As evidenced by the Drake and Meek Mill feud, songwriters and singers are not always the same. That doesn’t mean that singers can’t be famous songwriters, either. The names you’ll see on this list are all pop culture favorites who have made themselves famous for their art, both pen to paper and vocally, from Joni Mitchell with her iconic Reprise Records hit “Woodstock” to songwriter Carole King, who has had hundreds of songs reach the Billboard Hot 100. Needless to say, from all of those royalties, they also collect a pretty penny.
Famous Singer-Songwriters Who Are Made Of Money
Neil Diamond – $175 million
Greatest Hits: Song Sung Blue, Cracklin’ Rosie
Neil Diamond is an artist who has sold over a hundred albums worldwide, with thirty-eight singles reaching the top 10 billboard charts. He is one of history’s bestselling artists. He had ten top-spot singles and was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011 and 1984, respectively. Diamond is also known for his humor. Will Ferrell parodied him and enjoyed the spoof he starred next to Ferrell in the comedian’s final May 2002 broadcast on SNL.
Neil Diamond
Johnny Cash – $60 million
Greatest Hits: I Walk the Line, Folsom Prison Blues
Johnny Cash is one of the most successful singers, selling more than ninety million albums globally. He has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Known for his hard-edged music. For him, “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash” was the opening line. Before each concert, he would make a simple introduction, shirking the showboat popular in the rock genre. Cash’s legacy was recounted in Walk the Line, distributed by 20th Century Fox.
Johnny Cash
Joni Mitchell – $50 million
Greatest Hits: Woodstock, Big Yellow Taxi
One of the best is Joni Mitchell’s Blue album. She is a guitarist, poet, and pianist. She mixed folk, pop, jazz, and rock elements into her music and began singing in the streets and small bars. With regular advocacy and demonstrations, she was actively active in the Baby Boom counterculture. Among her biggest hits were her ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ songs, ‘Woodstock,’ and Both Sides, all released by Reprise Records. Noted for her adaptability as well. Noted for its adaptability as well. She changed her look and voice quite often, becoming a pop and an electronic influence.
Joni Mitchell
Jerry Garcia – $40 million
Greatest Hits: Truckin’, Sugaree
Throughout his thirty-year career, Jerry Garcia, born in San Francisco, was part of this popular band. He had several other bands and other solo albums as well. On Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists” list, he was 13th. He was the main songwriter of the Grateful Dead, best known for his style of psychedelic rock. “Truckin’,” was one of Warner Records’ biggest hits, making his first appearance on Dead’s album, American Beauty. He was known for improvisation and guitar solos because it relieved stress, he said in an interview.
Jerry Garcia
Paul Simon – $75 million
Greatest Hits: Bridge Over Troubled Water
Almost every song, including “Mrs. Robinson,” “Sound of Silence,” and perhaps their most popular hit, “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” owned by Columbia Records, was written by Paul Simon. The duo broke up in 1970, and Graceland, influenced by South Africa, where he lived for a while, was published by Simon. Graceland sold 14 million copies upon its release, and it is his most successful solo work so far. He had a career on Broadway, writing musicals. He wrote The Capeman with the poet Derek Walcott. He was a screenwriter.
Paul Simon
James Taylor – $60 million
Greatest Hits: Paint It Black, Night Owl
James Taylor, a singer-songwriter, received five Grammys and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He is one of the all-time best-selling artists with 100 million albums sold worldwide. He made his breakthrough with the “Fire and Rain” album, followed by Carole King’s cover of “You’ve Got a Friend.” He also covered several popular songs, including How Sweet It Is,” “Handy Man,” and “Sweet Baby James.” His first number-one U.S. album was released in 2015 with Before This World.
James Taylor
Carole King – $70 million
Greatest Hits: It’s Too Late, Nightingale, Jazzman
Carole King was one of the most popular and lucrative female songwriters ever, from 1950-to 2000. She wrote or co-wrote 118 Billboard Hot 100 hits. And that’s America alone. She wrote sixty-one hits, making her the most popular female songwriter there, too, reaching the UK charts. She has released several albums, including Writer and Tapestry, her breakthrough being the latter. For nearly four months in America, Tapestry remained in the charts and stayed on the charts six years later. In 2012, she received a Hollywood Star.
Carole King
Stevie Wonder – $110 million
Greatest Hits: Superstition
Among the most popular artists ever is Stevland or Stevie Wonder. He also played harmonica, drums, keyboards, harp, and many other instruments besides singing and writing prowess. Selling over a hundred million records, he won 25 Grammys and an Oscar. He has also been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Hall of Songwriters. On the Billboard Hot 100, Wonder had several big hits. He signed with Tamia, an 11-year-old Motown label. He was and is regarded as a prodigy.
Stevie Wonder
Billy Joel – $180 million
Greatest Hits: Piano Man, Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)
Following his first song’s success, singer and composer Billy Joel is dubbed “Piano Man.” Since the 1970s, he has been a solo artist in the industry. He’s sold more than 150 million records worldwide, and one of America’s best-selling albums ever remains his Greatest Hits collection. He was born in the Bronx and dropped out of high school to study music. In 1972, he seized Columbia Records and signed a contract. Out of 23 nominations, he has won five Grammys.
