Bob Dylan – $350 million
Bob Dylan, influential folk and rock musician, started recording music in the 60s. His distinct voice is instantly recognizable with timeless hits like Blowin’ in the Wind and Like a Rolling Stone. Still considered a leading voice of the 60s protest movement, many would say Dylan’s massive $350 million fortune is well deserved.
The Edge (U2) – $400 million
A man never to be seen without his distinctive beanie hat, The Edge (real name David Evans), has an impressive $400 million in the bank thanks to being part of the mega group U2. The Irish guitarist made friends with his bandmates in their Dublin high school after seeing a note pinned to a noticeboard seeking members for a new band.
Gene Simmons (Kiss) – $400 million
Kiss frontman Gene Simmons’ rise to fame and a fortune of $400 million is truly the stuff American dreams are made of. Born and raised in Israel, Simmons lived an impoverished childhood. He moved to the US at the age of eight with his mother, herself a Hungarian Holocaust survivor, and went on to form one the world’s biggest and most successful rock groups.
Sting – $400 million
Gordon Sumner, better known to fans around the world as Sting, was always determined to make it to the top. Growing up in England, Sting desperately wanted to escape his low income upbringing. Joining bands throughout school, bandmates noticed him wearing a black and yellow striped hoodie and said he looked like a wasp, so the Sting nickname stuck. 17 Grammys later and he’s worth $400 million.
Keith Richards – $500 million
A founding member of The Rolling Stones, Richards has seen it all and done it all in the rock and roll game. Continual touring has earned Richards half a billion dollars and after performing to sold out crowds for over 50 years, he shows no signs of stopping. Once admitting to snorting a line of his deceased father’s ashes, you don’t get much more rock and roll than Keith Richards.
Bruce Springsteen – $500 million
The Boss Bruce Springsteen, who once dodged the draft for the war in Vietnam by acting insane as an early act of protest, has gone on to become one of America’s greatest artists. Racking up $500 million along the way, Springsteen’s marquee album Born in The USA has gone 15 times platinum selling over 30 million copies.
Elton John – $500 million
The man who brought us Your Song and Candle in the Wind, Elton John is without doubt one of his generation’s best musicians. Never known for writing his own lyrics (he leaves that up to long-time writing partner Bernie Taupin), Elton has still pocketed a whopping $500 million. Elton has performed for royalty, presidents and his adoring fans since the 60s, yet in 2023 he announced his retirement from public performances.
Jimmy Buffet – $600 million
With $600 million in the bank, guitarist Jimmy Buffet certainly won’t be wasting away down in Margaritaville. Plying his musical trade in the bars of Bourbon Street, New Orleans in the 60s and 70s, Buffet would go onto build a booming restaurant and bar business known as Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville.
Herb Alpert – $850 million
Sitting atop the pile as one of America’s richest musicians is legendary trumpeter Herb Alpert. Enjoying massive success in the 60s with Herp Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, he would go on to make his real fortune when founding A&M Records alongside Jerry Moss in 1962. Alpert would then sell A&M for $500 million in 1989, helping him to amass a cool $850 million fortune.
Paul McCartney – $1.2 billion
Who else but Beatles co-founder Paul McCartney to top this list? The story of the Beatles is legendary, they literally shaped the industry as a whole, breaking and setting records as they went. With over a billion records sold, the Beatles are untouchable in terms of numbers and the same goes for McCartney’s personal fortune of $1.2 billion. A billionaire Beatle? Hey, not bad for a lad from Liverpool.