The 15 Richest Rock Musicians in the World (2023)
The richest rock musicians are an exciting topic. There are so many ways a musician can become rich, including concerts, record sales, marketing, and much more, making their careers all the more enjoyable. So, let’s see the rock musicians that have the richest net worth in the world.
An artist’s success can be achieved in many different ways but how they handle it is what matters. Some of the richest rock musicians knew how to get the most out of their careers, so they are where they are.
The people on this list have proven to be savvy businesspeople and very intelligent musicians. They all wrote some of music’s greatest hits and have become pop culture symbols, two of the main reasons for their success.
However, they have also been smart enough to try different ventures and projects. This has resulted in them investing in things unrelated to music and making even greater profits over the years. That is a big reason why they are the richest rock musicians at the moment.
Before get into this list, you can read 15 highest net worth of metal bands in the world here.
Who are the world’s 15 richest rock musicians in 2023?
- Phil Collins – $350 million
- Lars Ulrich – $350 million
- Gene Simmons – $400 million
- Adam Clayton – $400 million
- Jon Bon Jovi – $410 million
- Eric Clapton – $450 million
- Mick Jagger – $500 million
- Keith Richards – $500 million
- Bob Dylan – $500 million
- Sting – $550 million
- Elton John – $550 million
- Bruce Springsteen – $650 million
- Bono – $700 million
- Jimmy Buffett – $1 billion
- Paul McCartney – $1 billion
15. Phil Collins – $350 million
Phil Collins became known as the drummer of Genesis, although he later achieved success as a solo artist. This, along with collaborating with other artists, made him one of the main characters in the music industry of the 80s.
Despite having also had a career in the acting world, both in film and television, his earnings have resulted from the enormous number of records sold. This is coupled with his tours since Collins can generate up to 50 million a year while on the road.
He is also ranked among the richest rock musicians for being the voice of “Another Day in Paradise” and “Land of Confusion,” among many other hits.
14. Lars Ulrich – $350 million
Lars Ulrich is the drummer and founding member of Metallica, so his being one of the richest rock musicians is not surprising.
In addition to being a fundamental part of the instrumental section of the band, he also acts as a producer and is credited as the writer of most of the songs on Metallica. Lars is also quite brilliant since he invested his money in real estate, land, and art collection.
Ulrich has been part of all the Metallica albums, which include hits like “Enter Sandman”, “One”, and “Nothing Else Matters.” Lars Ulrich is undoubtedly the “heaviest” member of this list, which is only a testament to Metallica’s journey over the years.
These guys started as a promising Thrash Metal outfit and became cultural icons. When people think of Metal music, many think of Metallica, which says a lot. Lars’ achievements as a musician shouldn’t be dismissed.
13. Gene Simmons – $400 million
Gene Simmons is one of the greatest rock icons and happens to be one of the richest rock musicians. He’s the mastermind of KISS and Paul Stanley, which helps a great deal.
Kiss sold millions of albums from the 70s to the 90s, becoming one of the biggest bands in the world. And, according to Simmons himself, the band can generate up to 100 million dollars annually through touring.
However, Kiss’s biggest source of income is its merchandise since there is practically anything with the Kiss logo. Of course, Simmons is, along with Stanley, the brand’s owner, so most of the profits go towards him.
12. Adam Clayton – $400 million
The bass player of the iconic Irish band U2 is the twelfth on the list, which may be surprising. However, his musical success has led him to be part of the select group of richest rock musicians.
U2’s popularity allows them to continue to have great income from their tours even though album sales are not so profitable these days. Clayton has also invested in real estate throughout the world, which has helped him a great deal as well.
11. Jon Bon Jovi – $410 million
Jon Bon Jovi is one of the greatest rock stars of all time and, of course, one of the richest rock musicians. The voice behind hits such as “Wanted Dead or Alive” or “It’s My Life” had to be here.
The man behind Bon Jovi had to be part of the list because, since the band’s creation, Jon has become the face of American rock. The fact that he is the leader of a project that can generate between 100 and 150 million annually on tours gives him a secure position among the richest rock musicians.
Jon is also known for his appearances in different series and movies as well as for being a great buyer and seller of properties in the United States.
Of course, crafting hits such as “Blaze Of Glory,” “Living on a Prayer,” and “You Give Love a Bad Name” also helps.
10. Eric Clapton – $450 million
He is one of the most recognized musicians in the history of rock, which makes his appearance on the list of richest rock musicians logical.
Eric Clapton has an enormous musical career that has led him to be recognized around the world by almost every single metric that matters. While his music career is an important part of his net worth, his almost unique car and art collections are also important.