Billy Joel
Burt Bacharach – $160 million
Greatest Hits: Arthur’s Theme, Close to You
One of the 20th century’s most influential composers is Burt Bacharach, a songwriter. He was born in Missouri in 1928 and started composing in the 1980s. He partnered with writer Hal David to create songs recorded by over 1,000 singers. He is known for his work as a singer with Dionne Warwick and his chord progression and jazz harmony. He collaborated with smaller orchestras as well, assigning unique instruments to their members. His styles include contemporary, easy-to-hear, and pop. He also plays the piano and sings.
Burt Bacharach
Randy Newman – $50 million
Greatest Hits: Just One Smile, I’ve Been Wrong Before
Randy Newman and his distinctive voice and film scores are known for his prolific songwriting and arranging. He worked primarily as a movie composer, winning twenty Oscars and winning twice. It’s one of the Oscars with the most nominations. He was inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 2007. For films including Cold Turkey, Meet the Parents, Seabiscuit, and nine different Pixar films like Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., and Cars, he composed both animated and live-action music. He’s signed to Warner Bros.
Randy Newman
Dolly Parton – $500 million
Greatest Hits: Jolene, I Will Always Love You, 9 to 5
Dolly Parton has written over 3,000 songs, in addition to being a popular singer. Whitney Houston wrote, “I Will Always Love You,” and almost every popular artist has covered that song. Interviewed about her songwriting, she said that she started writing when she was just seven years old. She said she tries to write something every day, whether it’s a poem, a concept, an album, or a little tidbit. Her folk childhood influenced her through a profound religious tradition in the Appalachian Mountains. She was granted 35 BMI Awards.
Dolly Parton
Tom Petty – $95 million
Greatest Hits: Here Comes My Girl, Refugee, Don’t Do Me Like That
One of the best-selling artists ever was Tom Petty, a musician. He became interested in rock and roll when he met Elvis Presley, who was ten years old. His version of punk rock, The Rolling Stones, also influenced him. He formed an unsuccessful Mudcrutch Band. But Tom Petty’s formation and the Heartbreakers turned out to be a game-changer. In the 1970s, Petty formed the band, and their second album reached the Top40. Their third album, selling two million copies and singles, was still more successful.
Tom Petty
Lou Reed – $15 million
Greatest Hits: Think It Over, Heavenly Arms
The Velvet Underground’s lead singer and songwriter, Lou Reed, had a thriving solo career that lasted over fifty years. The Velvet Underground was not commercially successful during its time together but is now considered one of the most influential underground alt-rock groups of its time. In 1970, Reed left the Velvet Underground and released 20 solo records. He did well with his second and third albums, but he had several ups and downs. He was brought alive by his later records, New Sensations, and New York.
Lou Reed
Kris Kristofferson – $160 million
Greatest Hits: Me and Bobby McGee, Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down
Kris Kristofferson is a singer-songwriter with a successful career as an actor. He was a writer for other singers and often combined his tracks with the popular writer Shel Silverstein. He was known, including Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson, for his outlaw country collaborations and The Highwaymen. He starred in movies such as Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Heaven’s Gate, Blade, and A Star are Born. He won a Golden Globe for A Star’s Born success. Now he’s living in Maui, Hawaii.
Kris Kristofferson
Paul McCartney – $1.2 billion
Greatest Hits: Yesterday
Paul McCartney is the only name here to surpass John Lennon’s fame, and it makes sense that he was also the Beatles’ co-founder. He had songs with over 2,200 artists, particularly for the “Yesterday.” song. He was inducted twice into Fame’s Rock & Roll Hall, once for his Beatles career and solo career. He received 18 Grammys and was named MOB in 1965 with his fellow Beatles. He was also knighted for music in 1997. Not surprisingly, these achievements have made McCartney a billionaire today.
Paul McCartney
Van Morrison – $90 million
Greatest Hits: Gloria, Brown Eyed Girl
Van Morrison is a legend of music who began his professional career as a teenager. As part of the band Them, a Northern Irish R&B group, he played in Ireland for different showbands and became popular. He was the lead singer, recording the song “Gloria” that would define the genre. He released the popular “Brown-Eyed Girl.” single in the late 1960s. His first album was Astral Weeks, but sales were initially slow. But his second album, Moondance, was a sensation. Van Morrison is also touring this day, making music.
Van Morrison
Brian Wilson – $75 million
Greatest Hits: Good Vibrations, I Get Around, God Only Knows, Barbara Ann
Brian Wilson co-founded the Beach Boys. Signed in 1962 to Capitol, he wrote over twenty-four of the band’s top 40 hits. He is considered one of the twentieth century’s most creative songwriters, and some say he is a genius. He, along with his brothers and cousin, founded the Beach Boys. Wilson still tours occasionally and is still considered the godfather of indie pop and punk rock. Even though artists gained a lot from their influence, his melodies and orchestrations proved hard to initiate.
Brian Wilson
John Fogerty – $70 million
Greatest Hits: Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Fortunate Son
A member of Creedence Clearwater Revival, a band he formed with his brother Tom, Doug Clifford, and Stu Cook, John Fogerty had a good solo career and a brilliant career. He was the lead guitarist, the composer, composing most songs. The band broke up in 1972 and started a great solo career. Rolling Stone ranked him #40 and #72 among the 100 best guitarists ever. He penned many hits, including “Proud Mary,” which Tina Turner returns to an iconic bop song.
