Richest Singers of All Time
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You can go broke trying to make a career as a musician. Or you could sell millions of copies worldwide, become an international icon and retire off of royalties.
To say these singers are rich would be an understatement. These country crooners, pop music superstars and musical geniuses have become titans of their industry and incredibly wealthy. A few of them you may not have even heard of.
Familiar musicians such as Katy Perry, Garth Brooks, Elton John, Mick Jagger and Lady Gaga have made this list of the world's richest singers. But can you guess who else made the cut?
53. Gwen Stefani
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Net worth: $150 million
Age: 52
Country: United States
Note: The net worth estimates have been taken from CelebrityNetWorth.com, unless otherwise noted.
Bottom Line: Gwen Stefani
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Pop star Gwen Stefani has seen success through her band No Doubt (with hits like "Just a Girl", "Spiderwebs", and "Don't Speak") and as a solo artist (with singles such as "Hollaback Girl", and "Cool").
This Orange County, California native started No Doubt with her brother Eric in the late 1980s. After the death of their original singer, John Spence, and other lineup changes, Stefani began fronting the band and the rest is history.
She's also an occasional judge on "The Voice," which is where she met her husband, country singer Blake Shelton, and is a fashion designer with her own line, L.A.M.B.
Between No Doubt and her solo offerings, Stefani has sold about 30 million records.
In Their Own Words: Gwen Stefani
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"My songs are basically my diaries. Some of my best songwriting has come out of time when I've been going through a personal nightmare."
52. Adele
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Net worth: $190 million
Age: 33
Country: United Kingdom
Bottom Line: Adele
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Hello? Is it me you're looking for? If you're looking for one of the richest singers of all time, then yes.
Born in London on May 5, 1988, Adele began singing at the age of 4. She sang throughout her school years, and shortly after graduating from the BRIT School, a performing arts college in London, she posted a few songs to an online arts platform. Her friend then posted those songs to MySpace. They became popular, and Adele received a phone call from XL Recordings.
She achieved critical acclaim by 2008 and won her first Grammy in 2009, but it wasn't until the early 2010s that she achieved worldwide fame. "Hello," her biggest hit, was released in October 2015 and broke 1 million digital sales in two weeks. She has sold over 120 million records worldwide.
Her latest album, "30," released in late 2021 will significantly add to that tally.
In Their Own Words: Adele
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"I think I remind everyone of themselves. Not saying everyone is my size, but it’s relatable because I’m not perfect, and I think a lot of people are portrayed as perfect, unreachable and untouchable."
45. Jessica Simpson (Tie)
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Net worth: $200 million
Age: 41
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Jessica Simpson
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Tied with six other wealthy singers in the 45th spot, Jessica Simpson developed her singing voice in a church choir when she was a pre-teen, which quickly led to a career in show business. She almost landed a role on "The Mickey Mouse Club" but didn't make it and ended up working on the Christian rock circuit.
She landed at a record label that went bust, leaving her debut gospel album unreleased but caught the eye of Tommy Mottola, then head of Columbia Records. She worked on a new studio album with the label and embraced a wholesome persona that countered the sex appeal of Brittney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
Simpson's music did make her quite a bit of money, but it was her clothing line, the Jessica Simpson Collection, which brought her the most cash. Formed in 2005, the clothing line reached annual sales of $1 billion.
In Their Own Words: Jessica Simpson
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"When you grow up in the music industry, trying to be Britney Spears because that's what sells records and then you realize, 'All I have to do is be myself? I should have thought of that a long time ago.' It feels good to have success come from what's actually inside of you."
45. Ariana Grande (Tie)
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Net worth: $200 million
Age: 28
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Ariana Grande
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Florida native Ariana Grande has had great success as a pop singer, songwriter and actress. With her four-octave vocal range, this award-winning artist has evolved into one of the most influential women of her generation.
She's used her massive online presence to bring attention to a variety of causes, ranging from LGBTQ issues to bullying and gun control, among others.
Grande is a multiplatinum artist who has sold over 85 million records worldwide, and at 100 billion streams, she's the most streamed female artist of all time.
In Their Own Words: Ariana Grande
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"Of course I love music and I love what I do, but seeing their response to my work is my favorite part of it."
45. Frank Sinatra (Tie)
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Net worth: $200 million
Age: 82 (at death)
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Frank Sinatra
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The "Chairman of the Board" hailed from Hoboken, New Jersey, and ushered in the era of the "bobby soxers," a new subset of teen culture that had not existed before.
Today, he is often hailed as the greatest American singer of all time. He was also an award-winning actor and had close relationships with several presidents.
Sinatra's catalog of standards still sells to this day, over 30 years after his death. He still has fans of all ages — to date, he's sold over 150 million records, making him one of the most successful recording artists in history.
In Their Own Words: Frank Sinatra
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"People often remark that I'm pretty lucky. Luck is only important in so far as getting the chance to sell yourself at the right moment. After that, you've got to have talent and know how to use it."
45. Johnny Hallyday (Tie)
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Net worth: $200 million
Age: 74 (at death)
Country: France
Bottom Line: Johnny Hallyday
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Jean-Philippe Léo Smet, better known by his stage name Johnny Hallyday, was France's answer to Elvis Presley. His career spanned nearly 60 years, and he released almost 80 albums during that time, most of which reached gold, platinum or diamond status.
