List of music artists by net worth

American rapper Jay-Z is the wealthiest music artist in the world, with Forbes estimating his net worth at $2.5 billion in 2024.

The following is a list of music artists with the highest recorded net worth (also know as wealthiest musicians or richest musicians), based on calculations by reputable publications such as Forbes and The Sunday Times Rich List. As of 2024, six music artists have reached the billionaire status on Forbes reports: Jay-Z leading the list with US$2.5 billion, and becoming the first billionaire music artist, followed by Rihanna (the first billionaire female artist), Taylor Swift—the first primarily billionaire artist on the basis of her music and performances, and Jimmy Buffett. Sean "Diddy" Combs and Kanye West also reached the status before being dropped off.

When Forbes 400 Richest Americans debuted in 1982, Yoko Ono was the only musician listed, with a net worth of $150 million (equivalent to $474 million in 2023), largely due to the music royalties of her late husband's band the Beatles.[1] In 1991, Forbes estimated Michael Jackson's net worth at $230 million (equivalent to $515 million in 2023), making him the wealthiest musician and the second wealthiest entertainer, behind comedian Bill Cosby.[2] After his death, it is estimated that Jackson's estate is worth over $2 billion as of 2024.[3][4]

Forbes lists are dominated by American artists, while musicians of other nationalities have built their wealth predominantly in the U.S., such as Celine Dion. Reports from others business-related publications such as Bloomberg L.P. could differ; for instance, they valued Kanye West at US$6.6 billion in 2021, while West himself measured at least US$3.3 billion in 2020.[5][6] Outside of Forbes, net worth estimations could vastly vary amid same artists and different sources, as some media outlets have published estimations from various websites and lists such as CelebrityNetWorth, Bankrate and Sunday Times Rich List. Artists such as Bono and Paul McCartney have been claimed to achieve billionaire status, albeit denied by Forbes.[7][8]

## Forbes[edit]

The following are music artists with a net worth of over $300 million (adjusted for inflation) according to Forbes. The artists are listed based on the nominal figure on their most recently available estimation.

Music artists with the highest net worth reported by Forbes Artists  | Nationality  | Lifetime  | Net worth  | Report year  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

Latest
estimation  | Peak
estimation  | Peak estimation
adjusted in 2023 $  | Latest  | Peak
Jay-Z | United States  | 1969–present  | $2.5 billion | $2.5 billion | 2024  | [9]
Rihanna | Barbados  | 1988–present  | $1.4 billion | $1.7 billion | $1.77 billion | 2024  | 2022  | [10][11]
Taylor Swift | United States  | 1989–present  | $1.3 billion | $1.3 billion | 2024  | [12]
Jimmy Buffett | United States  | 1946–2023  | $1 billion | $1 billion | 2023  | [13]
Madonna | United States  | 1958–present  | $850 million  | $850 million  | 2024  | [14]
Dr. Dre | United States  | 1965–present  | $800 million  | $953 million  | 2019  | [15]
Beyoncé | United States  | 1981–present  | $760 million  | $800 million  | $800 million  | 2024  | 2023  | [16][17]
Sean "Diddy" Combs | United States  | 1969–present  | $740 million[a] | $820 million  | $1.02 billion | 2019  | 2017  | [19][20]
Julio Iglesias | Spain  | 1943–present  | $600 million[b] | $600 million  | 2023  | [21]
Celine Dion | Canada  | 1968–present  | $550 million  | $550 million  | 2024  | [22]
Bruce Springsteen | United States  | 1949–present  | $460 million  | $584 million  | 2016  | [23]
Barbra Streisand | United States  | 1942–present  | $460 million  | $460 million  | 2024  | [24]
Dolly Parton | United States  | 1946–present  | $450 million  | $450 million  | 2024  | [25]
Jon Bon Jovi | United States  | 1946–present  | $410 million  | $521 million | 2016  | [26]
Kanye West | United States  | 1977–present  | $400 million  | $2 billion | $2.08 billion | 2024  | 2022  | [27][6]
Michael Jackson | United States  | 1958–2009  | $350 million  | $580 million  | 2003  | [2]
Katy Perry | United States  | 1984–present  | $350 million  | $350 million  | 2024  | [28]
Mariah Carey | United States  | 1969–present  | $225 million[c] | $331 million  | 2007  | [29]
Yoko Ono | Japan  | 1933–present  | $150 million  | $474 million  | 1982  | [1]

## Sunday Times Rich List[edit]

The following are music artists with a net worth of over £300 million according to the Sunday Times Rich List.