John Fogerty
Willie Nelson – $25 million
Greatest Hits: Family Bible, On the Road Again
Willie Nelson, a songwriter, singer, and actor born in Texas, had a big break when Shotgun Willie was published. That, along with his Red Headed Stranger and Stardust albums, made him an icon of the 1970s. He has also starred in thirty films, written numerous books, and worked as an activist for the legalization of marijuana and the use of biofuels. The IRS Tapes, a double album whose proceeds went to the IRS to pay off its unpaid tax debt, is also known for its release.
Willie Nelson
David Bowie – $100 million
Greatest Hits: Changes, Space Oddity, Modern Love
David Bowie sold over 140 million albums worldwide, earning ten Platinum certifications for his hit songs. He was known for visual presentation and clear style reinvention. Ziggy Stardust, an androgynous pop legend, is his alter ego. Being very young, Bowie, born in South London, began studying art and music. His music career began in 1983, releasing Space Oddity. Before his sudden death at sixty-two, he married Iman. He’s still an iconic rock artist.
David Bowie
Glenn Frey – $200 million
Greatest Hits: Tequila Sunrise, Lyin’ Eyes, James Dean
Glenn Frey became The Eagles’ lead singer (and their guitarist as well). Some of the best-known songs he wrote were “Tequila Sunrise,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” “Take It Easy,” “New Kid in Town,” and more. Afterward, he went solo since the Eagles broke up in 1980. No Fun Aloud was his debut. He had a lot of hits, including “Blues Smuggler,” “The Heat Is On,” “Sexy Girl,” and more, reaching the top 40s. In New York City, he died at 67.
Glenn Frey
John Prine – $6 million
Greatest Hits: Sam Stone, Illegal Smile, Dear Abby
Since the 1970s, John Prine has been a songwriter and musician with a successful career. At the age of 14, he learned to play guitar, attending Folk’s Old Town School in Chicago. He took a break from music after eighteen and served in West Germany as part of the Army. He moved back to Chicago, where he worked as a man until the singer Kris Kristofferson noticed him and released his first Atlantic album. He’s famous for his satirical songs about current affairs and life in general.
John Prine
Bono – $700 million
Greatest Hits: Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Born in Dublin, one of the most popular musicians is Bono. He’s the boss of U2, and he writes almost all U2’s songs. He won 22 Grammys for the band. He spoke at length about his style of songwriting. He utilizes social and political themes in his songs, and his songs are often affected by his upbringing at a religious school. In his earlier songs, he had a defiant sound, but as he said, he “matured” and began writing about more personal experiences he shared with U2 members. Ali Stewart, the singer, is married.
Bono
George Harrison – $400 million
Greatest Hits: Taxman, Here Comes the Sun
George Harrison was The Beatles’ lead guitarist, and because he was not one of their more famous members, he has nicknamed “the Quiet Beatle” He wrote some of the band’s songs, including Here Comes the Sun, Taxman, Something, etc. George Formby, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Django Reinhardt are his musical influences. He was also inspired by Indian culture and music, extending pop music to the band’s work to incorporate Indian instruments and Hindu spirituality. Born in Liverpool, he died in 2001 in LA.
George Harrison
Sam Cooke – $650,000
Greatest Hits: Wonderful World, Chain Gang, A Change is Gonna Come
The resident, musician, and business owner was Sam Cooke. He was an influential songwriter as well. His power in pop music and his popular voice called him “King of Soul.” When he was young, he started singing, joining The Soul Stirrers until his later solo career. He supported Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, Bobby Womack, Billy Preston, Marvin Gaye, and many more. He made James Brown and Otis Redding popular. AllMusic author Bruce Eder called him the “inventor.” of the soul genre.
Sam Cooke
Bert Berns – $20 million
Greatest Hits: Hang on Sloopy, Twist and Shout, Here Comes the Night
Born in the Bronx, Bert Berns was a very influential producer and songwriter in the 1960s (Bert Russell and Russell Byrd). Popular pieces such as “Twist and South,” “Hang on Sloopy,” and more include his credits. He produced popular Atlantic, Bang, and Shout-signed songs such as “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Under the Boardwalk,” and “Baby Please Don’t Go,” He used to dance in mambo nightclubs when he was young and lived in Havana before the Cuban Revolution brought him back to America. He died of heart complications at 38 years of age.
Bert Berns
Chrissie Hynde – $12 million
Greatest Hits: Talk of the Town, Back on the Chain Gang
In 1978, Chrissie Hynde created The Pretenders. The hippie counterculture movement influenced her, working in a jointly owned clothing store with designer Vivienne Westwood in London. She left music for fashion. With musicians including UB40, Cher and Frank Sinatra, she released songs. She gave it to Real Records, Dave Hill, after making a demo tape in 1978. She started paying the back rent she owed in her practice room in London, making it all come back and more.
Chrissie Hynde
Lucinda Williams – $15 million
Greatest Hits: Can’t Let Go, Get Right With God
One of the most prominent representatives of the folk-rock and country-rock movements is the country singer Lucinda Williams, born in Louisiana. She has been in the music industry since 1978 and became famous for her style when Lucinda Williams, her debut album, was released. This debut included the song ‘Passionate Kisses,’ which earned Williams her first Grammy in 1994. She is renowned for working continuously, releasing just two more albums to date. When she lost the gold-certified Gravel Path to Car Wheels, her big break came.
