LONDON--Sir Elton John [ tickets ] is the highest paid person in British music, according to Britain's Sunday Times� Pay List 2000. John grossed $37 million (�25.98m) in the last 12 months. The Pay List is based on income from "careers, shares or sheer good luck."

John's 1999 American tour grossed $32.5 million (according to Pollstar). The Sunday Times also included profits from his two shows at Madison Square Garden in October, his back catalog royalties and the merchandising from his official website to calculate his earnings.

Britain�s 10 highest paid members of the music industry for 2000 were all men. Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and Rod Stewart tied for second place as they both took in $18 million (�12m) last year. They were followed by manager Tony Smith (Phil Collins, Genesis) at No. 4, who earned $16.5 million (�10.925m), and George Michael [ tickets ] and Keith Richards, who tied for fifth place with their earnings of $15 million (�10 million) each.

Robbie Williams and Sting tied for seventh place as they each earned $13.5 million (�9 million). The list of key music players was rounded off by Rolling Stones band mates Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts who tied for ninth place, each having earned $12 million (�8m) last year.

Rolling Stones members� high incomes was attributed to their 1999 North American tour, which saw them gross $64.7 million (�42m), according to Pollstar.