Those that visit nightclubs on a regular basis knows that between cover charges, table reservations, and drinks (and drinks and drinks), the costs associated with going out can add up quickly, and that means big business for clubs and venues. According to Nightclub.com, the top ten clubs in the United States earned upwards of $550 million in revenue last year alone. Each club has a range (since securing the exact number isn’t possible) of what they earned in 2014, and even if only the lower end of all ten ranges are combined, it still shows the American clubbing world to be worth over half a billion dollars—a new high for the industry.
Topping the ranking are two of the biggest clubs to have ever existed, XS and Hakkasan, both of which are in casinos in Las Vegas. In fact, seven of the top ten clubs are in Las Vegas, with only New York City and Miami also making an appearance in the top tier.
The club in the number one spot, XS is not for the faint of heart or those afraid to drop a pretty penny on a night out. A good table will cost you $10,000, and the venue even has a cocktail that will run you another $10,000. A source close to the club told Forbes that there are a few high rollers that aren’t turned off by the excessive price tags, and some of them will even order a round of those drinks for friends, not worrying about spending what some people make in a year on a few drinks. In 2014, XS brought in up to $105 million in revenue.
For the first time ever, the top two clubs passed the $100 million mark in revenue, showing that if done right, there is serious money to be made in the nightlife scene. When the number of clubs is expanded to the top 100 across the US, the total amount of money brought in grows to over $1.36 billion.
All ten clubs (and surely many others on the top 100 list) owe their success to the popularity of electronic dance music. There are regular venues on the ranking (such as New York City’s Webster Hall), but the vast majority are known for bringing in top notch DJs, with the biggest securing residencies with electronic cash kings like Calvin Harris, Skrillex, and Diplo.
Here are the top ten clubs in America, with an estimation of their 2014 earnings (numbers reported are the upper end of the range given):
1. XS, Las Vegas, $105 million
2. Hakkasan, Las Vegas, $103 million
3. Marquee Nightclub, Las Vegas, $85 million
4. TAO Las Vegas, Las Vegas, $55 million
5. LIV, Miami Beach, $45 million
6. Surrender Nightclub, Las Vegas, $45 million
7. LAVO New York, New York City, $35 million
8. Story, Miami Beach, $30 million
9. Hyde Bellagio, Las Vegas, $30 million
10. LAVO Las Vegas, Las Vegas, $25 million