Music artists with the highest net worth reported on the Sunday Times Rich List Artists  | Nationality  | Lifetime  | Net worth  | Report year  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

Latest
estimation  | Peak
estimation  | Peak estimation
adjusted in 2023 £  | Latest  | Peak
Paul McCartney[d] | United Kingdom  | 1942–present  | £1 billion | £1 billion | 2024  | [32]
U2 | Ireland  | 1976–present  | £625 million  | £665 million | 2022  | [33]
Andrew Lloyd Webber | United Kingdom  | 1948–present  | £504 million  | £820 million  | £1.03 billion | 2023  | 2019  | [34][35]
Elton John | United Kingdom  | 1947–present  | £470 million  | £470 million | 2024  | [36]
Sting | United Kingdom  | 1951–present  | £320 million  | £341 million | 2022  | [37]
Mick Jagger | United Kingdom  | 1943–present  | £318 million  | £338 million | 2022  | [38]
Keith Richards | United Kingdom  | 1976–present  | £303 million  | £322 million | 2022  | [33]
Ed Sheeran | United Kingdom  | 1991–present  | £300 million  | £300 million | 2023  | [39]

## Artist's estates[edit]

In 2020, one Elvis Presley's state executive told Rolling Stone magazine that artist's estate was worth between US$400-500 million.[40] As of 2024, the Estate of Michael Jackson has been valued over US$2 billion.[3][4]

## See also[edit]

* Hollywood accounting
* Forbes Top 40 (1987–1998)
* Forbes Celebrity 100 (1999–2020)
* Forbes list of the world's highest-paid musicians
* Forbes list of the world's highest-paid dead celebrities

