The 1990s were an exciting and diverse time in music. Boy bands and girl groups dominated airwaves across the globe, grunge exploded in the United States, and Britpop ruled the UK charts. The decade also gave rise to some of the world’s most influential hip-hop artists, with names like Snoop Dogg and Eminem skyrocketing to fame.
But which 1990s music icon is the richest in 2026?
From Blur to Beyoncé, click or scroll on for a nostalgic trip down memory lane as we reveal the richest music stars of the era.
All dollar amounts in US dollars. Wealth estimates courtesy of Celebrity Net Worth unless otherwise stated.
British rock band Radiohead debuted with Creep in 1992, launching them to instant stardom. Since then, the band has sold over 30 million records globally, with 1990s releases like Paranoid Android and Karma Police among their biggest hits.
The band members are all wealthy: drummer Phil Selway has a net worth of $35 million (£26m), lead guitarist Jonny Greenwood is worth $30 million (£22.3m), while bassist Colin Greenwood and guitarist Ed O'Brien each have net worths of $25 million (£18.6m).
Frontman Thom Yorke is the richest member, with an estimated net worth of $45 million (£33.5m). His fortune is bolstered by royalties as Radiohead’s primary songwriter, and he's also released three solo albums and been involved in various side projects.
Blur debuted in 1990 with the release of the single She’s So High. As one of the most popular bands of the Britpop era, their biggest hits include Girls & Boys and Song 2, while their 1994 album Parklife soared to the top of the UK charts.
Each member has built an impressive fortune: bassist Alex James has a net worth of $25 million (£18.6m), guitarist Graham Coxon is worth $15 million (£11.2m), and drummer Dave Rowntree is worth $10 million (£7.4m).
Frontman and primary songwriter Damon Albarn is the richest, with an estimated net worth of $45 million (£33.5m).
In addition to Blur, he co-founded the experimental virtual band Gorillaz alongside artist Jamie Hewlett. Gorillaz released their debut album in 2001, and count songs like Clint Eastwood and Feel Good Inc. among their most successful releases. The band is still going strong 25 years later, with 2026 seeing a new album and extensive tour. Albarn has also released several solo records.
American hip-hop artist Missy Elliott burst onto the scene in 1997 with the release of her debut album Supa Dupa Fly, which was certified platinum.
With over 30 million records sold in the US alone and smash hits like The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) and Hot Boyz, she’s one of the most successful female rappers of all time.
Her estimated net worth is an impressive $50 million (£37.2m). Beyond her solo career, she's enjoyed success as a songwriter and music producer, collaborating with artists such as Whitney Houston and the Spice Girls' Mel C over the years.
Dubbed the Queen of Alt-Rock Angst, Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette released her self-titled debut album in 1991.
While she has found success across multiple decades, the 1990s were undoubtedly her golden era. In 1995, she released her iconic album Jagged Little Pill, featuring huge hits like You Oughta Know and Ironic. Morissette continues to draw huge crowds and has tour dates booked around the world in 2026.
With over 75 million records sold worldwide, Morissette has an estimated net worth of $60 million (£44.6m).
Since the release of their debut album Gish in 1991, American grunge band The Smashing Pumpkins have sold over 30 million records globally.
The band found their greatest success in the 1990s with the release of their 1995 record Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Certified 10x Platinum, the album spawned major hits like 1979 and Zero.
The founding members have all fared well financially: drummer Jimmy Chamberlin has a net worth of $40 million (£29.7m), guitarist James Iha is worth $20 million (£14.8m), and former bassist D’arcy Wretzky has an estimated fortune of $7 million (£5.2m).
Frontman and primary songwriter Billy Corgan (pictured second left) is the richest member, with an estimated net worth of $60 million (£44.6m). His fortune is boosted by songwriting royalties and solo albums.
American punk rockers Green Day debuted with 39/Smooth in 1990, but it was their third album, 1994’s Dookie, that catapulted them to mainstream fame. The breakout record sold over eight million copies in the US alone.
With over 75 million records sold worldwide, the band has enjoyed decades of success. Their biggest 90s hits include Basket Case and Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).
Drummer Tré Cool has an estimated net worth of $55 million (£40m), while bassist Mike Dirnt is worth around $60 million (£44.6m). Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong is the richest member, with an estimated net worth of $75 million (£55.8m). His fortune is boosted by royalties as the band’s primary songwriter.
American rockers Blink-182 debuted with Cheshire Cat in 1995, but it was their third album, 1999’s Enema of the State, that solidified their status as pop-punk icons. The record included smash hits like All the Small Things and What’s My Age Again?
With over 50 million records sold globally, it’s no surprise the band members are all filthy rich. Drummer Travis Barker and guitarist and co-vocalist Tom DeLonge are each worth an estimated $70 million (£52m).
Bassist and lead vocalist Mark Hoppus (pictured right) is the wealthiest member, with an estimated net worth of $80 million (£59.5m). He’s boosted his fortune by producing music for bands such as New Found Glory, plus savvy side hustles like clothing and footwear brands.