Halladay played over 3,200 shows, including a final performance at the Eiffel Tower that half a million people attended and 10 million watched on TV. He was on over 2,500 magazine covers and had 190 books written about his life in the spotlight.
Though he never conquered the U.S., Hallyday sold over 110 million records during his lifetime.
In Their Own Words: Johnny Hallyday
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"I often feel lonely, but I never do while I am on stage. The public is my drug."
45. Pink (Tie)
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Net worth: $200 million
Age: 42
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Pink
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Pennsylvania native Alecia Beth Moore is known for her distinctive rasp, cropped hair and acrobatic stage shows. She was a bit of a troublemaker as a teen and channeled those rebellious traits into her music. She launched her career around the same time as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, but she stood out among that crop of pop icons for her edginess.
Known for her singles "So What," "Just Give Me A Reason," "What About Us" and "Raise Your Glass," Pink's 2019 tour grossed nearly $400 million, which was the 10th highest-grossing tour at the time.
She’s sold over 42 million albums and 75 million singles thus far. Her accolades include Grammys, Brit awards and MTV awards, among others. She was also named Pop Songs Artist of the Decade by "Billboard" in 2009 and was the magazine's Woman of the Year in 2013.
In Their Own Words: Pink
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"My dad raised me with some good advice: 'Always tell the truth. Always shoot from the hip. You might not have many friends, but you’ll never have enemies, because people will always know where you’re coming from.'"
45. Lionel Richie (Tie)
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Net worth: $200 million
Age: 72
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Lionel Richie
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Tuskegee, Alabama, native Lionel Richie began his career as a member of the successful 1970s disco/funk band the Commodores, known for their singles "Easy," "Sail On" and "Three Times a Lady."
After he left the band, he branched out into creating songs for others — he wrote and produced Kenny Rogers' "Lady" — and embarked on an extremely successful solo career.
Richie has sold well over 100 million records. He's won four Grammy Awards and has been awarded the Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, which is the organization's highest honor.
In Their Own Words: Lionel Richie
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"Greatness comes from fear. Fear can either shut us down and we go home, or we fight through it."
45. Ed Sheeran (Tie)
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Net worth: $200 million
Age: 30
Country: United Kingdom
Bottom Line: Ed Sheeran
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Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, Ed Sheeran took to music at a young age and was inspired by the words of Damien Rice, who met Sheeran backstage and told him to write his own music. Sheeran was just 11 years old and took the advice to heart, releasing his own record independently in 2004 at the age of 13.
Voted most likely to be famous in high school, Sheeran used YouTube to reach new audiences in the early stages of his music career. In 2011, he began gaining fame in the U.K. and European markets, then achieved worldwide fame shortly after teaming up with Taylor Swift in 2012.
Unadjusted for inflation, Sheeran's 2017-2019 ÷ Tour is the highest-grossing concert tour of all time.
In Their Own Words: Ed Sheeran
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"Be nice to everyone, always smile, and appreciate things because it could all be gone tomorrow."
44. Tina Arena
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Net worth: $245 million
Age: 53
Country: Australia
Note: Tina Arena's net worth may be from $10 million to $245 million, according to sources.
Bottom Line: Tina Arena
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Tina Arena is an Australian singer-songwriter and producer who has sold over 10 million records.
Arena began her career young, becoming a cast member of Australia's "Young Talent Time" in 1974, which made her a familiar face in the country. After getting her high school degree, she pursued a music career. In the early 1990s, when was in her early 20s, she had numerous hits.
She is the only Aussie artist who has had gold and platinum records in every decade since the 1970s.
In Their Own Words: Tina Arena
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"I have learned a little more about living in the moment and taking life more as it is supposed to be, just living and seeing where life goes."
36. Don Henley (Tie)
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Net worth: $250 million
Age: 74
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Don Henley
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There are several singers with a net worth of $250 million. Texas native Don Henley is one of them.
Co-founder, songwriter and drummer for the Eagles, one of the most successful country-rock bands of all time, Henley wrote classic songs like "Hotel California," "New Kid in Town," "Desperado" and "Life in the Fast Lane." He helped propel the Eagles to superstar status in the 1970s, and they are still a top touring act today.
Henley also launched a successful solo career in the 1980s with tracks like "Boys of Summer," "Dirty Laundry" and "The End of the Innocence."
He had sold over 200 million albums with the Eagles and 10 million albums as a solo artist.
In Their Own Words: Don Henley
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"Between each album, I try to gain a new insight that I didn't have before and perhaps write a song about something that I've written about before, but from a fresh viewpoint."
36. Kenny Rogers (Tie)
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Net worth: $250 million
Age: 81 (at death)
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Kenny Rogers
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Kenny Rogers was one of the most successful crossover artists of all time, bridging the gap between country, rock, pop and folk. But Rogers was particularly popular as a country artist — he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013.
He also charted with over 400 singles across multiple genres and topped the U.S. charts for more than 200 weeks with songs like "The Gambler," "Lady," "Islands In The Stream," "Ruby (Don't Take Your Love To Town)," "Lucille" and "Coward Of The County."
"The Gambler" was also made into a limited movies series in the 1980s, and Rogers played the titular character.
During his lifetime, Rogers sold more than 100 million records around the world.
In Their Own Words: Kenny Rogers
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"There's a new hit rock group or singer every 5 minutes, but with country music, you have one hit and those people love you forever."