Lucinda Williams
Harry Nilsson – $7 million
Greatest Hits: Without You, Coconut
As one of the few successful rock artists of his age, Harry Nilsson made history, never playing a major concert or touring, but enjoying significant commercial success. Known for his Great American Songbook style, mixed with Caribbean sounds, he is an artist. As a tenor, he had a three-and-a-half-octave range. He had an enduring impact on Indie rock. He wrote songs for bands such as The Monkees. Nilsson Schmilsson is his most commercially successful album. He was also a Hollywood Vampires drinking club member and a best friend of John Lennon’s.
Harry Nilsson
Curtis Mayfield – $10 million
Greatest Hits: People Get Ready
Curtis Mayfield, best known for his civil rights activism and songs, was a member of the big band The Impressions of the 1950s and 1960s. Born in Chicago, he started singing as part of a gospel choir. When he met Jerry Butler, a fellow artist, he joined the Impressions. He wrote songs that, because of their social consciousness, became part of the civil rights movement. His album “People Get Ready,” on Rolling Stone’s Greatest All-Time Songs, was listed as #24. He directed Super Fly as well.
Curtis Mayfield
Max Martin – $260 million
Greatest Hits: Baby One More Time, It’s Gonna Be Me, I Want It That Way
One of our most contemporary authors is Max Martin. Born in Sweden to Britney Spears, The Backstreet Boys, and NSYNC after composing a hit string. On the Billboard Charts, he wrote twenty-two number one songs. He’s produced several of these hits as well. He also wrote for Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Weeknd, and Taylor Swift. In the number one singles, he’s written, he’s behind Paul McCartney and George Martin.
Max Martin
Pete Townshend – $105 million
Greatest Hits: Happy Jack, Pictures of Lilly
One of the most common names is Pete Townshend. The legendary co-founder of that band, The Who. His band career lasted more than fifty years, and in the second half of the twentieth century, the band under his leadership became one of the most prominent voices in music. He composed more than a hundred songs for the eleven albums of The Who, including songs for two rock operas, Tommy and Quadrophenia. He also wrote essays, columns, books, etc. He began a promising career as a soloist.
Pete Townshend
George Clinton – $1.8 million
Greatest Hits: Can’t C Me, Loopzilla, You’re Thinkin’ Right
George Clinton, a former Motown songwriter, was also known for writing and recording several hit songs for indie Detroit soul labels. He formed The Parliaments; his band was later renamed Parliament and Funkadelic. In the years after that, Clinton was known for his distinctive psychedelic rock and electro-funk style. He also wrote “Can’t C Me.” for artists including Ice Cube, Outkast, Redman, Wu-Tang Clan, and more. He inspired rap music, writing Tupac’s song “Bop Gun.”
George Clinton
Isaac Hayes – $12 million
Greatest Hits: Soul Man
The main force behind Stax Records was Isaac Hayes. Before becoming a singer-songwriter, he was an in-house musician for the label. Born in Tennessee, he wrote a song that is thought to be one of the most influential songs in the soul, called ‘Soul Man.’ He wrote a film score by Shaft and won an Oscar. As the third Afro-American man, he won the “competitive” Oscar. He received 10 awards and was named BMI Icon in 2003.
Isaac Hayes
Joe Strummer – $4 million
Greatest Hits: Rock the Casbah
In punk rock, Joe Strummer is among the most influential figures. He founded the band The Clash, which was inducted in 2003 into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band’s second album was #2 on the UK charts, and their third and fourth albums were successful, becoming platinum-certified in the US. Bands such as The Mescaleros, Pogues, Latino Rockabilly, 101ers, and more have collaborated with Strummer. He also had a solo career, wrote scores for TV and film, made radio plays, and became a major performer for an activist organization, Rock Against Racism.
Joe Strummer
Patti Smith – $16 million
Greatest Hits: Because the Night
Patti Smith is a songwriter, poet, and singer, and, thanks to her groundbreaking debut album, Horses, she was an influential part of the punk rock movement in New York City in the 1970s. She is known as the laureate of a punk poet, merging poetry and punk rock. With Bruce Springsteen, she wrote the song “Because the Night,” and maybe it’s her most famous hit. She is also a novelist and won the National Book Award for her memoir, entitled Only Kids, in 2010. She is “Greatest Artists.” from Rolling Stone, too.
Patti Smith
Madonna – $590 million
Greatest Hits: Like a Virgin, Like a Prayer, Vogue, Hung Up
Madonna is known as the Queen of Pop, and she is known for breaking boundaries in her acting, songwriting, and singing, sometimes creating controversy in her pictures and lyrics. She has been in music since 1979. Before turning to music and working as a guitarist for Breakfast Club, she moved to New York City to pursue a dance career. In 1982, she signed a record contract with Sire Records. Her songs include “Like a Virgin,” “Ray of Light,” “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” and more, award-winning. Other artists refer to her as an influence as well.
Madonna
Fats Domino – $8 million
Greatest Hits: Ain’t That a Shame, Jambalaya, Lady Madonna
One of the most influential musicians of the genre was Fats Domino, a rock-and-roll pioneer in New Orleans. He also inspired R&B. Between 1955 and 1960, he sold more than sixty-five million records and had eleven top ten hits. He was thought to be modest and camera-shy, so his influence on rock is often overlooked. He hit the top 40 billboards with 35 albums. Many of these records are gold or platinum-certified. The album “The Fat Man” was released in 1949, the first rock and roll record of selling a million copies.
