wanted to spend more time with her family.
In 2011, after having her twin sons, Nelson and Eddy, Celine returned to Vegas for another show at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, and she called it “Celine.” This return was super successful, and she even broke some records.
In 2016, Celine faced a tough time when her husband and manager, René Angélil, passed away from cancer. Later that year, at the Billboard Music Awards, her oldest son, René-Charles Angélil, gave her a special Lifetime Achievement Icon Award.
Another big moment happened at the Billboard Music Awards in 2017 when Celine sang her famous song, “My Heart Will Go On,” which won an Academy Award. It was from the movie “Titanic,” which turned 20 years old.
In 2018, Celine’s music video for “Ashes,” a song from the movie “Deadpool 2,” was filmed at The Colosseum.
Starting in September 2019, Celine went on a big tour called the “Courage World” tour, and she released her album “Courage” in November 2019.
Sadly, because of health problems, Celine delayed her tour and planned show at the new Resorts World Theatre in Vegas.
1. Celine Dion, “A New Day…”
- Time Celine spent there: 2003–2007
- Place: The Colosseum at Caesars Casino
- Money Celine made: $385.1 million
- Money adjusted for inflation: $517.6 million
When Celine Dion first came to perform in Vegas for her show called “A New Day,” it was a big deal for the city. They even built a special place for her show, spending $95 million on The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
After becoming a mom to her first child, René-Charles Angélil, in 2001, Celine wanted to spend more time with her family. So, she decided to have a residency in Vegas instead of going on long tours.
“A New Day” was unlike any other Vegas show. Celine’s husband, René Angélil, her manager and music producer, came up with the idea. They brought in Franco Dragone, famous for working with Cirque du Soleil, to make the show special with cool effects and dances.
People loved it! More than 3 million people came to watch over 700 sold-out shows, and the whole thing ended on December 15, 2007.
After that success, Celine went on a big world tour in 2008. They even made a movie about it called “Celine: Through the Eyes of the World.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, our exploration of Las Vegas concerts has unveiled a rich tapestry of iconic performances. From Liberace’s debut to Adele’s anticipated arrival, the city’s entertainment history is a testament to musical brilliance.
The top five highest-earning residencies, analyzed with inflation-adjusted data, showcase memorable moments from Elton John, Britney Spears, and Celine Dion.
Celine Dion’s groundbreaking “A New Day…” serves as a defining chapter, symbolizing the enduring magic and evolution of Las Vegas residencies, past and future.
FAQs
Q: How much do Vegas singers make residency?
A: Presented is a roster of the most financially successful Las Vegas residency performers: Celine Dion – $681.3 million, Britney Spears – $140 million, and Elton John – $131 million.
Q: How much is Adele making for her residency?
A: Yet, the verified $1.75 million per show considerably exceeds prior media approximations, indicating Adele’s residency agreement to be approximately $1.2 million nightly. Both sources underscored that this sets a new record.
Q: How much do artists get paid for residency?
A: The typical salary for artists-in-residence in the United States is $25,000 to $110,000 annually. Hourly rates for artists-in-residence in the US typically span between $12 and $52 per hour. Notably, Rhode Island ($81,116), Massachusetts ($80,522), and Connecticut ($79,682) are the states where artists-in-residence earn the highest average salaries.
Q: How much did Usher’s house cost?
A: Usher’s Spanish-style residence in West Hollywood is back on the market with a newly reduced price of $3.75 million. Originally listed in February with an asking price of $4.2 million, the property has undergone a pricing revision.
