Wealthiest lead singers

According to Celebrity Net Worth, The Richest Lead Singers in the World are as follows. I assume that no one recognizes all the bands on the list. Some of the oldest singers have been in the limelight for half a century.

But it is surprising how long some of the bands have been together

Pantera released their first album 29 years ago
Red Hot Chili Peppers released their first album 28 years ago.
Queensrÿche released their first album 28 years ago
Guns N’ Roses were formed 27 years ago.
Gwen Stefani joined "No Doubt" 23 years ago
Tool released their first album 21 years ago
Nickelback has included guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, their first album was together was released 16 years ago.


How far can you get down the list until you have never heard of the group?

Reference: Celebrity Net Worth

#1: Paul McCartney Net Worth – $800 Million (The Beatles) = age 70
#2: Bono Net Worth – $600 Million (U2)
#3: Jimmy Buffett Net Worth – $400 Million = age 65
#4: Elton John Net Worth – $320 Million (Solo)
#5: Mick Jagger Net Worth – $305 Million (The Rolling Stones) = age 69
#6: Gene Simmons Net Worth – $300 Million (KISS)
#7: Sting Net Worth – $290 Million (The Police, Solo)
#8: Phil Collins Net Worth – $250 Million (Genesis, Solo)
#9: Dave Matthews Net Worth – $250 Million (Dave Matthews Band)
#10: Prince Net Worth – $250 Million
#11: Dave Grohl Net Worth – $225 Million (Foo Fighters, Nirvana on drums)
#12: Rod Stewart Net Worth – $220 Million
#13: David Bowie Net Worth – $215 Million
#14: Bruce Springsteen Net Worth – $200 Million (The E Street Band)
#15: Don Henley Net Worth – $200 Million (The Eagles, Solo)
#16: Lionel Richie Net Worth – $200 Million (Commodores, Solo)
#17: James Hetfield Net Worth – $175 Million (Metallica)
#18: Billy Joel Net Worth – $160 Million
#19 : Axl Rose Net Worth – $150 Million (Guns N’ Roses)
#20: Roger Waters Net Worth – $145 Million (Pink Floyd)
#21: David Gilmour Net Worth – $130 Million (Pink Floyd) = age 66
#22: Steven Tyler Net Worth – $130 Million (Aerosmith)
#23: Jon Bon Jovi Net Worth – $125 Million (Bon Jovi)
#24: Paul Stanley Net Worth – $125 Million (KISS)
#25: Anthony Kiedis Net Worth – $120 Million (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
#26: Sammy Hagar Net Worth – $120 Million (Van Halen)
#27: Robert Plant Net Worth – $120 Million (Led Zeppelin)
#28: Bruce Dickinson Net Worth – $115 Million (Iron Maiden)
#29: Eric Clapton Net Worth – $115 Million (Cream, Solo)
#30: Brian Johnson Net Worth – $90 Million (AC/DC)
#31: Ozzy Osbourne Net Worth – $90 Million (Black Sabbath, Solo)
#32: George Michael Net Worth - $90 Million (Wham!, Solo)
#33: Gwen Stefani Net Worth – $80 Million (No Doubt, Solo)
#34: Eddie Vedder Net Worth – $80 Million (Pearl Jam)
#35: Bob Dylan Net Worth – $80 Million
#36: Brian Wilson Net Worth – $75 Million (The Beach Boys)
#37: Michael Stipe Net Worth – $75 Million (R.E.M.)
#38: Trey Anastasio Net Worth – $75 Million (Phish)
#39: Tom Petty Net Worth – $75 Million (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
#40: Joe Elliott Net Worth – $70 Million (Def Leppard)
#41: Peter Gabriel Net Worth – $70 Million (Genesis, Solo)
#42: Glenn Frey Net Worth – $70 Million (The Eagles, Solo)
#43: John Fogerty Net Worth – $68 Million (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
#44: Stevie Nicks Net Worth – $65 Million (Fleetwood Mac, Solo)
#45: Roger Daltrey Net Worth – $65 Million (The Who)
#46: Neil Young Net Worth – $65 Million
#47: Joe Walsh Net Worth – $65 Million (The Eagles, Solo)
#48: Chris Cornell Net Worth – $60 Million (Soundgarden, Audioslave)
#49: Mark Hoppus Net Worth – $60 Million (Blink 182)
#50: Tom DeLonge Net Worth – $60 Million (Blink 182)
#51: Chris Martin Net Worth – $60 Million (Coldplay)
#52: Billie Joe Armstrong Net Worth – $55 Million (Green Day)
#52: Liam Gallagher Net Worth – $50 Million (Oasis)
#53: Zack de la Rocha Net Worth – $50 Million (Rage Against the Machine)
#54: Vince Neil Net Worth – $50 Million (Motley Crue)
#55: Billy Corgan Net Worth – $50 Million (Smashing Pumpkins)
#56: Steve Perry Net Worth – $45 Million (Journey)
#57: Jon Anderson Net Worth – $45 Million (Yes)
#58: Maynard James Keenan Net Worth – $45 Million (Tool)
#59: Jonathan Davis Net Worth – $45 Million (Korn)
#60: David Gahan Net Worth – $45 Million (Depeche Mode)
#61: David Lee Roth Net Worth – $40 Million (Van Halen)
#62: David Byrne Net Worth – $40 Million (Talking Heads)
#63: Trent Reznor Net Worth – $40 Million (Nine Inch Nails)
#64: Kid Rock Net Worth – $37 Million
#65: Thom Yorke Net Worth – $35 Million (Radiohead)
#66: Pat Benatar Net Worth – $32 Million
#67: Jack White Net Worth – $30 Million (The White Stripes)
#68: Scott Stapp Net Worth – $30 Million (Creed)
#69: Chad Kroeger Net Worth – $30 Million (Nickelback)
#70: Peter Frampton Net Worth – $30 Million (Humble Pie, Solo)
#71: Geddy Lee Net Worth – $28 Million (Rush)
#72: Marilyn Manson Net Worth -$25 Million
#73: Rob Halford Net Worth – $25 Million (Judas Priest)
#74: Chester Bennington Net Worth – $25 Million (Linkin Park)
#75 : Dave Mustaine Net Worth – $20 Million (Metallica, Megadeath)
#76: Ian Anderson Net Worth – $20 Million (Jethro Tull)
#77: Geoff Tate Net Worth: $17 Million (Queensrÿche)
#78: Gregg Allman Net Worth – $15 Million (Allman Brothers)
#79: Tom Araya Net Worth – $14 Million (Slayer)
#80: Jacoby Shaddix Net Worth – $12 Million (Papa Roach)
#81: Bret Michaels Net Worth – $12 Million (Poison)
#82: Scott Weiland Net Worth – $10 Million (Stone Temple Pilots)
#83: Phil Anselmo Net Worth – $8 Million (Pantera)
#84: Fred Durst Net Worth – $8 Million (Limp Bizkit)

