The richest rock stars

-Net worth: $250 million
-Nationality: England

Though perhaps best known as the drummer and backing vocalist for the band Queen, Roger Taylor has also made a name for himself outside of the group. Taylor released his debut solo album, "Fun in Space," in 1981, and a few years later, he founded another band called The Cross. However, Taylor hasn't left Queen behind—he performed at the band's 2001 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and continues to play with the group, now fronted by Adam Lambert.

-Net worth: $250 million
-Nationality: United States of America

One of the founding members of The Eagles, Don Henley can be heard singing on '70s hits like "Hotel California" and "Life in the Fast Lane." After the group disbanded in 1980, Henley embarked on a successful solo career and released five studio albums, including the now-classic pop track "The Boys of Summer." He reunited with the rest of The Eagles in 1994 and has founded two environmentally focused nonprofits: The Walden Woods Project in 1990 and The Caddo Lake Institute in 1992.

-Net worth: $250 million
-Nationality: United States of America

Quintessential rock star Billy Joel rose to fame in the 1970s thanks to mega-hits like "Piano Man," "Just the Way You Are," and "Only the Good Die Young." His career has skyrocketed even further in the decades since—Joel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and remains one of the best-selling musicians of all time. Besides creating some of the most instantly recognizable songs in modern music history, Joel frequently contributes to charitable causes, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

- Net worth: $260 million
- Nationality: England

A former guitarist and vocalist for the legendary rock band Queen, Brian May has continued to perform with the group's remaining members after the 1991 death of lead singer Freddie Mercury. May helped produce the 2002 musical "We Will Rock You," based on concepts from several Queen songs, as well as the 2018 Mercury biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody." A devoted animal welfare activist, May founded the Save Me Trust in 2010 to help protect wildlife, a cause he still champions today.

- Net worth: $300 million
- Nationality: England

Rod Stewart has come a long way from busking in the 1960s. The British rocker and songwriter has sold more than 120 million records around the world throughout his six decades of fame. In February 2024, the artist behind hits like "Maggie May" and "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" sold his song catalog for an incredible $100 million. But he's still not slowing down as he nears 80. The same month he sold his catalog, Stewart released a new album called "Swing Fever" with English composer Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.

- Net worth: $300 million
- Nationality: England

An alum of the '90s pop group Take That, Robbie Williams is known for achieving a successful music career as both a band member and solo artist. With hits like "She's the One" and "Angels," he is known for being the artist with the most Brit Awards in history, with 18 overall wins as of 2024. He was also the 2017 recipient of the BRITs Icon Award.

- Net worth: $300 million
- Nationality: United States of America

Neil Diamond was just 10 credits short of graduating from New York University (where he was a pre-med student) when Sunbeam Music offered him a job writing songs for $50 a week; he dropped out of college to accept it. He went on to sell more than 130 million records worldwide and is best known for his wedding reception favorite, "Sweet Caroline." However, it was his first #1 hit in 1968, "Cracklin' Rosie," that made him America's top-selling male singer. Diamond is a Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a Kennedy Center honoree, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner. He retired from touring in 2018 due to a Parkinson's diagnosis.

- Net worth: $300 million
- Nationality: United States of America

Metallica founding member, lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter James Hetfield is a music industry legend known specifically for his powerful vocals and guitar skills. Founded in 1981, the heavy metal band is still recognized as one of the highest-earning bands in the world, and is most well known for their 1991 album, "Metallica." Hetfield has also recently branched out into acting, and will appear in the upcoming Western thriller "Thicket."

- Net worth: $300 million
- Nationality: Sweden

Most known for his contributions as co-founder, composer, and member of the pop group ABBA, Björn Ulvaeus began his music career in the folk band Hootenanny Singers. After founding ABBA in 1972, he rose to international stardom with the success of hits like "Waterloo," "Dancing Queen," and "Fernando." After ABBA's unofficial breakup in the '80s, Ulvaeus continued to generate revenue through the successful Broadway musical "Mamma Mia!" and its films. In November 2021, ABBA released its first new album in four decades, "Voyage," and in 2024 all four band members received royal knighthoods in their home country of Sweden.

