Madonna could earn $1 billion by signing up for a five year residency in Las Vegas.

The 'Celebration' singer is said to be in discussions with promoters to establish a run of shows in the glitzy US gambling capital.

If Madonna signs the deal she will be following in the footsteps of other performers such as Elton John, Cher and Celine Dion, who have all made huge sums through Vegas contracts.

If the rumours of the contract being worth $1 billion are true, it would push 52-year-old Madonna up the list of highest earning females in the world. Currently, with an estimated fortune of £208 million, she is in fourth place behind talk show host Oprah Winfrey, host and publisher Martha Stewart and British 'Harry Potter' creator Jk Rowling.

It is not known if a Las Vegas residency would conflict with the 'Material Girl' singer's current ten year touring contract with promoters Live Nation, signed in 2007 for a reported £80 million.

Whether she appears in Vegas or not, the singer plans to keep touring and recently auditioned for dancers in London to appear in a proposed tour next autumn.

A source said: "It's going to be her biggest, most unexpected tour to date. She is going back to her New York City roots, with a street/hip-hop feel, and wants to make it a physical, dance-heavy set of gigs."

The as-yet unnamed tour - which is part of Madonna's deal with Live Nation - is expected to net the singer in excess of £100 million.

The singer's last world tour - 'Sticky and Sweet' - finished last September and grossed an estimated $400 million in ticket sales.