Taylor Swift had the best year for any business leader in recent memory

Taylor Swift didn’t have to run a major company or helm a central bank to wield some immense economic power this year.

Taylor Swift didn’t have to run a major company or helm a central bank to wield some immense economic power this year. The pop superstar reigned supreme in 2023 not just as a musical artist, but also as a businessperson: Her career-defining “Eras” tour sold out stadiums across the globe, fans splurged on merchandise while attending her concerts, the film of her tour broke box office records in its opening weekend, and Swift herself became a billionaire along the way. Swift achieved remarkable feats that would be impressive for any typical business leader running a Fortune 500 company. She commanded a loyal base of fans who came out in full force to spend, and in an economy mainly driven by consumer spending, that’s success for any business leader – whether or not they bear the title of “chief executive officer.” (Here’s CNN Business’ choice of CEO of the year.) “She’s a powerhouse, business-wise,” Armen Shaomian, an associate professor of sport and entertainment management at the University of South Carolina, told CNN. No other company leader in recent memory has generated so much goodwill with customers, so much international enthusiasm, or such business acumen. That’s why Swift is CNN’s businessperson of the year — yet another accolade of the iconic singer’s massive influence on the world’s richest capitalistic society.