36. José Carreras (Tie)
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Net worth: $250 million
Age: 75
Country: Spain
Bottom Line: José Carreras
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Spanish opera star José Carreras was a member of the Three Tenors with Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo — their concerts and recordings introduced opera to the masses.
Carreras, who is now retired, had an extremely successful 40-year career, performing mostly arias from Puccini and Verdi in over 160 recordings. He has sold over 75 million records.
He is also known for his charitable works with the José Carreras International Leukemia Foundation, established after his recovery from the disease in 1988.
In Their Own Words: José Carreras
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"I am extraordinarily lucky; I was born in a family of strong moral values, and in my life, I was able to do what I liked best: debuts, great theaters, but above all, [I have] inner and deep satisfaction."
36. Bette Midler (Tie)
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Net worth: $250 million
Age: 76
Country: United States
Bottom line: Bette Midler
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Hawaiian-born Bette Midler is a singer, songwriter and actress who moved to New York City in 1965 and developed a following by singing in the Continental Baths, a Roman-style gay bathhouse located in the basement of the Ansonia Hotel. She also worked on her acting career and studied at the HB Studio at the time.
Midler's debut album, "The Divine Miss M," released in December 1972, sold a million records and landed on Billboard's Top 10. She made a hit film in 1979 called "The Rose," which made $29.2 million on a $9.3 million budget.
To date, Midler has sold over 30 million albums worldwide.
In Their Own Words: Bette Midler
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"The worst part of success is to try finding someone who is happy for you."
36. Justin Timberlake (Tie)
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Net worth: $250 million
Age: 40
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Justin Timberlake
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Justin Timberlake started his career as a child on "The Mickey Mouse Club," appearing alongside Ryan Gosling, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
In 1995, Timberlake was recruited by Lou Pearlman to the boy band NSYNC, which propelled him to popularity.
He dropped his first solo album, "Justified" in 2002, which sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
And who could forget the Superbowl XXVIII halftime show, where he totally didn't mean to reveal Janet Jackson's nipple in that infamous "wardrobe malfunction"?
Timberlake has sold over 32 million albums worldwide and also has a successful acting career.
In Their Own Words: Justin Timberlake
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"Everybody has their own path. It's laid out for you. It's just up to you to walk it."
36. Kenny Chesney (Tie)
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Net worth: $250 million
Age: 53
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Kenny Chesney
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Kenny Chesney is a country music singer who grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee. After graduating from East Tennessee State University, where he studied marketing, Chesney made his way to Nashville in 1990 and began playing clubs.
Eventually, he was noticed by Capricorn Records. The label folded not long after Chesney's debut album "In My Wildest Dreams," which released in late 1993.
While the album was scarcely promoted, it sold 10,000 copies and led to a record deal with BNA Records. He kept making albums and grew in popularity, achieving his first gold record with "Me and You" in 1996.
Chesney is a prolific artist and has released 20 albums, with nine reaching the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200.
In Their Own Words: Kenny Chesney
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"What you see is kinda what you get with me. I'm a very real person, or I hope to be, anyway. I don't have nothing to hide."
36. Tom Jones (Tie)
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Net worth: $250 million
Age: 81
Country: United Kingdom
Bottom Line: Tom Jones
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Tom Jones was born in 1940 to a working-class family in South Wales. He married his high school girlfriend at the age of 16. The two had a child together around that time, and Jones worked in a glove factory. (The pair stayed married for 59 years, until her death in 2016).
Jones gained attention while he was singing with a Welsh beat group in the early 1960s, and Decca signed him in 1963.
Jones' hit song "It's Not Unusual" became a massive hit in both the United Kingdom and the United States, and he secured a contract to write the theme songs for the films "What's New Pussycat?" and "Thunderball."
By 1967, Jones moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he had an incredibly successful and long-running career singing for casinos and various venues in the city. He hosted a variety series and went on to appear in several films and was a judge on "The Voice" in the U.K.
Now in his 80s, Jones continues to tour. His latest album "Surrounded by Time" came out in April 2021.
In Their Own Words: Tom Jones
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"You can't be a sexy person unless you have something sexy to offer. With me, it's my voice: the way that I sing, the way I express myself when I sing."
36. Diana Ross (Tie)
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Net worth: $250 million
Age: 77
Country: United States
In Their Own Words: Diana Ross
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"You can't just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream. You've got to get out there and make it happen for yourself."
Bottom Line: Diana Ross
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Diana Ross grew up in a working-class neighborhood of Detroit. While she was a teenager, she worked a Hudson's Department Store in 1960, becoming the first Black bus girl at the city's downtown location.
When she was just 15 years old, Ross joined the Motown girl group the Supremes, which became one of the most famous female bands of all time. After their breakup, Ross went on to pursue a very successful solo career and became an actress, starring in "Lady Sings the Blues," "Mahogany" and "The Wiz."
She's sold more than 100 million records as a solo artist and as a member of the Supremes.
35. Tina Turner
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Net worth: $270 million
Age: 82
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Tina Turner
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The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll was born as Anna Mae Bullock in Brownsville, Tennessee, to a family of sharecroppers. She was sent off to live with her Baptist grandparents during World War II in Nutbush, where she sang in the church choir.
While out in St. Louis with her sister, she spotted a performance by Ike Turner, whom she teamed up with on stage and off stage. The two had a wild relationship marked by domestic abuse, which got worse as her career soared, far outshining Ike's.
After leaving Ike, she embarked on a successful solo career and was one of the top concert draws in the 1980s and 1990s. She has since retired and moved to Switzerland with her current husband.