Wow Paco, I certainly recognize every single one of the performers on the list. Kinda funny tho how "poor" Fred Durst is. lol

This list does not mention Taylor Swift -- while you can argue that she's a solo act because her band doesn't get billing, at lot of people on this list have been solo acts for as long as Taylor Swift has been alive.

A low estimate for her net worth is $80 million and it's likely going to be $100m by Dec. 31 with her new album releasing this fall.

Quote: avargov

I certainly recognize every single one of the performers on the list.

I stand corrected. There are people who know all those performers.

I was surprised that the singer of Tool (Maynard James Keenan) was on this list. I hadn't realized they were that super big.

I knew all the bands except one, and all the singers, except one. The band (Humble Pie) I knew the singer (Peter Frampton), and the singer of Phish I couldn't pick out of a line up, but aware of the band (and avoid them).

Quote: avargov

Wow Paco, I certainly recognize every single one of the performers on the list. Kinda funny tho how "poor" Fred Durst is. lol

Marilyn Manson? Who is she?

Can't believe Dave Matthews is only 55 million behind Mick Jagger. Me doubts the accuracy.

Quote: Johnzimbo

Can't believe Dave Matthews is only 55 million behind Mick Jagger. Me doubts the accuracy.

It might just have a little bit to do with how well the funds were managed after they were initially generated.

I also recognise them all. I am a music nerd though. Handy in a pub quiz.

Quote: s2dbaker

Marilyn Manson? Who is she?

He (though you tweaked my sarcasm detector).

Paul McCartney but not Ringo Starr. I imagine Ringo has almost no residuals from the Beatle music (or at least compared to Paul)

Didn't McCartney lose a big chunk from his former wife? (no pre-nuptial agreement)

Quote: Johnzimbo

Can't believe Dave Matthews is only 55 million behind Mick Jagger. Me doubts the accuracy.

This calculation is "net worth", not aggregate earnings for concerts and albums.

So it skews against woman, the most successful female performers are solo acts.
There are only 3 women out of 84 names.