- Net worth: $300 million
- Nationality: Norway

As a member of ABBA, Anni-Frid Lyngstad fostered a successful career as a solo artist during and after the band's prime. Aside from lending her notable solo vocals in ABBA's successful hits "Our Last Summer" and "Super Trouper," Lyngstad is known for her 1975 solo album "Frida ensam" and 1982 English-language album "Something's Going On." Still, her solo career has not outshined that of her success with ABBA. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

- Net worth: $310 million
- Nationality: England

Co-founder, lyricist, bassist, and lead singer of the rock band Pink Floyd, Roger Waters is known as one of the most successful rock artists of all time. Pink Floyd's 1973 release, "The Dark Side of the Moon," is renowned as one of the best albums of all time, having spent 917 weeks on Billboard 200. The band's 1979 album, "The Wall," based on Waters' life, sold over 23 million copies and inspired the musical drama film "Pink Floyd: The Wall." As of 2024, Waters is still making music on his own and has a memoir in the works.

- Net worth: $330 million
- Nationality: United States of America

Dave Grohl is the guitarist, founder, and lead singer of Foo Fighters as well as the former drummer of the '90s rock band Nirvana. As a member of Foo Fighters, Grohl has released 11 studio albums and is known for hits like "Everlong." As of 2024, Grohl has won 19 of the 44 Grammy Awards for which he's been nominated.

- Net worth: $350 million
- Nationality: United Kingdom

Ringo Starr, best known as the drummer for the Beatles, found success both in the band and as a solo artist. As a Beatle, he sang lead vocals on multiple chart-topping songs, such as "With a Little Help from My Friends." He has released 18 solo studio albums and is among 27 performers to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame more than once—both as a Beatle and solo artist.

- Net worth: $350 million
- Nationality: United Kingdom

Phil Collins, one of the three artists in history to sell over 100 million albums through group contributions and solo success, is known both as a solo act and lead singer and drummer for the band Genesis. Aside from his legacy as a mainstream artist, Billboard recognized Collins for writing one of Disney's greatest songs of all time, "You'll Be in My Heart" from the animated film "Tarzan." In addition to numerous Grammy, Brit, and American Music awards, Collins has sustained recognition outside of the music industry as a recipient of a Disney Legend Award, an Oscar, and a Golden Globe.

- Net worth: $350 million
- Nationality: Denmark

Lars Ulrich made his mark on the music industry as one of the founding members of the heavy metal band Metallica. When the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, Ulrich became the first Danish person to be inducted. Ulrich is credited for introducing innovative drumming techniques into the music scene.

- Net worth: $350 million
- Nationality: Republic of Ireland

Known for his marching band-inspired drumming style, Larry Mullen Jr. rose to fame as a member of the Irish rock band U2. The band has achieved international success and is best known for hits such as "Sunday Bloody Sunday." U2 is one of the few acts to receive over 20 Grammy Awards.

- Net worth: $350 million
- Nationality: South Africa

Dave Matthews is the frontman, lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for the self-titled rock band, the Dave Matthews Band. Not only has Matthews generated a lucrative music career, but he has also found success in his acting career and with his record label According to Our Records. The Dave Matthews Band continues to tour as of the summer of 2024.

- Net worth: $400 million
- Nationality: United Kingdom

Lead guitarist and keyboardist of Irish rock band U2, Edge is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time. His unique musical style is said to have shaped U2's popular album "All That You Can't Leave Behind." Edge released a solo album called "Captive," which served as the soundtrack for the 1986 Anglo-French film by the same name.

- Net worth: $400 million
- Nationality: United States of America

Gene Simmons, frontman of the rock band Kiss, is known for his shocking stage presence and intense costume-like image as much as his music. In addition to wearing white face paint, long black hair, and all-black and glitter ensembles, Kiss is known for successful hits like "Hard Luck Woman" and "I Was Made for Loving You," and the band generates revenue from licensing fees. Simmons also owns the restaurant chain Rock & Brews, which has 25 locations across the United States.

- Net worth: $400 million
- Nationality: United Kingdom

Adam Clayton has sold 14 studio albums so far as a member of the rock band U2. As the band's bass player, Clayton has been part of some of the most lucrative tours of all time, including the band's 360 Tour, which lasted from June 2009 to July 2011 and generated $736.4 million. Clayton is also recognized for his work outside of U2 as co-writer of the "Mission: Impossible" soundtrack, which earned him a Grammy nomination. Despite his divorce in 2024, Clayton remains one of the wealthiest musicians in the biz.