Her life and relationship with Ike are portrayed in the 1993 film "What's Love Got to Do With It."
In Their Own Words: Tina Turner
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"Sometimes you've got to let everything go — purge yourself. If you are unhappy with anything ... whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you'll find that when you're free, your true creativity, your true self comes out."
33. Luciano Pavarotti (Tie)
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Net worth: $275 million
Age: 71 years (at death)
Country: Italy
Bottom Line: Luciano Pavarotti
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As one of the most successful tenors of all time, Luciano Pavarotti made the rare jump into popular music and is another singer who helped introduce opera to the masses through his Three Tenors project.
He was such a crossover success that he even shared stages with rock musicians such as Eric Clapton and Bono and even starred in a 1982 movie called "Yes, Giorgio" about an opera singer who loses his voice and falls in love with his throat specialist.
Pavarotti sold over 100 million records during his lifetime.
In Their Own Words: Luciano Pavarotti
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"In opera, as with any performing art, to be in great demand and to command high fees, you must be good of course, but you must also be famous. The two are different things."
33. Aaron Kwok (Tie)
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Net worth: $275 million
Age: 55
Country: Hong Kong
Note: Aaron Kwok's net worth may be from $20 million to $275 million, according to sources.
Bottom Line: Aaron Kwok
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Aaron Kwok was originally destined to work at, and possibly own, a large jewelry store in Hong Kong that belonged to his father.
Instead, he found his way into the entertainment business and became a famous pop star by his mid-20s.
He is one of the most famous singers in the Cantopop scene and became one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" — four musicians who were so popular they were featured prominently in all forms of media.
In Their Own Words: Aaron Kwok
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"The worlds of motorsports and entertainment are the same. In order to succeed in both, you need 100 percent hard work and dedication."
32. Nana Mouskouri
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Net worth: $280 million
Age: 87
Country: Greece
Bottom Line: Nana Mouskouri
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Nana Mouskouri is a Greek singer who grew up during the Nazi occupation of Greece.
She sang in nightclubs during the 1950s with a singing style that influenced by artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.
Her music was hugely popular in Europe (especially France) and Canada, although she was not as popular in the United States.
During her career, she released an astonishing 200 albums in over a dozen languages.
In Their Own Words: Nana Mouskouri
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"I do believe that if you haven't learned about sadness, you cannot appreciate happiness."
31. Justin Bieber
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Net worth: $285 million
Age: 27
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Justin Bieber
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Justin Bieber was discovered on YouTube by record producer Scooter Braun.
At the age of 13, he was already on his way to worldwide fame, working with famed R&B singer Usher who took him on as a protégé. At 16, his hit single, "Baby," made him an international superstar.
Over half of Bieber's life has been spent in the limelight, with all its ups and downs. He has sold over 150 million records and owns some rather extravagant real estate.
In Their Own Words: Justin Bieber
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"I'm looking forward to influencing others in a positive way. My message is you can do anything if you just put your mind to it."
29. Placido Domingo (Tie)
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Net worth: $300 million
Age: 80
Country: Spain
Bottom Line: Placido Domingo
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Placido Domingo is one of the most popular and prolific operatic tenors of all time as well as a conductor and opera administrator. He's not only made dozens of recordings and films of operas, but he's recorded popular music as well.
Over his career, he's received several Grammys, a Kennedy Center award, the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom and even a British knighthood, among other honors.
He, Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras recorded as the Three Tenors in the 1990s and early 2000s. The recording of their 1990 Rome concert sold over 10 million copies alone.
Domingo is so well-loved that seven of his records appeared on the Billboard's chart at once, and eight of them have sold over 1 million copies.
In Their Own Words: Placido Domingo
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"I have devoted so much energy to reach the top that I accept the stress of being there."
29. Julio Iglesias (Tie)
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Net worth: $300 million
Age: 78
Country: Spain
Bottom Line: Julio Iglesias
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Julio Iglesias grew up in Madrid and almost became a professional soccer player, but a serious car accident in 1963 damaged his spine and took away his ability to walk for two years.
While recovering, a nurse gave him a guitar to help him regain the use of his hands and distract him from his depression. Iglesias spent time writing songs and discovered his love and talent for music.
Iglesias went on to have a successful music career in Spain before moving to Miami, Florida, in 1979. In the United States, he won numerous awards and became a pop culture icon. He has sold over 300 million records in 14 languages.
In Their Own Words: Julio Iglesias
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"When I came here, I couldn't speak a word of English, but my sex life was perfect. Now my English is perfect, but my sex life is rubbish."
28. Lady Gaga
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Net worth: $320 million
Age: 35
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Lady Gaga
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Lady Gaga grew up in New York City to an upper-middle-class family and went to the Convent of the Sacred Heart, a private all-girls Roman Catholic School. She trained in music and piano since she was 4 and went on to briefly study music at college before dropping out to pursue her music career full-time.
Gaga gained recognition and a following while playing with a band called the SGBand in New York City and was picked by a talent scout around 2006.
Her debut album, "The Fame," released in 2008 and was an instant success. She has sold 30 million albums and 150 million single globally and has also become an A-list actress with film roles on "A Star Is Born" and "House of Gucci."
In Their Own Words: Lady Gaga
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"Music is one of the most powerful things the world has to offer. No matter what race or religion or nationality or sexual orientation or gender that you are, it has the power to unite us."
