Taylor Swift has once again cemented her status as a global force, this time outside the music charts. Forbes has officially named the 34-year-old singer-songwriter the most powerful woman in media and entertainment, placing her at No. 21 on its annual list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.
The ranking makes Swift the highest-positioned entertainer on the list, ahead of some of the biggest names in television, film, streaming and global media.
Forbes evaluates candidates based on four key factors, money, media, impact, and spheres of influence and notes that Swift dominated all metrics in the past year. The publication cites her estimated $1.6 billion net worth, driven largely by the record-breaking success of The Eras Tour, which continues to reshape the live entertainment business with its economic and cultural impact.
Swift’s influence extends beyond the stage. Forbes highlights her strategic and unprecedented move to reacquire ownership of her master recordings, a decision that redefined industry standards and sparked widespread conversations about artists’ rights, catalog ownership and fair compensation. Her ongoing re-recording project, including Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Red (Taylor’s Version) and 1989 (Taylor’s Version) continues to dominate global charts while reshaping fan engagement and giving artists new pathways to creative control.
Even in the media ecosystem, Swift’s reach has proven unmatched. Her tour film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, became the highest-grossing concert film of all time, while her mere presence at NFL games created seismic spikes in broadcast ratings, social media engagement and brand visibility.
In the Media & Entertainment category, Swift ranks far ahead of several industry titans. Forbes places Oprah Winfrey at No. 30 a rare moment where the media mogul does not lead the entertainment sector. Beyoncé, another global superstar, follows at No. 33, after a monumental year with the release of Renaissance and the global success of her own tour and film.
Swift also outranks some of the most influential executives in entertainment, including:
- Dana Walden, Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment
- Donna Langley, Chairman of NBCUniversal
- Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer at Netflix
According to Forbes, Swift’s power is rooted not only in her commercial achievements but also in her unparalleled cultural influence, commanding one of the largest and most active fan bases in the world.
The list also spotlights rising voices within the global entertainment landscape. At No. 100 are the women of KPop Demon Hunters, including vocalists EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, co-director Maggie Kang, and producer Michelle Wong, marking a significant moment for Asian women in global animation and music-driven storytelling.
At the very top of the global ranking, Forbes names Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, as the world’s most powerful woman for 2025, recognizing her political influence across the European Union.
While the annual list features leaders from politics, finance, tech, philanthropy and business, Taylor Swift’s placement at No. 21 underscores something bigger: her rare ability to shape culture, economics and media simultaneously. With an empire that spans music, film, touring, business and global influence, Forbes’ ranking confirms what fans and industry insiders have known for years, Taylor Swift isn’t just an artist; she is a generational powerhouse pushing the boundaries of what entertainment leadership looks like.