Introduction
In the business of music, the difference between being a star and being a legend is often about how much money you make. The best artists are able to command large fees for their performances, but even that's not enough in a world where CD sales are falling and concert tickets are harder to sell. You also have to convince people that spending $100 on a ticket is worth it (or convince them they can't live without hearing you sing). That's why it pays off big time when musicians get into other lines of work: as brand ambassadors or spokespeople for charities or just by getting involved with licensing deals that help make their songs more ubiquitous than ever before. Here's our list of the ten richest musicians in history...
Jay-Z
As the richest musician in the world, Jay-Z has a net worth of $1.1 billion. He is a rapper, record producer and entrepreneur who was born Shawn Corey Carter and raised in Marcy Houses—a housing project in Brooklyn, New York City. He is married to Beyoncé Knowles, who has a net worth of $350 million.
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney is the richest musician in the world. He is a singer, songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist who was formerly a member of The Beatles. McCartney has sold more than 100 million records globally with Wings and as a solo artist. He also holds the record for most number one albums by any solo act in the UK. In addition to his music career, Paul McCartney has made several film appearances including Give My Regards To Broad Street (1984) and Hook (1991).
P Diddy
P Diddy
Net worth: $820 million
Revenue: $45 million
Elton John
- Elton John is the richest musician in the world.
- His net worth as of 2019 is $1.1 billion.
- He is a singer, composer and pianist who has been active since 1969.
U2
The band were formed in 1976 by four friends who grew up together in Dublin. As teenagers they took their name from a U2 spy plane that had crashed into an Irish mountainside, killing all seven on board. The group's first album, Boy, was released in 1980 and the song "I Will Follow" became a hit single.
In 2001 they performed at Washington DC's National Mall to mark America's Independence Day holiday with an estimated half-million fans watching them perform live on TV screens as part of the Concert for New York City after 9/11 attacks a year earlier when terrorists flew passenger jets into World Trade Center buildings in New York City killing almost 3 000 people — including about 400 police officers who worked there.
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles is a singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. She was born in Houston, Texas on September 4, 1981 and began her career in the 1990s as lead singer of R&B group Destiny's Child. Since then she has become one of the world's most successful artists earning numerous awards including 20 Grammy Awards—a record for most Grammy Awards won by a female artist—and is among the top-selling music artists with over 200 million records sold worldwide.
Her family moved to Houston when she was 5 years old after her father Mathew Knowles got a job there. Her parents were both musicians and met at college. Beyoncé attended St John's Episcopal School for high school where she sang in the school choir with Kelly Rowland (who would later join Beyoncé’s band “Destiny’s Child”)
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. Born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta on March 28 1986 in Yonkers New York USA she first gained public attention for her talent as a songwriter for Sony/ATV Music Publishing and as the lead vocalist for rock band The Stefani Germanotta Band.
In 2008 Lady Gaga released her debut album titled "The Fame" which produced two number one singles ("Just Dance" and "Poker Face") within the same year. Her second studio album "Born This Way" was released in 2011 where it became her third consecutive number one album on Billboard 200 chart as well as other charts worldwide. Lady Gaga's third studio album "Artpop" topped out at number two on Billboard 200 chart but made history by being the highest selling download-only album ever with total sales reaching 1 million copies globally since its release date 4 November 2013 through 19 January 2014
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen has become an American icon, not just because of his music but because he's been actively involved in many social issues. He is a great example of how one person can make a difference by speaking out and taking action against injustice.
The following are some examples from Bruce Springsteen's songwriting that show his deep concern for the working class and their plight:
- Born to Run (1975) was written about people chasing their dreams and trying to escape poverty. The song also deals with people trying to find meaning in their lives through religion or politics. In this way it connects directly with "Trapped" by U2 from Achtung Baby (1991).
Madonna
Madonna is the richest musician in the world, with a net worth of $1.2 billion. The highest-paid woman in music, Madonna has sold more than 300 million records worldwide and has won three Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards (the latter was for her role in Evita). She's also made money off endorsement deals with companies like Diet Coke and L'Oreal cosmetics to name a few.
On top of all that, she's known as one of the most influential entertainers in history—and she's currently ranked No. 10 on Forbes' list of "The World’s 100 Highest-Paid Entertainers."
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson is the richest musician of all time, with an estimated net worth of $1 billion dollars when he died in 2009. However, there's still debate about whether or not this figure is accurate. Some sources list it as high as $500 million while others say it was closer to $150 million—but if you're considering becoming a pop star, don't let any of that stop you! When all is said and done, being rich makes your dreams come true.
Conclusion
There’s no denying that being a musician is a lucrative career. It’s also an industry with lots of competition, so it takes real skill to rise to the top. The artists on this list have managed it by staying relevant and working hard at their craft. They deserve every penny they make!
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