27. George Strait
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Net worth: $326 million
Age: 69
Country: United States
Bottom Line: George Strait
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George Strait grew up on a cattle range near Big Wells, Texas. Raised by his father, Strait played in a garage band during high school but did not really start pursuing a music career until the mid-1970s, when he was in college and after he served in the United States Army for four years.
In college, Strait had a band but could not garner the attention of any major label. In 1981, he secured a deal with MCA Records and produced "Strait Country," which would become a hugely influential album that returned country music from pop influences to its twangy roots.
Known as "The King of Country," Strait has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and has 33 platinum records. He also has the most number-one hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs and was inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006.
In Their Own Words: George Strait
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"You know, legends are people like [Merle] Haggard and [George] Jones and [Bob] Wills and [Frank] Sinatra. Those people are legends. I'm just a young buck out here trying to keep in that same circle with the rest of 'em."
26. Katy Perry
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Net worth: $330 million
Age: 37
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Katy Perry
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Katy Perry had a peripatetic childhood. Her devout, born-again Christian family moved around the country often, and they struggled financially.
Perry developed her singing voice by singing in church. She got her GED at the age of 15 and left for Nashville to pursue a music career. Her first album was a Christian record that released in 2001. It didn't sell well, and she transitioned out of the genre.
Perry's breakthrough album, "One of the Boys," dropped in 2008 and sold seven million copies worldwide. She has sold over 48 million albums and 135 million singles worldwide and is a judge on "American Idol."
In Their Own Words: Katy Perry
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"I'm kind of a good girl — and I'm not. I'm a good girl because I really believe in love, integrity, and respect. I'm a bad girl because I like to tease. I know that I have sex appeal in my deck of cards. But I like to get people thinking. That's what the stories in my music do."
25. Shakira
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Net worth: $350 million
Age: 44
Country: Colombia
Bottom Line: Shakira
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Born and raised in Colombia, Shakira began writing poetry on a typewriter at the age of seven. These poems later turned into song lyrics. That, coupled with a love of performance art — which was influenced by a belly dancer — led her to a career in music.
Shakira began performing in front of audiences at ten years old. When she was 13, a theater producer nabbed her an audition with a Sony Colombia executive, who signed her in 1990.
After four albums, she released "Donde Estan los Ladrones?" which became a worldwide hit, selling over 7 million copies. She has since released several Spanish ands English-language albums, which have also in the millions and joined forces with Jennifer Lopez as the halftime entertainment for Super Bowl 2020.
In Their Own Words: Shakira
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"You can't achieve anything in life without a small amount of sacrifice."
24. Cher
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Net worth: $360 million
Age: 75
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Cher
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Cher was a high school dropout from El Centro, California, who moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting and singing career in the mid-1960s.
While performing at night clubs in the city, she met Sonny Bono. The two fell in love, married and formed Sonny and Cher. In 1965, the duo released "I Got You Babe," which made them internationally famous.
Sonny and Cher had a variety show in the early 1970s but eventually split up in 1975. Cher went on to pursue a solo career, selling over 60 million records on her own and has also become and Oscar-winning actress.
In Their Own Words: Cher
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"Women are the real architects of society."
23. Toby Keith
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Net worth: $365 million
Age: 60
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Toby Keith
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Toby Keith grew up in Oklahoma and Arkansas. As a child, he helped out at his grandmother's supper club, where he became interested in music. During high school and afterward, Keith worked in the oil fields and played in the Easy Money Band at local bars.
When the Oklahoma oil industry went bust in the early 1980s, Keith lost his job and ended up focusing on his music. In the early 1990s, he released a self-recorded demo tape with the band and tried to garner the interest of record labels in Nashville. While none showed any interest, miraculously, a flight attendant friend passed his demo tape on to a record executive.
The executive, the president of Polydor Nashville, liked what he heard and flew to Oklahoma City to hear Keith play. He was signed shortly thereafter, and his first single, "Should've Been a Cowboy," topped the charts. Keith has sold over 40 million albums during his career.
In Their Own Words: Toby Keith
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"Don't compromise even if it hurts to be yourself."
22. Barbra Streisand
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Net worth: $370 million
Age: 79
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Barbra Streisand
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Barbra Streisand grew up in Brooklyn, New York City. Her father died when she was a year old and her family was close to poverty.
Streisand and her family moved in with her mother's grandparents. Her mother remarried, but her stepfather was unaffectionate, if not emotionally abusive. She showed promise with her singing voice, and she aspired to be an actress, but her mother was unsupportive, thinking she didn't have the looks to become a star.
Streisand sang at nightclubs before releasing "The Barbra Streisand Album" in 1964, which won her two Grammy Awards. She then transitioned into acting, starring in 1968's "Funny Girl," which won her an Academy Award for Best Actress at the age of 26.
In Their Own Words: Barbra Streisand
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"Doubt can motivate you, so don't be afraid of it. Confidence and doubt are at two ends of the scale, and you need both. They balance each other out."
16. Garth Brooks (Tie)
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Net worth: $400 million
Age: 59
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Garth Brooks
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Garth Brooks grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He didn't really begin his music career until after he graduated from college and was in his mid-twenties. He sang in bars around Oklahoma until he was noticed by an entertainment lawyer who convinced Brooks to move to Nashville in 1987.
Brooks' very first album made No. 12 on the Billboard 200 when it released in 1989. That album included the classic songs "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)" and "The Dance."
