Success in the music industry often comes with a substantial fortune. But an elite group of six living musicians have reached a level that most can only dream of – billionaire status.
Known for their chart-topping hits, these musicians have turned their talents into massive fortunes, not just through albums and touring but also with bold business ventures and savvy investments.
Curious to find out who these trailblazing music moguls are? Read on as we reveal the stars who’ve cracked the 10-figure club.
All dollar amounts in US dollars. Pre-2022 figures adjusted for inflation.
Rihanna, born in Barbados in 1988, rose to fame with her dance track, Pon de Replay, in 2005. Hits like Umbrella and Diamonds later cemented her status as a pop icon.
One of the bestselling digital artists ever, she's sold 60 million albums globally and achieved 215 million digital downloads. She's also won nine Grammy Awards.
Today, Rihanna is one of the wealthiest entertainers on the planet, with a $1 billion (£740m) fortune. Let’s explore how she built her sprawling empire.
Rihanna hasn't released a new album since 2016, but that hasn't stopped her from making a fortune from her music career. In 2023, she became the first artist to have 10 songs reach one billion streams on Spotify, so it's safe to say she's raking in millions from music royalties.
The pop diva hasn't toured since her 2016 Anti World Tour, which grossed $110 million ($146m/£109m today) with almost 1.3 million tickets sold. However, she's still profiting from live performances. Last year, she performed at a private concert for the Ambani family – the wealthiest clan in India – and reportedly took home up to $9 million (£7m) for the gig.
With a new album and potentially a new tour in the pipeline, her earnings from music will continue to soar.
Musical success aside, Rihanna actually reached billionaire status through her business ventures and owes most of her fortune to her wildly successful Fenty Beauty cosmetics company. Launched in 2017, she co-owns the company with French luxury retailer LVMH.
In 2018, the fashion-forward star also launched her inclusive lingerie line Savage X Fenty. She owns a 28% stake in the company.
However, Rihanna's empire has taken a hit in recent times. Her peak net worth was once $1.7 billion (£1.3bn), but it has fallen due to a decline in sales over the past two years across both of her businesses. The singer has also shifted her focus to motherhood, having recently welcomed her third child with rapper A$AP Rocky.
Born in 1949 in New Jersey, American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen shot to fame in 1975 with the release of his breakthrough album, Born to Run.
Over his decades-spanning career, the rocker has sold over 140 million records and amassed an impressive list of accolades, including 20 Grammys, an Oscar, two Golden Globes, a Tony Award, and inductions into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 2023, Forbes officially declared 'The Boss' a billionaire, estimating his fortune at $1.2 billion (£890m). Let’s break down how he makes his money.
A major portion of his net worth comes from selling his music catalogue, which includes hits like Born in the U.S.A. and Born to Run, to Sony in a $500 million ($586m/£436m today) deal in 2021. It was a lucrative move for Sony, as Springsteen’s work reportedly generates around $20 million (£15m) annually from album sales, licensing, streaming, radio airplay, and other sources.
His most recent trek, the Springsteen and E Street Band 2023-2025 Tour, pulled in almost $730 million (£544m). In total, he's grossed an impressive $2 billion (£1.5bn) from touring over the decades.
According to Forbes, Springsteen’s earnings can easily top $80 million (£60m) in the years when he’s on the road.
Beyond music, Springsteen's net worth is bolstered by a valuable real estate portfolio. His primary residence is a sprawling horse farm in Colts Neck, New Jersey close to his hometown of Freehold.
In 1999, he and his wife, Patti Scialfa, purchased a 4.5-acre compound in Beverly Hills for $13.75 million ($26.2m/£19m today), featuring a 10,000-square-foot (929sqm) mansion and a 7,500-square-foot (697sqm) guest house. By 2015, reports suggested they were looking to sell it for around $70 million ($93.8m/£69m today).
The couple also owns a home in an exclusive equestrian community in Wellington, Florida where their famous neighbours include Michael Bloomberg and Bill Gates.
Sir Paul McCartney, born in 1942 in Liverpool, rose to fame as a member of The Beatles, co-writing many of the band's biggest hits alongside John Lennon. After The Beatles disbanded in the 1970s, he launched a successful solo career and also formed the band Wings.
Over the decades, McCartney has become one of the world's most legendary musicians and was knighted for his services to music in 1997. A 19-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, he's sold over 100 million records worldwide.
Last year, McCartney was declared Britain’s first music billionaire. His estimated net worth stands at $1.3 billion (£1bn).
McCartney has been one of the world's wealthiest musicians for decades but was officially declared a billionaire in 2024 after earning approximately $63 million (£47m) from touring and via his vast music catalogue.
The veteran music star has toured extensively throughout the decades, reportedly earning between $50 million (£37m) and $70 million (£52m) during years when he's on the road. His most recent global trek, the 2022-2024 Got Back Tour, grossed over $194 million (£144m).
Meanwhile, his extensive catalogue, including works from The Beatles, Wings and his solo career, continues to generate millions. One of the greatest composers of all time, his Beatles classic Yesterday has been covered by over 2,200 artists, earning McCartney royalties with each rendition.
In addition to his music career, McCartney’s fortune is boosted by his lucrative real estate portfolio, valued at between $100 million (£74m) and $150 million (£112m).
He owns multiple luxury properties in the UK, including a London flat and a Scottish estate, as well as plush pads in the US, including a Beverly Hills mansion and a ranch in Arizona.