Fats Domino
Kurt Cobain – $50 million
Greatest Hits: Smells Like Teen Spirit, Sappy
Nirvana’s frontman, considered one of Generation X’s most influential bands, was Kurt Cobain. He is also the lead guitarist for the band. Born in Washington, he was founded in 1987 with Aaron Burckhard and Krist Novoselic. It was in Seattle’s Grunge Scene. Mostly through his second album, “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Nirvana signed with DGC and flourished. Cobain resented media coverage, claiming the mainstream misconstrued and oversimplified his message. He married rocker, Courtney Love.
Kurt Cobain
Walter Becker – $20 million
Greatest Hits: Bad Sneakers, Do It Again
Steely Dan’s co-songwriter was Walter Becker. He also played rock/jazz guitar and bass. Being both students at Bard College, he met his co-founder, Donald Fagen. They started Steely Dan and moved to LA. Becker also moved to Hawaii after a successful commercial run and became a record producer and part of China Crisis band, an English band. Fagen reformed Steely Dan in 1993.
Walter Becker
Tom Waits – $25 million
Greatest Hits: Closing Time, Somewhere
Tom Waits is a California-born singer, songwriter, actor. He’s known for his distinctive, heavy, punk lyrics. In the 1970s, he specialized in jazz but also influenced blues and vaudeville. The Beat Generation and Bob Dylan are his inspirations. He began singing in San Diego, moving to LA for an asylum deal. His first albums, marking his first commercially successful album, were Closing Time, Saturday Night’s Heart, and Small Change. Waits wrote the Heart score for Francis Ford Coppola’s One.
Tom Waits
Dan Penn – $1 million
Greatest Hits: Cry Like a Baby, The Dark End of the Street
Dan Penn is a songwriter who wrote and recorded several hits in the 1960s, including The Dark End of the Street,” “Cry Like a Baby,” and Do Right Woman.” He collaborated with artists such as The Box Tops, Chips Moman, Oldham Spooner. As he was camera-shy, he preferred songwriting to showmanship. His writing relationship was successful with Chips Moman for Press Publishing Company, although the pair had a fall-out that ended the partnership, which was described as “short-lived” but “intense.” One of his most successful to date is his collaboration with Aretha Franklin.
Dan Penn
Stevie Nicks – $75 million
Greatest Hits: Landslide
Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac’s lead singer, is well-known for her heartfelt songs. She was born in Arizona and moved to California with her spouse in 1975. The band’s second most popular album was the best-selling record of the year. It has sold over 40,000,000 copies on its own. Nicks has sold over 140 million records as a solo artist and has had over 40 chart-topping hits as a member of Fleetwood Mac. Her most recent single, 24, was released in 2014.
Stevie Nicks
Mick Jagger – $360 million
Greatest Hits: Midnight Rambler, Honky Tonk Women
Mick Jagger is one of the most well-known figures in the history of rock and roll. He’s well-known for his lively, distinct voice. He was a founding member of the Rolling Stones. He and Keith Richards are two of the most well-known rock legends. He grew up in England and attended the London School of Economics to study music. He wrote the majority of his songs, either individually or in collaboration with Keith Richards. He was famous for his wild stories back in the day.
Mick Jagger
Willie Dixon – $2 million
Greatest Hits: Hoochie Coochie Man, My Babe
Because of their dual influence on Chicago blues (post-WWII), they sometimes lumped Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters together. Dixon is from Mississippi. He had a distinct accent while he played bass. He was a successful songwriter of the twentieth century. His renowned songs include “Hoochie Coochie Man,” “My Babe,” and “Spoonful.” He was recorded by prominent bands such as Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Willie Nelson, and others. He has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame as well as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Willie Dixon
Morrissey – $50 million
Greatest Hits: Shoplifters of the World Unite, Sheila Take a Bow
Steven Morrissey, who was born in England to working-class Irish immigrants, developed an interest in music as a child. He was The Nosebleeds’ frontman, with no commercial performance. He rose to prominence with The Smiths, a band he co-founded with Johnny Marr, and his solo career. He developed solo projects such as Viva Hate, Your Gun, Destroy Uncle, and others, transforming his persona from an androgynous artist to working-class masculinity. He is a well-known Britpop and indie-rock icon.
Morrissey
Smokey Robinson – $100 million
Greatest Hits: Tracks of My Tears, Going to a Go-Go
Smokey Robinson was The Miracles’ principal artist and lyricist, as well as their guitarist. He commanded the party from 1955 to 1972, when he quit. He returned as a solo performer after leaving the project. He left Motown Records in 1990 after writing a large number of songs, as did other Motown representatives. His uncle’s nickname, like him, is a nice fact. Smokey’s life was stuck when his uncle christened him “Smokey Joe” as a “cowboy name.”
Smokey Robinson
Kenny Gamble – $8.5 million
Greatest Hits: I’m Gonna Make You Love Me
Kenny Gamble, who was born in Philadelphia, is credited with the invention of the Philly soul genre. As a child, he recorded himself on recording equipment, and his passion for music grew. He established Gamble & Huff, which was run by Jerry Ross, with whom he had a long association. He is best known for his chart-topping singles “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” and “Expressway to Your Heart,” both of which were recorded by the 1967 Soul Survivors band for widespread popularity.