Brooks has earned two Grammys, 17 American Music Awards and holds the record for most diamond albums in the United States with nine (the Beatles have six).
In Their Own Words: Garth Brooks
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"You aren't wealthy until you have something money can't buy."
16. Taylor Swift (Tie)
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Net worth: $400 million
Age: 32
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Taylor Swift
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Taylor Swift grew up in an upper-middle-class family in West Reading, Pennsylvania, and started her music career when she was very young. She was given a development deal at the age of 14 with RCA, but the label declined to officially sign her.
Swift and her family moved to Nashville, and she was discovered by producer Scott Borchetta when she was 16. Within three years, Swift's record sales topped seven million, and by 19, she was the hottest act in the country.
To date, Swift has sold over 200 million records and has earned 11 Grammys.
In Their Own Words: Taylor Swift
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"I think the perfection of love is that it's not perfect."
16. Beyoncé (Tie)
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Net worth: $400 million
Age: 40
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Beyoncé
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Beyoncé grew up Houston, Texas. Her father was a Xerox sales manager, and her mother was a hairdresser.
At the age of 8, she, Kelly Rowland and LaTavia Roberson were in a six-girl group called Girl's Tyme and made the rounds on Houston's talent show circuit. Her father quit his job to manage Beyoncé's group (which did not include the other three girls) and, eventually, he secured the group a deal with Columbia Records in 1996. They switched their name to Destiny's Child.
Destiny's Child sold millions of records and became one of the most famous R&B groups in the entire world. Beyoncé emerged from that group as the superstar. She has also taken on acting roles (as the lead in "Dreamgirls") and married rapper Jay-Z.
She has won 28 Grammy's thus far, the most won by a female artist.
In Their Own Words: Beyoncé
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"The most alluring thing a woman can have is confidence."
16. Shania Twain (Tie)
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Net worth: $400 million
Age: 56
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Shania Twain
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Shania Twain did not have an easy childhood. Her family was so poor that they packed her lunches with mustard sandwiches, while her stepfather abused Twain and her mother.
Her family had her sing in bars when she was as young as 8 years old to help with the bills. When she was 21, her mother and stepfather perished in a car crash, leaving Twain to raise her three younger siblings.
Twain went on to become one of the best-selling female artists of all time. Even though her career was sidelined for seven years due to Lyme disease, her music is so enduring and popular that she has amassed a net worth of $400 million.
In Their Own Words: Shania Twain
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"When you don't come from struggle, gaining appreciation is a quality that's difficult to come by."
16. Jennifer Lopez (Tie)
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Net worth: $400 million
Age: 52
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Jennifer Lopez
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Jennifer Lopez grew up in the Bronx, New York City, to a working-class family. She had aspirations to be an actress and worked on musicals during the late 1980s as a dancer, eventually appearing as a Fly Girl on "In Living Color" in 1991.
Her big breaks came in the 1990s for her work in the campy horror film "Anaconda," giving a performance that earned her good reviews among credits.
She transitioned into singing in 1999 with the debut album "On the 6," which made her a pop star and she's old about 125 million records worldwide. She has become equally as well known for her acting as her music.
In Their Own Words: Jennifer Lopez
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"You get what you give. What you put into things is what you get out of them."
16. Johnny Mathis (Tie)
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Net worth: $400 million
Age: 86
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Johnny Mathis
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Johnny Mathis grew up in San Francisco, California. He started his career young, playing on an upright piano that his father purchased for him when he was a child.
Mathis was an exceptional athlete and was given the offer to try out in high jump for the 1956 U.S. Olympic Team, but decided instead on pursuing his music career.
Mathis moved to New York City and sang in clubs. He made a living off of his music but didn't hit the big time until appearing on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1957.
He has sold over 350 million records — his singles "Wonderful, Wonderful" and "Chances Are" are American classics.
In Their Own Words: Johnny Mathis
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"I think there are a lot of people who really want to be famous. They really do. I don't. It sort of gets in the way of the everyday things that I do."
14. Jon Bon Jovi (Tie)
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Net worth: $450 million
Age: 59
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Jon Bon Jovi
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Born John Francis Bongiovi Jr., Bon Jovi was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to two former Marines. His father was a barber, and his mother was one of the first Playboy bunnies. The couple met while his father was serving in the Marine Corps.
He began performing music at a young age, and in 1980, the 17-year-old happened upon a rather strange gig. He was at a relative's recording studio where the band Meco was recording a "Star Wars" Christmas album. He ended up singing the vocals for the track, "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas." That was his first professional recording.
Bon Jovi formed the band Bon Jovi in March 1983. The band has sold over 100 million records worldwide.
In Their Own Words: Jon Bon Jovi
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"Map out your future — but do it in pencil. The road ahead is as long as you make it. Make it worth the trip."
14. Victoria Beckham (Tie)
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Net worth: $450 million
Age: 47
Country: United Kingdom
Bottom Line: Victoria Beckham
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Victoria Beckham made a splash on the international scene as Posh Spice of the Spice Girls, which is still the best-selling female group of all time. She married David Beckham, the biggest soccer star in the world, in 1999.
Beckham had a modestly successful solo career after the Spice Girls disbanded in 2001, then returned to the group when it reformed for five years from 2007 to 2012. She has since going into fashion and started a successful luxury line, Victoria Beckham.
In Their Own Words: Victoria Beckham
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"Sometimes you've got to know when it's time to leave the party."