Through his publishing company MPL, he also owns the copyrights to songs by artists like Buddy Holly and Carl Perkins, further boosting his financial empire.
Musician and actress Selena Gomez was born in 1992 in Texas. A former child star, she began her career on Barney & Friends before landing her breakout role on Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place in 2007.
Gomez later transitioned into music, forming the band Selena Gomez & the Scene before launching a successful solo career in 2013. She has released four solo albums, sold over 22 million records globally, and earned two Grammy nominations.
With a net worth of $1.3 billion (£1bn), according to Bloomberg, she's one of the richest music stars in the world. Let’s break down how she built her fortune...
While it helped put her on the map, Gomez’s music career actually accounts for only a small portion of her fortune.
She hasn’t hit the road since her 2016 Revival Tour, which generated a modest $30 million ($40m/£30m today), and touring is believed to make up only about 5% of her total wealth.
Meanwhile, despite her library of songs, including Lose You to Love Me and Come & Get It, amassing billions of global streams, music royalties contribute just 2% to her net worth.
In fact, the bulk of Gomez's wealth comes from her Rare Beauty makeup brand. Founded in 2020 and valued at $2 billion (£1.5bn), this venture makes up a staggering 81% of her total fortune. Gomez holds the majority stake in the company.
With 417 million followers, she's one of the most followed stars on Instagram and can reportedly earn around $2.5 million (£1.9m) per sponsored post on the platform. Her fortune is further boosted by a $10 million (£7.4m) brand ambassador deal with fashion company Coach and a stake in the lifestyle platform Wondermind.
Her acting career is also a money-spinner. Gomez currently stars in the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building and reportedly takes home $6 million (£4.5m) per season.
American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, born in 1989, rose to fame with the release of her self-titled debut country album in 2006. She later transitioned to pop music, cementing her status as one of the biggest stars on the planet.
Over the course of her career so far, Swift has released 15 studio albums, sold over 200 million records globally, and won 14 Grammy Awards.
Her latest achievement came in 2023 when Forbes crowned her the richest female musician in the world, with a staggering $1.6 billion (£1.2bn) net worth. So how did she achieve such a remarkable feat?
Swift was the first-ever musician to achieve billionaire status solely through her music career. Her music catalogue, valued at $600 million (£446m), includes some of her biggest hits like Love Story and All Too Well.
She's amassed $800 million (£595m) through royalties and touring. In 2023, Swift reportedly earned over $100 million (£74m) from Spotify after achieving 26 billion streams on the platform. When factoring in revenue from other music streaming services like Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music, estimates suggest she earned $200 million (£149m) from streaming alone in 2023. She was also Spotify’s most-streamed artist of 2024, racking up 26.6 billion plays.
Meanwhile, her landmark The Eras Tour, which wrapped in December 2024, became the highest-grossing tour of all time, generating $2 billion (£1.5bn) in ticket sales alone. It was also the first tour in history to cross the $1 billion (£740m) gross threshold.
In addition to her music income, Swift has boosted her fortune with a savvy real estate portfolio valued at $125 million (£93m). Her enviable collection includes a luxurious penthouse and a Greek-inspired mansion in Nashville, as well as homes in Los Angeles, Rhode Island, and New York.
Further growing her bank balance, she made her mark on the global box office in 2023 with the release of The Eras Tour concert film. It became the highest-grossing concert movie of all time, earning $262 million (£195m) worldwide.
A recent money-making venture was the release of The Eras Tour Book in November 2024. The self-published book, sold exclusively at Target for $39.99 (£30), was a roaring success, selling almost one million copies within its first week.
Rapper and business mogul Jay-Z, born in 1969, was declared hip-hop's first billionaire in 2019. Fast-forward to today, and he’s the richest musician in the world, with a staggering $2.6 billion (£1.9bn) net worth.
Jay-Z rose to fame in 1996 with his debut album, Reasonable Doubt. Since then, he's released 13 studio albums, sold over 30 million records globally, and earned 25 Grammy wins – along with a mind-blowing 89 nominations.
But the business-savvy star hasn’t relied solely on music to make his billions. Let’s delve into how he joined the exclusive 10-figure club.
Only a fraction of Jay-Z’s wealth is derived from his music career. His song catalogue, which includes hits like Empire State of Mind and 99 Problems, is valued at a cool $75 million (£56m).
Meanwhile, he profits from his Roc Nation record label. Founded in 2008, it's signed some of the biggest music stars in the world, including Rihanna and Alicia Keys.
Roc Nation is also partnered with Live Nation, a global entertainment company that produces live music shows and events such as the Super Bowl halftime show. Jay-Z’s contract with Live Nation is valued at $200 million (£150m).
The lion's share of Jay-Z’s wealth comes from his business ventures, particularly his luxury drinks brands, Armand de Brignac and D'Usse. In 2021, LVMH purchased a 50% stake in Armand de Brignac for at least $300 million ($352m/£262m today). More recently, he sold a majority stake in D’Usse to Bacardi for a staggering $750 million (£557m).
In another bold business move, Jay-Z purchased the streaming platform Tidal for $56 million ($75m/£55m today) in 2015 before transferring all his music from Spotify to the service. He later sold the majority ownership of Tidal to fintech company Square in 2021 for $297 million ($348m/£259m today).
His other assets include a fine art collection valued at $70 million (£52m), shares in companies like Block and Uber, and a real estate portfolio worth hundreds of millions.
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