Jimmy Buffet was a very successful musician, but not on the scale of the names around him. His genius was in creating a lifestyle brand which he turned into successful marketing of restaurants and novelty sales. It also helps that he got his only divorce out of the way before he began recording.

As Dave Matthews is only age 45 and has no obvious major business interest. He might be wealthy simply by being plain, old-fashioned frugal. By rock star standards "frugal" could simply mean not having any massive addictions, and being involved with one woman his entire adult life. It doesn't necessarily mean skipping the beverage and desert with his restaurant meals.

I never would have known the lead singer from Jethro Tull or Nickelback. I guess I'm kind of proud of that. Did recognize all the bands, though.

No Justin Timberlake? No Rob Thomas? or even Belinda Carlisle. $8MM seems like a low threshold for those folks to clear, I'm surprised they're not on the list.

How is "lead singer" defined? Elton John and Billy Joel are "lead singers" but Madonna is not? Or Ms. Swift, or Lady Gaga.

Seriously, $8MM is not a whole lot of money. Bob Seger doesn't have $8MM? Steve Miller doesn't have $8MM?

Quote: rdw4potus

Seriously, $8MM is not a whole lot of money. Bob Seger doesn't have $8MM? Steve Miller doesn't have $8MM?

Well, though not necessarily the ones you've mentioned, when I saw this list, you also have to consider some of these people took care of their finances in a manner similar to MC Hammer. They HAD money. Wtf, they did with it is another story.

This list is suspect. If you google celine deion net worth, The exact site from which this list is from says 400m, but shes not on the list?

Quote: rxwine

Well, though not necessarily the ones you've mentioned, when I saw this list, you also have to consider some of these people took care of their finances in a manner similar to MC Hammer. They HAD money. Wtf, they did with it is another story.

That's a good point. And I'm more than a little surprised that the Blink 182 boys (among others) didn't do just that. Or maybe they did, in which case I wonder what they started with...

Quote: rainman

This list is suspect. If you google celine deion net worth, The exact site from which this list is from says 400m, but shes not on the list?

I think the differentiation there is that she's a solo artist and not a lead singer. Though Billy Joel and Elton John are on the list...

Quote: rdw4potus

I think the differentiation there is that she's a solo artist and not a lead singer. Though Billy Joel and Elton John are on the list...

hmmm...point taken billy and elton threw me

Liam Gallagher has $50MM, but Noel Gallagher isn't on the list? Harsh! I wonder what he did with his part of Oasis's money.

Spent it on beer, drugs and women. The rest of it he wasted.

This list is for rockers only obviously, not lead singers as the thread suggests. Everyone who watches the news these days knows Beyonce and Jay-Z lead the pack right now, musical royalty practically, worth about $800 million as a couple. And where is Fergie and Britney Spears? And the Jackson and Presley families? This list is ridiculous.

And Bono's wealth surely has plummeted since Facebook stock has tanked.

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Quote: sodawater

Madonna also has a net worth of $650 million and is not on the list. Did Paco just plug in names of whoever he thought of?

Well clearly it is not my list since I attributed it to Celebrity Net Worth. They said up front it was Lead Singer in a Band. Most women came to fame as solo acts. Some men as well, but they are just as likely to be lead singers for bands. Madonna's band has never received attribution.

As was pointed out, however, some of the big names on the list started as lead singers for a band, but have now been solo acts for longer than Taylor Swift has been alive.

This list is different in that it discusses net worth. Most lists of entertainers or TV actors ranks them by their earnings last year. Such a list is obviously volatile. Oprah Winfrey is the only celebrity billionaire in America.

A list of media billionaires from the Forbes 400 is a lot less fun.