13. Bob Dylan
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Net worth: $400 to $500 million
Age: 80
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Bob Dylan
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Hailed as the Shakespeare of his generation, Dylan was born as Robert Zimmerman in Hibbing, Minnesota.
While he's not a particularly great singer, he's one of the most important artists of all time in that he was was first to merge poetry and music. Since the 1960s, his every move has been scrutinized by fans and critics alike.
Dylan has recorded over 500 songs that have been covered by thousands of artists around the world, and he is considered the gold standard of lyricists. So much so that he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016.
He's sold over 125 million records during his career.
In Their Own Words: Bob Dylan
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"What's money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do."
10. Gloria Estefan (Tie)
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Net worth: $500 million
Age: 64
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Gloria Estefan
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Gloria Estefan was born in Havana, Cuba. Her family fled to the United States during the Cuban Revolution.
Estefan began her career in the mid-1970s, when she joined the Miami Latin Boys (which renamed itself Miami Sound Machine). The band had several hits, including "Conga," "Words Get in the Way" and "Bad Boy."
But Miami Sound Machine proved to be a vehicle for Estefan, who went on to sell 100 million records worldwide during her long career.
In Their Own Words: Gloria Estefan
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"The sad truth is that opportunity doesn't knock twice."
10. Mick Jagger (Tie)
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Net worth: $500 million
Age: 78
Country: United Kingdom
Bottom Line: Mick Jagger
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Mick Jagger was born in the suburban London town of Dartford, Kent. His mother was a housekeeper, and his father was a gym teacher.
Surprisingly, Jagger was a good student and was enrolled at the London School of Economics to study accounting, but left after one year to pursue music.
Jagger met Keith Richards in 1950, and while the two parted ways and went to different schools, they reconnected after realizing they shared a love of blues music. They began playing together and formed a band called the Blues Boys. Eventually, they called themselves "Rollin' Stones" after a journalist asked Brian Jones what their name was. He panicked and looked around, spotted a Muddy Waters LP called "Rollin' Stone" and went with that.
The Rolling Stones became one of the most successful bands in music history and continue to sell out concerts around the world. The band continues to be a well-oiled, money-making machine.
In Their Own Words: Mick Jagger
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"A good thing never ends."
10. Elton John (Tie)
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Net worth: $500 million
Age: 74
Country: United Kingdom
Bottom Line: Elton John
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Born as Reginald Kenneth Dwight and raised in Middlesex, England, Elton John was a musical prodigy, learning to play complex classical pieces by ear at a very young age.
As he grew older, he was heavily influenced by Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard. Fascinated by the way Richard and Lewis played the piano like maniacs, he incorporated that part of their performance into his shows.
John has become an LGBTQ icon and has sold well over 300 million records worldwide. In 2018, he began his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour, a three-year, 300-show concert tour that will be his last.
In Their Own Words: Elton John
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"Ask anyone. If it hadn’t been for Elvis, I don’t know where popular music would be. He was the one that started it all off, and he was definitely the start of it for me."
9. Mariah Carey
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Net worth: $550 million
Age: 52
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Mariah Carey
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Mariah Carey's mother was an Irish-American who married a Black Venezuelan man. Because of this, her mother's family disowned her. While growing up in Long Island, New York, her neighbors poisoned the family dog and set fire to their car, all because of their race.
The couple divorced, and Carey did not see her father all that much. She occupied her time singing and took to the arts during high school, then moved to New York City and worked part-time jobs while attending beauty school. She made a demo tape, which found its way into the head of Columbia Records, Tommy Mottola, in 1988.
He signed her, Columbia spent a boatload of cash promoting her debut album, and she was an overnight star. That album, "Mariah Carey" sold over 15 million copies.
These days, Carey doesn't have to work. Her most-played hit, "All I Want for Christmas Is You," has earned more than $60 million in royalties and brings in around $600,000 just from Spotify during the holiday season, according to CNN Business.
In Their Own Words: Mariah Carey
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"Whatever you're going through in your life, don't ever give up."
8. Dolly Parton
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Net worth: $600 million
Age: 75
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Dolly Parton
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Beloved country singer Dolly Parton was the fourth of 12 children and lived in a log cabin near the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. The family lacked indoor plumbing or electricity. The father was a sharecropper, and the family subsisted on anything they could catch.
"There were twelve of us kids. We never ate possum — I remember Daddy saying, 'That’s like a damn rat.' But we ate everything — turtle, frogs. I just remember the big old groundhogs — whistle pigs, they called them — and you'd cook 'em with sweet potatoes, and you'd have different ways of making some of that gamey taste go away," Parton told Rolling Stone.
Parton's biggest break came with the release of "Jolene" in 1973. She has sold over 100 million records worldwide and wrote "I Will Always Love You," which became a mega hit for Whitney Houston.
In Their Own Words: Dolly Parton
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"Everybody has their own journey, they have their own way of doing things. And who am I to judge?"
7. Bruce Springsteen
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Net worth: $650 million
Age: 72
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Bruce Springsteen
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Bruce Springsteen grew up in a working-class family in Freehold, New Jersey. After seeing Elvis perform, he showed a desire for being a musician, and his mother bought him a Kent guitar for $60.
His teen years were mostly spent playing guitar. He felt alienated at school and chose not to attend his graduation ceremony. Shortly thereafter, he was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War, but he intentionally acted erratically and was deemed unfit for military service.