Kenny Gamble
Jimmy Webb – $10 million
Greatest Hits: Wichita Lineman, MacArthur Park
Jimmy Webb was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986, as well as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He has “Wichita Lineman,” “All I Know,” “MacArthur Park,” and more songs. He worked with artists such as Linda Ronstadt and Art Garfunkel. Webb addressed his songwriting career and the style of music he aspired to, claiming it was a kind of “crushed lonely hearts.” In 2017, he released his memoirs, The Cake and The Hurricane, which were well-lauded.
Jimmy Webb
Merle Haggard – $40 million
Greatest Hits: Okie from Muskogee, The Fightin’ Side of Me
Merle Haggard is regarded as a founding father of the country genre and the Bakersfield sound. Born during the Great Depression in California, he finally began a country music career when his father died. His songs were well-known, and he was able to turn his life around with work-class recordings about American independence, the Vietnam War, and other topics. He had thirty-eight singles, one of which was a country smash and another that charted on Billboard.
Merle Haggard
Taylor Swift – $360 million
Greatest Hits: Shake It Off, I Knew You Were Trouble
Taylor Swift, a singer-songwriter from Pennsylvania, is one of today’s most well-known performers. She began coming to Nashville to chase her goal when she was fourteen years old. She was Sony’s youngest artist ever when she signed with Big Machine. She released her first album in 2006, and it went on to have the longest chart run in the 2000s. She made some sales, owing primarily to her youth. She shifted to a more pop-rock sound, composing her songs.
Taylor Swift
Buddy Holly – $1 million
Greatest Hits: That’ll Be the Day, Peggy Sue
Buddy Holly was a prominent singer-songwriter who was born after the Great Depression in Texas and went on to become a pivotal player in the development of American rock’n’roll in the 1950s. He was influenced by other forms as well, including gospel, R&B, and western, and began playing in high school. He took music seriously after opening for the late great Elvis Presley. He joined Waylon Jennings’ band, Tommy Allsup, and Carl Bunch on the road. He’s been dubbed the “pioneer” of today’s dual guitars, keyboards, and bass lineup by various performers.
Buddy Holly
The Bee Gees – $86 million
Greatest Hits: Stayin’ Alive, How Deep Is Your Love
Maurice, Robin, and Barry Gibb are three brothers. They were hugely successful in the 1960s and 1970s and subsequently became popular with the disco generation. Their distinctive sound changed all the time, with different brothers handling the mike. They were born on the Isle of Man and grew up in Manchester. They were once known as The Rattlesnakes before changing their name. In 1967, they accompanied producer Robert Stigwood across the world, promoting them. During their career, they sold over 220 million records, making history.
The Bee Gees
Ray Davies – $12 million
Greatest Hits: You Got Me, Something Better Beginning
Ray Davies, along with his brother Dave Davies, is the primary songwriter for The Kinks project. He’s been dubbed the “Godfather of Britpop.” Davies rose to prominence as a solo artist after the Kinks disbanded in the late 1990s. The Kinks signed a recording contract in 1964 and spent decades together. Davies composed their breakthrough single, “You Got Me.” Davies led the band during the 1960s and 1970s, occasionally adopting new genres to make the band more economically viable. Even renowned Long Tall Sally songs are covered.
Ray Davies
Paul Westerberg – $9 million
Greatest Hits: Backlash, Dyslexic Heart
Paul Westerberg was a member of the alt-rock band The Replacements in the 1980s. When the band broke, he embarked on a solo career. As a janitor, he approached The Replacements. He sat in on the band’s performances, sang along to the songs, and talked his way into joining the band. He attempted to join the band by convincing the lead vocalist that his other members would fire him, forcing him to leave.
Paul Westerberg
Robert Johnson – $500,000 (estate)
Greatest Hits: Terraplane Blues, Come On In My Kitchen
Robert Johnson, who was born in 1911, is regarded as a blues pioneer and Delta blues master. His life was not properly chronicled, yet his music lives on and legends around his name. He only participated in a few recording sessions, creating 29 songs that were not well-known during his lifetime. Following Johnson’s death, producer Don Law released the tracks as singles.
Robert Johnson
Eminem – $210 million
Greatest Hits: The Real Slim Shady, Superman, Not Afraid
Eminem is the most well-known rapper of all time. He is also a songwriter, writing all of his songs and assisting in the development of his label, Shady Records, which houses musicians such as Yelawolf, 50 Cent, Obie Trice, and others. Eminem (born Marshall Mathers) sold over 230 million records and received 15 Grammys, 8 AMAs, 17 BMAs, an Oscar, and other honors. Nine of his albums charted at the top of the Billboard 200, making him a list.
Eminem
John Lennon – $800 million
Greatest Hits: Working Class Hero, Imagine
Few musicians had the same impact as John Lennon. The British singer-songwriter was a co-founder of The Beatles and was born in Liverpool. He formed his first band, Quarrymen when he was a youngster. He authored (and co-wrote) many of The Beatles’ greatest singles, as well as solo hits like “Imagine,” “War is Over,” and “Working Class Hero.” Lennon was known for his incisive social satire and humor, as well as music and poetry.
John Lennon
R.E.M. – $75 million
Greatest Hits: The One I Love
R.E.M. was one of America’s earliest rock bands. It was produced by Bill Berry, Mike Mills, Peter Buck, and Michael Stipe. It was known for its arpeggiated guitar solos and was a pop-punk pioneer. Hib-Tone was his first independent publication. Early popularity came from their single “Radio Free Europe.” They published their debut EP, Chronic Town, followed by a full-length album, Murmur, a few years later, which was both commercially and critically successful.
