U2's 360° Tour the Most Successful Ever

They've been touring for 26 months, visited 30 countries, played 110 gigs and postponed Glastonbury once. Having played the final show of their tour in Moncton, Canada on Saturday, July 30, U2's 360° tour has been confirmed as the most financially successful ever.

According to Billboard.com, the band's latest global trek will have grossed a staggering $736,137,344 (£452,051,545) after playing to 7,268,430 fans. The impressive numbers mean that the Irish rockers have knocked rock 'n' roll veterans the Rolling Stones into second place after they managed to amass $558m (£342.6m) from their last outing.

The tour cost an estimated £60m to stage and the band's 360-degree production -- though initially viewed as risky -- managed to increase audience capacity by as much as 25 percent. Their stage set -- named "The Claw" -- found the band surrounded from all angles and is widely regarded as U2's most ambitious live setting yet.

Arthur Fogel, the tour's producer, was quoted by The Sun as saying, "The tour was a brilliant success, everyone involved should be very proud. U2 once again have set the standard for achievement -- perhaps for all time."

Watch U2 Play 'I Will Follow' at Glastonbury 2011