Shakira the "fourth richest singer in the world"

[HPoirot]

from here
(there's an in the news thread to discuss the porn issue )
so she's richer than some of:

Paul McCartney
Elton John
Madonna
Kylie
Whitney
that warbly woman
Cheryl Cole

or is she independently rich & happens to be a singer?

it's StealthPolarBear btw, need to change back

well I wasn't thinking of Celine Dion but she's fairly warbly too
One I'm thinking of has a diva reputation, a Christmas single, has been around for ages...

Mariah.

thats the one, thanks
can't believe she's not rich!

Yes, it's all about songwriting credits. That way you get the money every time someone performs the song. "I love the PRS cheques/ That you bring..." etc.

Elvis's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, was the first to cotton on to this properly, and got him credited as co-writer on a lot of his songs even though he isn't.