Famed for her marriage to grunge icon Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love is also a bestselling musician in her own right, achieving mainstream success via her rock band Hole. Love has also carved out a career on the silver screen, earning a Best Actress Golden Globe nomination for her role in The People vs. Larry Flynt.
The bulk of Love’s fortune stems from her ownership stake in Nirvana, which she inherited when Cobain died in 1994. She’s recently been teasing new music, her first new material in 16 years.
With over 85 million records sold globally, Pearl Jam is one of the most successful grunge bands of all time. The American group debuted with the album Ten in 1991, featuring tracks such as Alive and Even Flow.
With decades of success under their belt, the band’s founding members have all earned serious money. Bassist Jeff Ament, guitarist Stone Gossard, and lead guitarist Mike McCready each have an estimated net worth of $100 million (£74.4m).
Pulling slightly ahead is frontman Eddie Vedder, worth an estimated $110 million (£81.8m). His net worth is bolstered by royalties as the band’s lead vocalist and primary songwriter, plus numerous solo releases.
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The ‘Princess of Pop’ has been on quite the journey since making her debut on The Mickey Mouse Club. Her debut single …Baby One More Time topped charts around the world in 1998, making her the bestselling teenage artist of all time. A string of hit singles and albums followed, with Spears estimated to have sold over 150 million records.
Spears was placed under a controversial conservatorship in 2008, and years of legal battles followed before she was finally freed from its financial constraints. Her fortune took a hit as a result, but earlier this year the star sold her music catalogue for a reported $200 million (£149m). Celebrity Net Worth now pegs her wealth at $130 million (£96.7m).
American hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg stepped onto the scene with the release of his debut album Doggystyle in 1993, featuring tracks like Gin and Juice and Who Am I? (What's My Name?). A massive hit, the record sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
With an estimated 37 million albums sold globally, Snoop Dogg is one of the most successful rappers in the game. However, he doesn’t rely solely on music to make his money…
Contributing to his estimated $160 million (£119m) net worth are a number of savvy side hustles. These include his wine brand 19 Crimes Cali Red. In 2025, he became a co-owner of Welsh football team Swansea City.
Gwen Stefani rose to fame as the lead singer of the American rock band No Doubt. She joined the group in 1986, but it wasn’t until 1995 that they shot to international stardom with their third album Tragic Kingdom. The record sold 16 million copies worldwide thanks to hit singles like Just A Girl and Don't Speak.
Stefani then launched a successful solo career in the early 2000s, with hits like Hollaback Girl and Rich Girl among her biggest chart-toppers.
Today, she's worth an estimated $160 million (£119m). Her fortune is bolstered by side hustles, including a long-running role as a coach on the TV singing competition The Voice, and her fashion line L.A.M.B.
Former child star Christina Aguilera rose to fame on The Mickey Mouse Club, which she starred in from 1993 to 1994 alongside the likes of Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling and Britney Spears.
She scored her first major music success in 1998 with Reflection, recorded for Disney’s Mulan soundtrack. The following year, she released her self-titled debut album, which featured the number one hit Genie in a Bottle. The early 2000s solidified her status as a vocal powerhouse, with hits like Beautiful and Fighter.
Today, Aguilera is worth an estimated $200 million (£149m). In addition to her music career, she’s earned millions through side hustles, including coaching on multiple seasons of The Voice and launching a successful line of fragrances.
Justin Timberlake also got his start on The Mickey Mouse Club before rising to global stardom as a member of the boy band NSYNC. The group became one of the biggest boy bands of the late 1990s and early 2000s, with hits like I Want You Back and Bye Bye Bye.
While all five members of NSYNC have built respectable fortunes over the years – Joey Fatone is estimated to be worth $7 million (£5.2m), Chris Kirkpatrick $10 million (£7.4m), JC Chasez $16 million (£11.9m), and Lance Bass $20 million (£14.9m) – Timberlake was undoubtedly the breakout star. His estimated net worth is a remarkable $250 million (£186m).
His incredible fortune is boosted by a successful solo career, with hits like Cry Me a River and Can’t Stop the Feeling! He's also ventured into acting, starring in Hollywood hits including The Social Network and Friends with Benefits.
American rapper Eminem released his debut album Infinite in 1996. Three years later, he skyrocketed to global fame with the release of The Slim Shady LP, which featured smash hits such as My Name Is and Guilty Conscience.
Today, Eminem is one of the most successful musicians of all time, with chart-topping hits across multiple decades and over 220 million albums sold worldwide.
His estimated net worth is $300 million (£223m), earned primarily through music sales, touring, and royalties.
British boy band Take That shot to fame in 1992 with the release of their debut album Take That & Party. They swiftly became one of the biggest bands of the decade, with chart-topping hits including Back for Good and Relight My Fire.
Today, all five members are impressively wealthy. Jason Orange is estimated to be worth $45 million (£33.5m), Mark Owen around $50 million (£37.2m), and Howard Donald approximately $60 million (£44.6m). Gary Barlow, the band’s primary songwriter, is worth an estimated $125 million (£92.9m).
