[smpc]

Eminem is the most popular artist on the planet today.

In terms of record sales he is not even in the top five worlwide over the last fiscal year.The top five earners based on worldwide record sales are-
1.Robbie Williams($195mil)
2.Enya($175mil)(weird i know)
3.Coldplay($107mil)
4.Rolling Stones($93mil)
5.Andrea Bocelli($89mil)

I'd assume he'd have better stats in the US alone though.

[jagrmeister]

From Pollstar:

Here's the 2002 Ultimate Top 10:

1. Eminem, $158.3 million. The colorful rapper, who finished third on the Ultimate Top 10 list in 2000, took over the top spot in '02 thanks to phenomenal record sales. He placed three albums in the Top 200: "The Eminem Show" at No. 1 (7.6 million), "8 Mile" at No. 5 (3.5
million) and 2000's "The Marshall Mathers LP," at No. 182 (455,000). Based on an average sale price of $13 per album, that generated $150.8 million.

He also gets credit for $7.5 million as headliner of the Anger Management Tour. Average ticket price: $34. This gives Eminem the fourth-highest total in Ultimate Top 10 history, behind 'N Sync, which grossed $212.9 million in 2000; the Backstreet Boys, $187 million in 1999, and Garth Brooks, $181 million in 1998. He would have topped them all if the box-office receipts from "8 Mile," the
hit film in which he starred, were included, but the list is limited to album and concert funds.
--

Doesn't include revenue from 8-mile.