R.E.M.
Jeff Barry – $1 million
Greatest Hits: Do Wah Diddy Diddy, Be My Baby
Jeff Barry, born in Brooklyn in 1938, rose to prominence in the pop-rock genre. Album producer, songwriter, and musician. He was well-known for his relationship with Ellie Greenwich, both technically and personally, and the two would go on to become the most renowned recording and songwriting duo of the 1960s. Barry wrote several well-known songs, including “Do Wah Diddy Diddy,” “Chapel of Love,” and “River Deep.”
Jeff Barry
Kanye West – $250 million
Greatest Hits: Monster, Graduation, Through the Wire, Slow Jamz
Kanye West, a rapper, composer, and promoter, is one of today’s most successful rappers. He has sold over 140 million tracks, and his popularity has been marked by huge stylistic shifts, incorporating genres such as baroque music, soul, indie-pop, gospel, and others. West is also known for his close friendship with rapper Jay-Z. West, who was born in Chicago, began rapping in 1996.
Kanye West
Prince – $300 million
Greatest Hits: Kiss, When Doves Cry, Nothing Compares 2 U
Prince’s career as a singer-songwriter spanned four decades. He was known for his varied and colorful stage acts and songs that spanned several genres and included a well-known, high-falsetto voice. He had an impact on the dance, R&B, punk, psychedelic rock, pop, and soul genres. He published his debut song at the age of seven and signed with Warner Bros. when he was seventeen.
Prince
Billie Joe Armstrong – $75 million
Greatest Hits: Boulevard of Broken Dreams, American Idiot, Holiday.
Billie Joe Armstrong is the founder and main vocalist of Green Day, a well-known pop-punk band. He wrote the tracks that appeared on the band’s breakout LP, Dookie, in 1994. This album went on to sell millions of copies. He has built one of the most amazing songbooks throughout the years. And all of this in around 20 years. Since the release of the popular song American Idiot, which topped the charts, the band has been on the rise.
Billie Joe Armstrong $75 Million
Freddie Mercury – $50 million
Greatest Hits: Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are The Champions, Killer Queen.
Freddie Mercury, the iconic band Queen’s leader and main vocalist, is regarded as one of the best singers in rock music history. Freddie was known for his flamboyant stage demeanor as well as his astounding four-octave vocal range while he was at the pinnacle of his musical career. Many of Queen’s biggest singles were written by him, including “Killer Queen,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Somebody to Love,” “We Are the Champions,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” Following his death, Freddie was inducted as a member of Queen into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003, and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004.
Freddie Mercury $50 Million
FINNEAS – $20 million
Greatest Hits: Let’s Fall In Love For The Night, Break My Heart Again, I Lost A Friend.
Finneas is a singer-songwriter whose biggest songs aren’t his, although he helped compose them: they’re his little sister, Billie Eilish’s. In addition to co-writing several of her huge singles, such as “Bad Guy,” Finneas is also an artist in his own right, with numerous successes of his own. His chart-topping singles include “Let’s Fall In Love For The Night,” “Break My Heart Again,” and “I Lost A Friend.” In addition, he creates and produces music for other well-known performers. He has five Grammy Awards to his name.
FINNEAS $20 Million
Sean Combs AKA P. Diddy – $855 million
Greatest Hits: Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down, Bad Boy Life, I Need A Girl.
Sean Combs is better known for his stage moniker, P. Diddy. Diddy. Throughout his illustrious career, he has established himself as a music business titan. His breakthrough as a rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, and actor came with his debut album, “No Way Out.” The record was certified seven times platinum, which is unusual for a debut album. The subsequent albums he released were equally as successful as the first. Surprisingly, he’s become recognized for changing his name many times over his career.
Sean Combs AKA P. Diddy $855 Million
Jay-Z – $1 billion
Greatest Hits: Crazy in Love, Déjà vu, Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem).
Whether you’re a hip-hop lover or not, you’ve heard of Jay-Z at some time. He is the first rapper to have a net worth of $1 billion. Of course, this accomplishment did not occur overnight. Throughout his professional career. Jay-Z has been able to develop and change throughout the years, responding to the demands of his fans and the hip-hop music business. Apart from being a superb rapper, this demonstrates his tremendous business acumen. He’s also signed Rihanna and other well-known singers. Given he’s on our list, he’s also penned several successful tunes.
Jay Z $1 Billion
Jon Bon Jovi – $410 million
Greatest Hits: Wanted Dead or Alive, Livin’ on a Prayer, It’s My Life.
Jon Bon Jovi’s music was able to stay up with his massive popularity as his career progressed. He has sold over 120 million records worldwide as of today. This only demonstrates how he amassed his fortune. He has unquestionably demonstrated that rock music has a big fan following and is one of the highest-paying genres in the music industry. Although he only has two solo albums, he has recorded 13 studio albums with his legendary band, Bon Jovi. The most amazing thing about him is that he maintained his relevancy over the years. His band rose to prominence in the mid-1980s and is one of the most well-known rock bands to this day. Jon was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009.
Jon Bon Jovi $410 Million
Toby Keith – $365 million
Greatest Hits: How Do You Like Me Now?!, Should’ve Been A Cowboy, Upstairs Downtown.
