Close your eyes and imagine which musicians made the most money last year.  Very likely the answers will surprise you.  Here are the top 10.

To compile the list–which looks at the cash that musicians generated, not what actually ends up in their bank account–Forbes Magazine used data from concert trade magazine Pollstar’s list of top-grossing U.S. tours and U.S. sales information from tracking service Nielsen SoundScan. They didn’t count international revenue, but everyone on this list also did well outside the U.S.

#1 The Rolling Stones

$168 million

Mick, Keith and company don’t sell many CDs, but as long as they’re still able to stand up onstage, they don’t need to. Last year they grossed $162 million touring the United States, where they played for 1.2 million fans in 38 cities.

#2 U2

$150 million

A promotional push from Apple Computer–the group starred in many an iPod ad last year–may have helped U2 sell $139 million in tickets in the United States last year.

#3 Kenny Chesney

$110 million

Unlike some of his top-earning peers, country star Chesney sells both records and concert tickets. He also spends some time on the pages of the tabloids, courtesy of a brief marriage to actress Renée Zellweger.

#4 Green Day

$99 million

They’re not Stones-era old, but Green Day has been around long enough to move copies of their old stuff as well as American Idiot, their hit album from 2004. And the $34.8 million they made on the road was enough to let them turn down $1 million offers to play corporate gigs.

#5 The Eagles

$84 million

After racking up another $78.4 million touring the U.S. last year, the band has headed to Europe, where ticket buyers seem equally ravenous. Eagles’ best-of compilations continue to sell well.

#6 Paul McCartney

$83 million

Why is Sir Paul appearing in ads for Fidelity mutual funds? It’s hard to imagine that someone who can sell $77.3 million worth of tickets needs much investment advice.

#7 Celine Dion

$81 million

Celine Dion didn’t need to make a single trip to make millions on the road last year–she just performed 155 shows at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

#8 50 Cent

$79 million

The hip-hop icon’s movie didn’t do well at the box office this year, but he did OK on tour, grossing $4.7 million on his own and splitting a $21.6 million tour with Eminem.

#9 Dave Matthews Band

$74 million

The most relentlessly reliable act on the road, the band grossed $57 million in 2005.

#10 Elton John

$66 million

If our top ten list counted royalties, prolific songwriters like Elton John would have higher rankings. But he still makes the list, thanks to playing 75 shows in 32 cities–including a very lucrative Las Vegas stint.