The E Street Band formed in 1972. Springsteen and the E-Street Band released "Born to Run" in 1975, which became an incredible success. The classic album sold six million copies in the United States and is considered to be one of the greatest albums of all time.
Springsteen has sold over 150 million records worldwide and has 20 Grammys, along with a smattering of other awards.
In 2021, he sold his entire catalog for $500 million, causing his net worth to rise considerably.
In Their Own Words: Bruce Springsteen
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"I have spent my life judging the distance between American reality and the American dream."
6. Bono
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Net worth: $700 million
Age: 61
Country: Ireland
Bottom Line: Bono
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Born in Dublin, Ireland, as Paul Hewson, Bono grew up in a Christian and Catholic household. He lost his mother when he was 14. Tragically, she died four days after suffering an aneurysm and collapsing at her own father's funeral. He acquired his nickname while in a surrealist street gang called Lipton Village.
"We were fans of 'Monty Python.' We’d put on performances in the city center of Dublin. I’d get on the bus with a stepladder and an electric drill. Mad s--t. Humor became our weapon. Just stand there, quiet — with the drill in my hand. Stupid teenage s--t," Bono told Rolling Stone.
Bono met his future bandmates at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin, after Larry Mullen Jr., U2's drummer, posted a note about forming a new band on a notice board.
Bono's father accidentally steered him into a music career.
"By not encouraging me to be a musician, even though that’s all he ever wanted to be, he’s made me one. By telling me never to have big dreams or else, that to dream is to be disappointed, he made me have big dreams. By telling me that the band would only last five minutes or ten minutes — we’re still here," he said.
Bono has made hundreds of millions of dollars with U2 and is famous for his philanthropic efforts.
In Their Own Words: Bono
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"As a rock star, I have two instincts. I want to have fun, and I want to change the world. I have a chance to do both."
5. Celine Dion
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Net worth: $800 million
Age: 53
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Celine Dion
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Celine Dion grew up in Quebec, Canada, and sang at a young age, first "performing" at a wedding at the age of five.
Her brother, Jacques, helped write and compose her first song. It was apparently so good that Rene Angelil, her soon-to-be-manager and future husband, mortgaged his home to finance Dion's first album in 1981.
Dion has since sold over 250 million records worldwide.
In Their Own Words: Celine Dion
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"I've never been cool — and I don't care."
4. Madonna
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Net worth: $850 million
Age: 63
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Madonna
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Madonna grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. She lost her mother to breast cancer in 1963. She once described her younger self as a "lonely girl who was searching for something" who "wanted to be somebody."
Madonna went on to study dance at the University School of Music, Theatre and Dance in the 1970s. While there, she began to develop her now iconic sense of style, a mishmash of thrift, glamor and lace.
She performed in a couple of bands in New York City but went on to be a solo act. She first signed a singles deal in 1982 with Sire Records. "Like a Virgin" released in 1984, propelled her to international fame.
Madonna has sold over 335 million records and continues to release music to this day.
In Their Own Words: Madonna
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"A lot of people are afraid to say what they want. That’s why they don’t get what they want."
3. Jimmy Buffett
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Net worth: $900 million
Age: 75
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Jimmy Buffett
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Jimmy Buffett has been a massive success on several fronts. While he is known for his music, he's also a successful entrepreneur and author, having built an empire around his "Parrothead" aesthetic.
He and his Coral Reefer Band have recorded several hit songs, including "Margaritaville" and "Cheeseburger in Paradise," both of which became the names of his restaurant chains.
Buffett has sold over 20 million albums worldwide.
In Their Own Words: Jimmy Buffett
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"Humor has bailed me out of more tight situations than I can think of. If you go with your instincts and keep your humor, creativity follows. With luck, success comes, too."
2. Paul McCartney
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Net worth: $1.2 billion
Age: 79
Country: United Kingdom
Bottom Line: Paul McCartney
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Paul McCartney grew up in Liverpool, England, and lost his mother when he was just 14 years old due to a surgical complication from a breast cancer surgery. He turned his grief to music, first focusing on playing guitar then bass guitar after joining the Quarrymen with John Lennon.
With the Beatles, McCartney's "Yesterday," which he sang, wrote and composed, was a smash hit and now a classic work. The "Help!" album also showed a distinct vocal talent between Lennon and McCartney, and they would both write and sing their own songs.
McCartney went on to release his own solo records and numerous collaborative works with other artists.
Named the 11th greatest singer of all time by Rolling Stone, McCartney is also the richest musician of all time.
In Their Own Words: Paul McCartney
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"In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make."
1. Rihanna
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Net worth: $1.7 billion
Age: 33
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Rihanna
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Rihanna grew up in Bridgetown, Barbados, in an abusive household. Her father was addicted to crack cocaine and would routinely abuse her mother as well as the future superstar.
When she was 15, she and two other classmates formed a singing group and landed an audition with a record producer. Rihanna was handpicked from that group. She released a demo tape that was discovered by newly appointed Def Jam CEO Jay-Z. In 2005, she moved to the United States and signed with Def Jam.
Rihanna has had a much-publicized personal life, especially for the abuse she suffered at the hands of Chris Brown. She is also one of the most beloved singers of our time, a fashion icon and a philanthropist. Her makeup line, Fenty Beauty, has made her a billionaire.
She has sold well over 250 million albums worldwide.
In Their Own Words: Rihanna
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"You may never be good enough for everybody, but you will always be the best for somebody."