- Net worth: $410 million
- Nationality: United States of America

Jon Bon Jovi, known for hits "Living on a Prayer" and "You Give Love a Bad Name," founded the self-titled rock band Bon Jovi in 1983. To date, the band has released 15 studio albums and in 2007 took home the Grammy Award for best country collaboration with vocals. Bon Jovi was also a 2009 inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and a 2018 inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

- Net worth: $450 million
- Nationality: England

Three-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Eric Clapton is known for his time as a blues-rock solo act and a member of Cream, Derek and the Dominoes, Yardbirds, and John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. Widely known as one of the best guitarists of all time, his most notable repertoire includes "Layla," "Wonderful Tonight," and "I Shot the Sheriff." He's the recipient of multiple Grammy Awards, a 2006 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and Rolling Stone listed him among the top 100 artists of all time and ranked him #4 among the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

- Net worth: $500 million
- Nationality: England

Mick Jagger, the lead vocalist of the Rolling Stones, which formed in 1962, is known as a rock culture icon not only for his voice but for his dance moves on stage. As part of the Rolling Stones, he has released over 30 studio albums including "Sticky Fingers" and "It's Only Rock 'n Roll." The Rolling Stones have remained a relevant staple in the music industry and continue to tour consistently.

- Net worth: $500 million
- Nationality: England

Also a member and co-founder of the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards is known most for his impressive guitar skills and songwriting. With Mick Jagger, he wrote Rolling Stones hits like "Angie" and "Gimme Shelter." Outside of the band, Richards has his own record label, Mindless Records, and has worked on projects with other artists, including Aretha Franklin.

- Net worth: $500 million
- Nationality: United States of America

With a career that spans decades, Bob Dylan is known as one of the most famous singer-songwriters in history. Rising to fame in the 1960s, Dylan is known most especially for his longevity in touring, poetic lyrics, and ability to incorporate a variety of musical genres. He has an impressive list of accolades, among them including a Nobel Prize in Literature and a Presidential Medal of Freedom, in addition to Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award. His profound impact on the music industry can be measured by the number of musicians that have covered his work (over 6,000 recordings) and his ability to tour for decades. His Never Ending Tour, which launched in 1988, for instance, still continues today.

- Net worth: $550 million
- Nationality: United Kingdom

Sting is known for his time in the '80s rock band The Police and as a solo artist with popular hits "Roxanne," "Message in a Bottle," and "Don't Stand So Close to Me." Sting has won 17 Grammy Awards among the 45 nominations he has received throughout his career. He was also the recipient of the 2016 American Music Awards Award of Merit.

- Net worth: $650 million
- Nationality: United Kingdom

Elton John, the musician behind hits like "Tiny Dancer" and "Your Song," is a widely renowned solo pop artist and LGBTQ+ activist. The legendary musician has been awarded five Grammy Awards in his more than 60-year-long career as a solo artist, has sold more than 300 million albums, and is one of the most widely known international artists of all time. His 1997 rerelease of "Candle in the Wind" was the bestselling single in history. The artist announced his farewell tour in 2018, which lasted through July 2023.

- Net worth: $700 million
- Nationality: Republic of Ireland

Paul David Hewson, known professionally as Bono, has released 15 studio albums as part of his band U2, including chart-topping hits "With or Without You" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." As U2's lead singer and main lyricist, Bono's accolades include 22 Grammy Awards and two Golden Globes.

- Net worth: $750 million
- Nationality: United States of America

New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen is known not only for his successful solo career, but his time as a member of Earth, E Street Band, the Castiles, Steel Mill, the Sundance Blues Band, and the self-titled Bruce Springsteen Band. His most well-known hits include "Born to Run" and "Born in the U.S.A."—the latter of which is named after Springsteen's album of the same name, which remains one of the bestselling albums in music history. In 1975, he became the first rock star to grace the covers of Newsweek and Time in the same week.

- Net worth: $1.2 billion
- Nationality: England

Two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Paul McCartney is a self-taught musician known for his talents with songwriting, his distinctive vocals, and a mastery of various instruments. Most known for his time with the Beatles, one of the most successful bands in music history, McCartney also found success as a solo artist and as a member of the band the Wings.

Additional writing by Cu Fleshman.