1. U2 ($195 million)
There is a saying that goes something along the lines of It’s never easy to stay on top. After reading extensively into the rock band known as U2, I can without a doubt say that they are the exception to that rule. This band’s rise to fame and fandom has had very few bumps along the way and I’m excited to tell you more about the members, their roots, why their music is impacting the world, and what they’re doing with their fame and fortune.
2. Bon Jovi ($125 million)
Bon Jovi is a popular pop/rock band. The band members are Jon Bon Jovi, Richard Sambora, David Bryan, and Tico Torres. The rock group, Bon Jovi, was formed in 1983. Over the years the rock group has won many awards. In 1987 they were awarded the American Music Award for the Best Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group.
3. Elton John ($100 million)
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, is one of the most highly acclaimed and successful solo artists of all time. Elton has achieved 38 gold and 31 platinum or multi-platinum albums, has sold more than 300 million records worldwide and holds the record for the biggest selling single of all time, Candle In The Wind 1997.
4. Lady Gaga ($90 million)
Gaga is one of the best-selling music artists with estimated sales of 27 million albums and 146 million singles as of January 2016. Some of her singles are also among the best-selling worldwide. She has grossed more than $300 million in revenue from 3.2 million tickets for her first three worldwide concert tours.
5. Michael Bublé ($70 million)
This Canada-born Grammy-winning singer has won the hearts of a million fans worldwide through his soothing voice and unique style. It was through his granddad’s collection of records of jazz and soul music that inspired him to take up singing seriously and become a vocalist at such a tender age, something that musicians struggle for years to achieve.
6. Paul McCartney ($67 million)
McCartney is one of the most successful composers and performers of all time. More than 2,200 artists have covered his Beatles song “Yesterday“, making it one of the most covered songs in popular music history. Wings’ 1977 release “Mull of Kintyre” is one of the all-time best-selling singles in the UK. A two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of the Beatles in 1988, and as a solo artist in 1999), and an 18-time Grammy Award winner, McCartney has written, or co-written, 32 songs that have reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and as of 2009 he had 25.5 million RIAA-certified units in the United States.
7. The Black Eyed Peas ($61 million)
Their first major hit was the 2003 single “Where Is the Love?” from Elephunk, which topped the charts in 13 countries, including the United Kingdom, where it spent seven weeks at number one and went on to become Britain’s biggest selling single of 2003. Another European hit single from the album was “Shut Up“. Their fourth album, Monkey Business, was an even bigger worldwide success, certified 4× Platinum in the U.S., and spawning four singles, “Don’t Phunk with My Heart“, “Don’t Lie“, “My Humps“, and “Pump It“. In 2009, the group became one of only 11 artists to have simultaneously held the No. 1 and No. 2 spots on the Billboard Hot 100, with their singles “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling“, which topped the chart for an unprecedented 26 consecutive weeks.
8. The Eagles ($60 million)
The Eagles are one of the world’s best-selling bands in history, having sold more than 150 million records 120 million in the U.S. alone. Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) is the number one selling album in the US with more than 38 million sales streams and Hotel California is the third best selling album with more than 26 million sales and streams. Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) was the best selling album of the 20th century in the U.S. They are the fifth-highest-selling music act and the highest-selling American band in U.S. history.
9. Justin Bieber ($53 million)
Who became the only artist to have five number one albums before turning 19 years old, the first person ever to reach a billion views on YouTube, and has made over 100 million dollars in less than three years, making him the most successful child star since Michael Jackson? No one other than Justin Bieber.
10. Dave Matthews Band ($51 million)
Formed in 1991, The Dave Matthews Band is composed of the widely varied musical interests of five musicians to create a uniquely impressive sound that combines the influences of folk, Jazz, rock, world beat, and reggae. South African David Matthews, the band’s lead guitarist, began to assemble the players in 1991 to accompany him on a demo tape of original songs.