However, Robbie Williams was the breakout star, with an estimated net worth of $300 million (£223m). After quitting the band in 1996, he launched a wildly successful solo career, with Angels and Let Me Entertain You among his biggest releases. Earlier this year, he broke a record set by The Beatles, becoming the artist with the most number one albums in UK chart history (16).
Take That have reunited numerous times over the years, further boosting each member’s individual fortunes.
Dave Grohl first rose to fame as the drummer in the grunge band Nirvana in the early 1990s. Following the tragic death of Nirvana’s frontman Kurt Cobain in 1994, Grohl launched Foo Fighters in 1995.
What began as a one-man project eventually evolved into a full rock band, with Grohl stepping up as the frontman, lead vocalist, and guitarist. Over the years, the lineup has changed several times, but Grohl remains the creative force behind the group.
He’s also the primary songwriter responsible for Foo Fighters’ biggest hits, including Everlong and Learn to Fly. Today, Dave Grohl is worth an estimated $330 million (£245m). His former Nirvana bandmate Krist Novoselic is worth $100 million (£74.4m)
Often dubbed the Queen of Country Pop, Shania Twain has sold over 100 million records worldwide.
The singer-songwriter debuted with her self-titled album in 1993, but it was her second release, 1995’s The Woman in Me, that made her a household name. Featuring tracks like Any Man of Mine and Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?, it sold over 40 million copies globally.
Since then, Twain has topped the charts across multiple decades, with hits like Man! I Feel Like a Woman! and That Don’t Impress Me Much among her most iconic. Her estimated net worth stands at $400 million (£297m).
After years of will-they-won’t-they rumours and no small amount of incendiary insults, the Gallagher brothers finally got the band back together in 2025. The Oasis Live ‘25 Tour grossed over $400 million (£298m) and boosted the fortunes of Noel and Liam hugely. According to the latest Sunday Times Rich List, the sparring siblings are now worth $505 million (£375m) each.
Formed in Manchester in 1991, Oasis exploded onto the British music scene, with their first LP Definitely Maybe becoming the fastest-selling debut album in British history at the time. Follow-up (What’s the Story) Morning Glory has shifted over 10 million copies worldwide. The friction between the feuding brothers finally came to a head in 2009 when the band officially split, before 2025’s barnstorming return.
American hip-hop mogul Dr. Dre first shot to fame as a founding member of the rap group N.W.A. in the late 1980s. He then launched his solo career with the release of The Chronic in 1992, which featured massive hits like Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang and Let Me Ride.
Dr. Dre is also an acclaimed producer who has played a pivotal role in launching the careers of several major artists, including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and 50 Cent.
His estimated net worth stands at $1 billion (£743m), bolstered by a money-spinning business venture. In 2006, Dr. Dre co-founded the headphone brand Beats alongside music executive Jimmy Iovine. The company was later acquired by Apple in a $3 billion (£2.3bn) deal.
American girl group Destiny's Child skyrocketed to fame with the release of their self-titled debut album in 1998, which featured hit songs like No, No, No and Tell Me. The group went through several line-up changes before settling on the iconic trio of Beyoncé Knowles, Michelle Williams, and Kelly Rowland.
Today, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland are worth an estimated $10 million (£7.4m) and $12 million (£8.9m) respectively. However, Beyoncé became the breakout star and, according to Forbes, now boasts an estimated net worth of $1 billion (£743m).
Queen Bey launched her wildly successful solo career in 2003 with the release of the single Crazy in Love, featuring her now-husband Jay-Z. She's also boosted her fortune through various side hustles, including her fashion line Ivy Park and her hair care brand Cécred.
British girl band the Spice Girls exploded to fame in 1996 with their debut single Wannabe, which topped the charts in 37 countries.
One of the best-selling girl groups of all time, the band has sold over 80 million records globally, with hits like Viva Forever and Spice Up Your Life among their biggest. While they officially split in 2000, the girls have reunited several times over the years, further boosting each member’s fortune.
Melanie Brown is estimated to be worth $10 million (£7.4m), while both Melanie Chisholm and Emma Bunton have fortunes of around $30 million (£22.3m) each. Meanwhile, Geri Halliwell is worth an estimated $40 million (£30m), thanks in part to a successful line of children’s books.
But it’s musician-turned-fashion-designer Victoria Beckham who is the most moneyed of them all. Combined with her husband, football icon David Beckham, the couple boasts a staggering fortune of $1.6 billion (£1.2bn), according to The Sunday Times Rich List.
Music mogul Jay-Z tops the list with a staggering $2.8 billion (£2.1bn) fortune, according to Forbes.
The hip-hop icon launched Roc-A-Fella Records in 1994 and released his debut album Reasonable Doubt two years later. While he’s topped the charts across multiple decades, the 1990s delivered some of his biggest hits, including Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem).
However, the super-rich star hasn’t relied solely on music to build his billions. A shrewd businessman, he founded the entertainment company Roc Nation in 2008, launched two successful alcohol brands (Armand de Brignac champagne and D’Ussé cognac), and has built an impressive investment portfolio that includes stakes in major companies like Uber.
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