Clapton has known how to navigate the world of investments and has paid dividends, shown in all his properties.
9. Mick Jagger – $500 million
Mick Jagger is the voice of The Rolling Stones, so he is by default one of the richest rock musicians. A man in a band of this status has to have a lot of money.
Jagger has managed to amass a great fortune that he has invested mostly in real estate in different places worldwide. From mansions in New York to castles in France, Mick has them.
The Rolling Stones continue to tour today despite having started in the 60s and remain one of the most profitable acts in the world. Jagger is also one of history’s most known and popular rock musicians, which certainly hasn’t hurt his wallet.
8. Keith Richards – $500 million
Mick Jagger‘s partner Keith Richards in the writing of most of The Rolling Stones‘ most significant songs, as well as guitarist and second vocalist, could not be missing from the list of richest rock musicians.
Much like Jagger, he receives a considerable part of the band’s income, along with his many properties between the United States and England, giving him a very high net worth.
When it comes to Jagger and Richards, they have written so many songs that is hard to mention the best. The Rolling Stones are one of the definitive musical acts and a legendary act that will never be replicated.
7. Bob Dylan – $500 million
Bob Dylan is another prolific musician who started in the 60s and has remained active since then, especially with world tours.
Dylan’s case is particular since his songs are usually covered by other artists and thus become even better known, generating more income. It is estimated that more than 6,000 artists have covered a Dylan song.
Another movement that has generated great income for Dylan has been the sale of his master records and the rights to his songs. That has allowed him to be among the richest rock musicians in recent years.
6. Sting – $550 million
Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, better known as Sting, became known with the band The Police in the 80s. The band was one of the greatest acts of the decade, and Sting became a timeless music industry icon.
Sting had great success with that until they broke up in the mid-80s and then launched his solo career with which he also had a lot of hits. In his case, most of Sting’s income comes from record sales and touring, making him a very profitable artist even to this very day.
5. Elton John – $550 million
He is one of the best-known artists worldwide and one of the most successful in many aspects. Elton John is a colossus in album sales and tours, so his presence among the richest rock musicians is not surprising.
Elton invested a lot of his money in the 90s in properties and in an extensive car collection that he kept intact for a long time. Of course, his large income from album sales and world tours also has to be taken into account.
His career is one of the most fascinating as he has tried so many different genres. Elton John is the very definition of an eclectic musician and that has helped him a lot over the years. Definitely a one of a kind in the music business.
4. Bruce Springsteen – $650 million
Thanks to his comprehensive career both as a solo artist and with the E Street Band, Bruce Springsteen has accumulated a lot of money. The combination of album sales and concerts have made him richest rock musicians.
In addition to music, he also ventured into Broadway and films as a director and, despite having invested heavily in real estate, his greatest income has been, without a doubt, the sale of the rights to his music for a figure that It is between 500 and 600 million.
Springsteen is a national treasure in the United States and still maintains a fairly humble spirit in his music. He usually represents the American worker in his lyrics, which is a key selling point of his in his career.
3. Bono – $700 million
The lead singer of U2 could not be missing from the list of the richest rock musicians. The Irish music band is one of the most successful in terms of world tours, even to this day. The 360° tour has been the one that has made the most money generated in history (around $700 million).
As if that were not enough, Bono has an investment fund with which he invests money in different projects, including the popular social media platform Facebook.
U2 are one of the greatest and most popular bands of all time, so Bono’s success and net worth are unsurprising. He is also fairly outspoken regarding social issues, a running theme in the band’s career.
2. Jimmy Buffett – $1 billion
Jimmy Buffett became famous thanks to his music, which earned him significant financial income. However, what allows him to be on the list of richest rock musicians is the way he invested that money.
The man has built an empire of hotels, restaurants, casinos, etc. That great empire led him to a net worth of 1 billion.
It is a very unique case when compared to other people on this list. While others usually stuck to properties and real state, Buffett went even further. Using his income as a musician to build a business empire is certainly admirable.
1. Paul McCartney – $1.2 billion
Paul McCartney is combined with success both as a solo artist and with The Beatles, probably the most successful band in history. According to sources, Paul McCartney is the richest rock musician in the world right now.
The Beatles brand generates a lot of money from different fronts and what McCartney generates with tours is also quite a lot. Therefore, his being the first on the list of richest rock musicians is no surprise to anyone.
It’s hard to mention all the different hits Paul McCartney has written over the years. He is one of the most celebrated artists of all time and certainly very influential. If the man had decided to stop making music after The Beatles broke up, he would probably still feature here.
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