Toby Keith is an American country music singer who rose to prominence in the early 1990s and is currently one of the world’s highest-paid country songwriters. With a current net worth of $365 million, it’s simple to see how successful he’s been. Toby received multiple honors, including the Academy of Country Music (ACM) award and a Grammy. He has chart-topping singles such as “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” and “How Do You Like Me Now?! “, which aided him in reaching the pinnacle of the country music industry.
Toby Keith $365 Million
Keith Richards – $340 million
Greatest Hits: Slipping Away, Thru and Thru, Take It So Hard.
Keith Richards is a well-known member of the Rolling Stones and an even more well-known band. He’s yet another singer-songwriter with a significant net worth. He now has a net worth of $340 million. It only makes sense given that the Rolling Stones are the longest-running rock band in history. Keith not only writes songs and sings backup vocals, but he also plays the guitar. With decades of songwriting experience, it’s easy to see why he’s made as much money as he has.
Keith Richards $340 Million
Tim Rice – $200 million
Greatest Hits: A Whole New World, I Just Can’t Wait To Be King, Can You Feel The Love Tonight.
You may not realize it, but Tim Rice is the writer behind some of the most iconic and well-known shows of all time. You’ve undoubtedly heard of some of these. Perhaps you are familiar with the Disney film “The Lion King.” Its music, on the other hand, was mostly made up of his tunes. In addition, Tim is well-known for penning songs for other Disney films, including “Aladdin” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Many of the same songs are being utilized in concerts today.
Tim Rice $200 Million
Herb Alpert – $250 million
Greatest Hits: Tijuana Sauerkraut, Struttin’ With Maria, A Quiet Tear (Lágrima Quieta).
Herb has spent most of his life working in the music industry. He has his own record company that he started, a band, and he has written many of the world’s most recognized tunes. Tijuana Brass, his band, is as well-known as it gets. The band may not be as well-known today as it was in the 1960s, but that doesn’t change the fact that Herb gained his fortune primarily via music and composition.
Herb Alpert – $250 Million
Chuck Berry – $10 million
Greatest Hits: Ida Red, You Can Never Tell, Johnny B. Goode
Chuck Berry was dubbed “Father of Rock ‘N Roll.” To form rock and roll, he refined and re-adapted the rhythm and the blues, creating a style of solo guitars and performances that became the basis of the genre. He was born in St. Louis, and he was involved in music at an early age. He started playing with the Johnnie Johnson Trio, but he had his break when he met the singer Muddy Waters. Ida Red was his first hit, selling over a million records, and Muddy had him hooked on Chess Records.
Chuck Berry
Allen Toussaint – $3 million
Greatest Hits: Working in the Coal Mine, Yes We Can Can, Java
Allen Toussaint was one of New Orleans’ most prominent rhythm-and-blues genre figures, born in Gert Town, Louisiana. In the 1950s, he began his career and was defined as a “backroom figure” for his writing and composition. Songs such as “Fortune Teller,” “Working in the Coal Mine,” “Java,” “Mother-in-Law,” and he wrote more. He also produced some big hits, including “Lady Marmalade” and “Right Place, Wrong Time.” As an elderly neighbor’s boy, he learned to play the piano. His dad played the trumpet as well and worked on the railway.
Allen Toussaint
Marvin Gaye – $5 million
Greatest Hits: How Sweet It Is, Ain’t That Peculiar, I Heard it Through the Grapevine
Marvin Gaye, nicknamed “Prince of Soul” and “Prince of Motown,” helped form the Motown sound of the 1960s. Before becoming a solo artist, he was the first in-house session player. He was one of the first Motown musicians, in addition to Stevie Wonder, to break away from the record industry and independently make his music. He was a major influence on the neo-soul genre and quiet storm music. For Midnight Love, he won a Grammy. The anthem was sung during his last TV appearance at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game. He was also on Soul Train.
Marvin Gaye
Elton John – $500 million
Greatest Hits: Rocket Man, Crocodile Rock
Rock legend Elton John has sold more than three hundred million albums and had 58 Billboard singles in the top 40. In the history of the United Kingdom and the United States, his song, “Candle in the Wind,” which he wrote to honor Princess Diana after her tragic death, remains the best-selling single. He won five Grammys and several other accolades, placing him in critical success behind only The Beatles and Madonna. He is also an outstanding LGBTQ activist, raising more than $300 million for LGBTQ people.
Elton John
Bob Dylan – $200 million
Greatest Hits: The Times, They Are A’Changin’, Blowin In The Wind
One of the most popular musicians is Bob Dylan. He was one of the first to use electrically amplified instruments in his rock music, selling over 100 million albums and receiving the presidential name for the new albums: The Times They Are A’Changing ‘and’ Blowin ‘In the Wind,’ the civil rights anthem that released an album in the early 1960s, followed by a hit record after a hit. He was also one of the first to use electrically amplified instruments in his rock music, a controversial move.
Bob Dylan
Loretta Lynn – $65 million
Greatest Hits: You Ain’t Woman Enough, Coal Miner’s Daughter
Loretta Lynn is one of the most popular and influential country stars in country music history and was born in Kentucky. She is famous for hits such as “You Ain’t Woman Enough Don’t Come Home A Drinkin,” “Fist City,” “One’s on the Way” and so on. Her biographical film, The Daughter of the Coal Miner, is named after her greatest hits. She has over forty-five million records sold. She had two dozen albums, eleven numbers, and one single. She’s still touring at 87 on this day. She’s at the Grand Ole Opry, too.
Loretta Lynn