Taylor Takes Over Financial Literacy Article for Students

This December marks the end of an era—Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, that is! The pop star’s 18-month-long world tour wraps up on December 8 in Vancouver, Canada. When it's over, Swift will have played more than 140 shows on 5 continents, performing music from across her 17-year career. Swift’s fans filled up concert venues, spending money at each stop. Politicians from several countries even asked her to perform there because they knew it would boost tourism and support the local economy!

The Eras Tour paid off for Swift: This past April, she officially became a billionaire. But the musician and her fans also spent a lot of money around the world.

This December marks the end of an era. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, that is! The pop star has been touring the world for 18 months. Her last show is on December 8 in Vancouver, Canada. By then, Swift will have played more than 140 shows on 5 continents. At each stop, her fans filled up concert venues. They spent money on tickets, hotel rooms, and more. Politicians from several countries even asked Swift to perform there. They knew it would support the local economy!

The Eras Tour paid off for Swift. This past April, she became a billionaire. But she and her fans also spent money. Read on to learn how the Eras Tour made financial waves!

Read on to find out how the Eras Tour made financial waves! Record your work and answers on our answer sheet.

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People are willing to pay a lot to see Swift. Eras Tour tickets started at $49, but many were resold for multiple times their original price. Resale prices skyrocketed to $2,600 in U.S. cities like Miami, Indianapolis, and New Orleans. But in countries like France and Spain, which have more restrictions on reselling, ticket prices maxed out at $350. That’s why some U.S. fans booked international trips to catch a concert, since it was the cheaper way to see Swift live!

People are willing to pay a lot to see Swift. Eras Tour tickets started at $49. But many were resold for many times their original price. This happened in U.S. cities like Miami and Indianapolis. Resale prices shot up to $2,600!

Countries like France and Spain have laws limiting ticket resales. In those places, prices maxed out at $350. That’s why some U.S. fans booked international trips to see a concert. It was the cheaper way to see Swift live!

A. In France, a ticket can be resold for at most 20% over the original price. What's the most a $49 ticket can resell for?

B. A Swiftie in Miami could fly to Paris, France, and back for $700, stay at a hotel for 2 nights for $250 per night, and buy a $340 ticket to a Paris Eras Tour show. How much would they save by traveling to Paris instead of buying a resale ticket to the Miami show?

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Swift will end the Eras Tour with more than $4 billion in earnings. She isn’t the only one making money—each city she played in got a financial boost. Local businesses saw fans eating at restaurants, staying at hotels, and shopping for Swift-themed gifts. The impact was so significant that the Federal Reserve, the central banking system of the U.S., said Swift single-handedly boosted tourism revenue nationwide.

Swift will earn more than $4 billion on the Eras Tour. But she isn’t the only one making money. Each city she played in did too! Fans ate at restaurants, stayed at hotels, and bought things at local businesses. The effect was so big, it caught the attention of the U.S. Federal Reserve. That’s the country’s central banking system. Officials there said Swift increased tourism earnings nationwide!

Concertgoers spent an estimated $1,300 per person on food, hotels, transportation, and more. About 63,400 people attended Swift’s sold-out stadium show in Glendale, Arizona. How much would they have spent in all?

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About 50 truck drivers transported the sets, costumes, and equipment as the tour crisscrossed the U.S. After finishing the first leg in August 2023, Swift surprised them with a massive thank-you gift: A $100,000 bonus. Other crew members, such as caterers, lighting experts, and audio engineers, received bonuses too. A typical bonus at the trucking company Swift worked with is $5,000 to $10,000. The tip from Swift was beyond drivers’ wildest dreams!

Swift needed special sets, costumes, and equipment for her tour. About 50 truck drivers transported everything from stop to stop in the U.S. The first leg of the tour finished in August 2023. That’s when Swift surprised her drivers with a huge thank-you gift. She gave them each a $100,000 bonus! Other crew members received bonuses too.

Truck drivers often receive bonuses from their employers. But it’s typically $5,000 to $10,000. The tip from Swift was beyond their wildest dreams!