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ Forbes has not updated the net worth of Sean "Diddy" Combs since 2019. However, former Forbes editor Zack O'Malley Greenburg estimated Combs' net worth at $1 billion on a Substack report in 2022.[18]
2. ^ Julio Iglesias' net worth according to Forbes Spain.
3. ^ Forbes has not reported an updated estimation of Mariah Carey's net worth since 2007.
4. ^ Paul McCartney's estimation includes his wife Nancy Shevell's wealth, hence Forbes disputed McCartney's status as a billionaire. Shevell's family owns a trucking company which generates over $300 million per year in revenue. In 2008, McCartney disclosed personal net assets of £387,012,000 (about $600 million) as part of divorce proceedings with ex-wife Heather Mills. In 2013, Forbes estimates his net worth roughly at $650 million.[30] As of 2024, McCartney has yet to appear on Forbes's world's billionaires list.[31]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Dellatto, Marisa. "Forbes' Hollywood Walk Of Fame: The Richest Celebrities Of All Time". Forbes.
2. ^ a b "In Pictures: A Forbes History Of Michael Jackson's Earnings". Forbes. October 27, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
3. ^ a b Bacher, Danielle (March 25, 2024). "Inside the Fight over Michael Jackson's $2 Billion Estate — and His Mom's Battle with Her Grandson Bigi". People. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
4. ^ a b Dillon, Nancy (March 9, 2024). "Michael Jackson Estate, Katherine Jackson Clash in Court Over $600 Million Catalog Deal".
5. ^ Goldman, Lea (September 18, 2007). "Forbes And 50 Cent 'Get Money'". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
6. ^ a b Voytko, Lisette (April 5, 2023). "Here's Why Kanye West Dropped Off The Forbes Billionaires List". Forbes. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
7. ^ Robehmed, Natalie (September 1, 2015). "Why U2's Bono Isn't A Billionaire". Forbes. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
8. ^ Olson, Parmy (September 1, 2015). "Sorry, Heather. Paul Ain't No Billionaire". Forbes. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
9. ^ Martin, Devin Sean (April 2, 2024). "The World's Celebrity Billionaires 2024". Forbes. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
10. ^ "Profile: Rihanna". Forbes. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
11. ^ Dellatto, Marisa (April 7, 2023). "Forbes' Hollywood Walk Of Fame: The Richest Celebrities Of All Time". Forbes. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
12. ^ "Profile: Taylor Swift". Forbes. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
13. ^ "Forbes Profile: Jimmy Buffett". Forbes. April 4, 2023. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023.
14. ^ "Profile: Madonna". Forbes. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
15. ^ Greenburg, Zack O'Malley. "Dr. Dre's Net Worth: $800 Million In 2019". Forbes.
16. ^ "Profile: Beyoncé". Forbes. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
17. ^ McGrath, Maggie (December 14, 2024). "Beyoncé Is Now Worth $800 Million. Plus: The Worst Days For Holiday Travel". Forbes. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
18. ^ Paul, Larisha (October 28, 2022). "Diddy Replaces Ye, Joins Jay-Z in Billionaires Club on 2022 List of Wealthiest Hip-Hop Artists". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
19. ^ Greenburg, Zack O'Malley. "Diddy's Net Worth: $740 Million In 2019". Forbes.
20. ^ Greenburg, Zack O'Malley. "Diddy's Net Worth: $820 Million In 2017". Forbes.
21. ^ "¿De cuánto es el patrimonio de Julio Iglesias? Este es el puesto que ocupa en el top 10 de los artistas más ricos del mundo el cantante que cumplirá 80 años". El Universo (in Spanish). September 15, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
22. ^ "Profile: Celine Dion". Forbes. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
23. ^ Greenburg, Zack O'Malley. "Bruce Springsteen's Net Worth: $460 Million In 2016". Forbes.
24. ^ "Barbra Streisand". Forbes.
25. ^ "Profile: Dolly Parton". Forbes. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
26. ^ Greenburg, Zack O'Malley. "Jon Bon Jovi's Net Worth: $410 Million In 2016". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
27. ^ "Profile: Kanye West". Forbes. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
28. ^ Dolan, Kerry A.; Murphy, Andrea (May 28, 2024). "A Record Year For America's Richest Self-Made Women 2024". Forbes. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
29. ^ "In Pictures: The Richest 20 Women In Entertainment". Forbes.
30. ^ https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2013/04/12/why-paul-mccartney-isnt-on-the-forbes-billionaires-list/
31. ^ https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/
32. ^ "Sir Paul McCartney first UK billionaire musician". www.bbc.com.
33. ^ a b Dean, Jonathan (June 9, 2024). "The 40 richest musicians in the UK and Ireland". www.thetimes.com.
34. ^ Times, The Sunday (June 4, 2024). "Andrew Lloyd Webber net worth — Sunday Times Rich List 2023". www.thetimes.com.
35. ^ "Ed Sheeran tops Adele as Stormzy joins Sunday Times Rich List". 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
36. ^ Times, The Sunday (June 9, 2024). "Sir Elton John net worth — Sunday Times Rich List 2024". www.thetimes.com.
37. ^ Times, The Sunday (June 9, 2024). "Sting net worth — Sunday Times Rich List 2022". www.thetimes.com.
38. ^ Times, The Sunday (June 8, 2024). "Sir Mick Jagger net worth — Sunday Times Rich List 2021". www.thetimes.com.
39. ^ Times, The Sunday (June 9, 2024). "Ed Sheeran net worth — Sunday Times Rich List 2023". www.thetimes.com.
40. ^ Contreras, Brian; Sakoui, Anousha (January 14, 2023). "Lisa Marie Presley leaves behind a lucrative Graceland — and a complicated financial legacy". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2024.

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