Katy Perry beats Taylor Swift and Beyonce to be crowned highest paid female celebrity of the year with $135 million

US pop star Katy Perry has beat fellow singers Taylor Swift and Beyonce to be crowned Forbes' highest paid female celebrity of the year.

The Dark Horse singer raked in $135 million over the past 12 months which has seen her jump from ninth spot in 2014 to third place on this years list of highest earning celebrities.

Only boxers Floyd Mayweather ($300 million) and Manny Pacquiao ($160 million) earned more than Perry.

Speaking about ranking third on the list of 100 celebrities she said: "I am proud of my position as a boss, as a person that runs my own company.

"I don't want to shy away from it. I actually wanted to kind of grab it by its balls."

Despite losing Zayn Malik, One Direction took fourth spot after a 74 date tour saw them rake in $130 million.

Blank Space singer Swift, who is currently on her 1989 world tour, earned $80 million putting her in eighth place, while Single Ladies singer Beyonce dropped to 29th place after earning $54.5 million.

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian jumped 47 places from number 80 last year to number 33 this year after earning $52.5 million.

Top 10 highest earning celebrities:

1. Floyd Mayweather ($300 million)

2. Manny Pacquiao ($160 million)

3. Katy Perry ($135 million)

4. One Direction ($130 million)

5. Howard Stern ($95 million)

6. Garth Brooks ($90 million)

7. James Patterson ($89 million)

8. Robert Downey Jr. ($80 million)

9. Taylor Swift ($80 million)

10. Cristiano Ronaldo ($79.5 million)