Rank Name Net Worth Age Residence Source
26 Anne Cox Chambers $12 B 91 Atlanta, Georgia media
37 Rupert Murdoch $7.4 B 80 New York, New York News Corp
43 Samuel Newhouse $6.6 B 83 New York, New York Conde Nast
46 Charles Ergen $6.4 B 58 Denver, Colorado EchoStar
53 Jim Kennedy $6 B 63 Atlanta, Georgia media
53 Blair Parry-Okeden $6 B 60 Scone, N/A media
55 Donald Newhouse $5.9 B 81 Somerset County, New Jersey Conde Nast
58 David Geffen $5.5 B 68 Malibu, California movies, music
69 John Malone $4.5 B 70 Elizabeth, Colorado cable television
80 Sumner Redstone $4.1 B 88 Beverly Hills, California Viacom
103 Patrick McGovern $3.3 B 74 Hollis, New Hampshire media
107 George Lucas $3.2 B 67 San Anselmo, California Star Wars
117 Martha Ingram $3 B 76 Nashville, Tennessee book distribution, transportation
117 Steven Spielberg $3 B 64 Pacific Palisades, California movies
128 Haim Saban $2.9 B 66 Beverly Hills, California television
150 Charles Dolan $2.6 B 84 Oyster Bay, New York cable television
171 Mark Cuban $2.3 B 53 Dallas, Texas online media
171 Amos Hostetter $2.3 B 74 Boston, Massachusetts cable television
171 A. Jerrold Perenchio $2.3 B 80 Bel Air, California television
188 William Randolph Hearst $2.2 B 62 San Francisco, California Hearst Corp
212 Ted Turner $2 B 72 Atlanta, Georgia cable television
227 Phoebe Hearst Cooke $1.9 B 84 San Francisco, California Hearst Corp
227 Austin Hearst $1.9 B 59 New York, New York Hearst Corp
227 David Hearst $1.9 B 66 Los Angeles, California Hearst Corp
227 George Hearst $1.9 B 84 Paso Robles, California Hearst Corp
227 Stanley Hubbard $1.9 B 78 St. Paul, Minnesota DirecTV
263 Isaac Perlmutter $1.7 B 68 Palm Beach, Florida Marvel
273 Barry Diller $1.6 B 69 New York, New York IAC/InterActiveCorp
273 Joseph Mansueto $1.6 B 55 Chicago, Illinois investment research
273 Craig McCaw $1.6 B 62 Hunts Point, Washington telecom
312 Gary Magness $1.4 B 57 Magness, Colorado cable, investments
312 Billy Joe McCombs $1.4 B 83 San Antonio, Texas radio, oil, real estate
355 Edmund Ansin $1.25 B 75 Miami Beach, Florida television
355 Alan Gerry $1.25 B 81 Liberty, New York cable television
359 Todd Wagner $1.2 B 51 Dallas, Texas online media

Quote: sodawater

The list is also missing:
Agnetha Faltskog, lead singer of Abba, with a net worth of $80m according to your site.
Sade, lead singer of still-active Sade, with a net worth of $50m according to your site.
Lauryn Hill, lead singer of the Fugees, with a net worth of $20m according to your site.
Debbie Harry, the lead singer of Blondie, whose net worth is $16m according to your site.
Chrissie Hynde, lead singer of the Pretenders, with a net worth of $12m, according to your site.
and my personal favorite,
Hayley Williams, lead singer of Paramore, with a net worth of $8m, according to your site.

I agree with your list. I am not sure what criteria they used to select the names.

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Quote: sodawater

I apologize -- I misread and thought you compiled this list with info from Celeb Net Worth -- but it is obvious if you just click the link, they wrote it.

I do compile lists if I think they will bring some insight into a business practice. But this list was just a fun way to look at old bands. You will notice that MC Hammer is not on the list despite having sold 50 million records (the same as Jay-Zee).

Quote: pacomartin

I do compile lists if I think they will bring some insight into a business practice. But this list was just a fun way to look at old bands. You will notice that MC Hammer is not on the list despite having sold 50 million records (the same as Jay-Zee).

Paco:

Another interesting list ! I looked at the link to see if there was
any mention how they came up with it, and sure enough there
was (although who knows how accurate any of the #'s really
are):

"***The figures contained in this list were acquired from all publicly available information including salaries, real estate holdings, divorces, record sales, royalties and endorsements. The final net worths come from a formula that takes out taxes, manager’s fees, agents’ fees, and lifestyle.***"

I will nominate Ozzy Osbourne as the least talented singer
on the list, with an honorable mention going out to Kid
Rock.

Quote: thecesspit

He (though you tweaked my sarcasm detector).

To show you how old I am, I was looking to do the same thing with Alice Cooper but she didn't even make the list.

And you have to wonder about the list when you
don't see DEVO, plastic pail hats and all.

Quote: JohnnyQ

And you have to wonder about the list when you
don't see DEVO, plastic pail hats and all.

I think Mark Mothersbaugh works for the Cartoon Network.

Are we not men ?

Quote: JohnnyQ

Are we not men ?

We are Sponge Bob

In 4-D at Kings Island.

Or at least it used to be.

Right, Patrick ?

Quote: rainman

This list is suspect. If you google celine deion net worth, The exact site from which this list is from says 400m, but shes not on the list?

Where was Alice Cooper? He's been touring for more than 40 years, has a successful restaurant in Phoenix. He has to be worth more than some of the names on that list.