Ever wonder who the richest guitar players are? Wonder no more, my friend – here they are, from “poorest” to richest.
David Bowie (Approx. Net Worth $150M)
A man of many talents, Bowie is one of the most eccentric, iconic and influential figures in rock and roll. The release of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars with it’s singles, Starman and Ziggy Stardust, cemented Bowie’s place in music history. Bowie remains a presence in the music world as a composer, producer and performer.
Eric Clapton (Approx. Net Worth $200M)
Now a guitar legend, Clapton rose to fame as the guitarist for the 1960s rock band Cream. In 1970 Clapton would earn his place in music history with the release of the legendary song “Layla” with his band Derek and the Dominoes. For years after he would battle with addiction before continuing one of the most successful solo careers ever.
Sean Lennon (Approx. Net Worth $200M)
As the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Sean’s music career was launched through the success of his parents. Through the 90s Sean collaborated with many musicians before releasing his solo debut Into the Sun in 1998. Spike Jonze directed the music video for his successful single “Home.” Sean continues to collaborate, as a guitarist and musician, with various artists.
Bruce Springsteen (Approx. Net Worth $200M)
The now legendary Bruce Springsteen, was not an overnight success. He struggled for nearly a decade, playing small time shows and receiving little acclaim. In 1975 he broke into the pop world with the release of Springsteen and the E-Street Band’s Born to Run. The band would go on to produce one of the best selling records of all time: Born in the USA. The album contained seven singles that reached the Top 10 on Billboard.
Dave Grohl (Approx. Net Worth $225M)
Grohl got his start as the drummer for the grunge rock band Nirvana. Following Kurt Cobain’s death, Grohl embarked on a solo venture at Robert Lang Studios. He recorded a fifteen song album in which he played nearly all of the instrumentals. In 1995, after the album received interest, Grohl drafted a band to support his lead vocals and guitar. The Foo Fighters began touring in spring of 1995. The band has experienced considerable longevity, releasing their most successful album Wasting Light in 2011.
Prince (Approx. Net Worth $250M)
This eccentric pop legend has released ten platinum albums and thirty top 40 singles. Prince has had one of the most successful music careers of all time. In addition to his solo success he has contributed songwriting and guitar playing to Madonna and other superstar musicians. “When Doves Cry” on the album Purple Rain spent five weeks at the top of the charts.
Dhani Harrison (Approx. Net Worth $275M)
Another Beatles’ progeny, Dhani Harrison is a singer, songwriter and guitarist. In 2001, following the death of George Harrison, Dhani completed his fathers album Brainwashed. In 2006 Dhani formed the band, thenewno2, and he continues to contribute to various music projects.
Jon Bon Jovi (Approx. Net Worth $275M)
Jon Bon Jovi has released eleven albums with his band Bon Jovi in addition to producing two solo albums. He was once ranked 50th on Billboard’s “Power 100” as one of the most influential figures in the music business. The release of Slippery When Wet with single “You Give Love a Bad Name” was the first in a series of hugely successful music projects.
Keith Richards (Approx. Net Worth $280M)
The Rolling Stones, with lead guitarist Keith Richards, are one of the most famous bands of all time. Formed in 1962 with front man Mick Jagger, the band has possibly been seen the longest runs of success in the history of Rock and Roll. The band released 20 studio albums from 1964-2005, cementing Richards as one of the guitar greats of all time.
Paul McCartney (Approx. Net Worth $820M)
Paul McCartney is probably the greatest living icon in the music world. As a bass, acoustic and electric guitar player for The Beatles, McCartney helped to start the “British Invasion” and the proliferation of Rock and Roll in the United States and abroad. McCartney wrote “Yesterday” that has been covered an incredible 2,200 times by various artists. In addition to his success with the Beatles, McCartney has also remained a huge presence in music with The Wings and through his solo career that continues to the present day.
Funny thing.. I went to a jam on Weds. night and told a story about my dog eating the first $20 I ever made as a musician in 1980.. A friend commented..
“Hey… These days there’s DOZENS of Dollars to be made playing music out there.” … LOL
Not exactly great guitarists there, and the Beatles offspring most likely inherited their wealth, I don’t think they earned it playing guitar.
Terrible list!
I agree – only three credible guitarists…definitely don’t think of Bon Jovi or Bowie as guitarists…really…c’mon…
And while I’m being my cynical self, maybe there should be separate list: richest off-spring of guitarists!
My guitar playing is therapeutic for me, and I don’t ‘play out/perform’. It would probably take me years to break even as far as the cost of my guitars, amps, replacing stings and PUPs here and there, and all other accessories. I play ’cause I LOVE to play!
The amount of money they make. Did you read???
No one cares why you play. And I’m sure if you could make 200 million dollars playing you would take the money you self righteous d-bag.
HAHAHAHAHAHA. ..LOL.? !!
KUMBAYA I!! ??
You would be very surprised at the talent at the level of talent that those kids have.
That may be a fair point!
On that note… I recently heard Joe Bonamassa tell a story on his podcast/radio show: he was participating in an auction for a bunch of rare Eric Clapton memorabilia, including one of his guitars.
Unfortunately for Joe, so was a particular Russian billionaire who happened to be in an Eric Clapton tribute band!
So, no matter how much Joe was willing to throw at that guitar, the billionaire just outbid him… and he took the whole lot, everything that was at the auction.
So there’s one incredibly well setup Russian Eric Clapton tribute band running around out there… and none on this list has a “B” in front of their net worth, their guitar player is actually richer than Clapton himself!
Not very humerous or else I missed something
My reply was not for your comment jonathan. It was was for the dog eating 20 bucks story.
Don’t quit your day job, being a musician is one thing but being an entertainer is another. Get a back up career everyone is not going to make it.
Kinda strange, John Mclaughlin, arguably the best guitarist in the world, is not even rated with the top 10 richest.
With the *possible* exception of perhaps Eric Clapton, I don’t think any on this particular list would actually have a shot at being present on a “Top 10 Guitar Players” list.
That sort of list would indeed be quite a different one, though of course far more subjective than a simple one such as this.
As others have noted, most of these are better known as artists/performers than “guitar players” per se, although all undoubtedly play guitar, and quite well too.
Hold on Jonathan; Prince can play his ass on. Check him out playing purple house: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVspVHcIgFw
He may not have been wealthy. But Gary Moore could kill them all except for Prince. No brag, just facts….
End of story
i like what you got going on there..although Mr Moore is one kick ass ax handler..look at Frank Zappa..hell he made up his own chords..Stevie Vie..etc ..etc..Rory Gallagher..Roy Buchanan..Mark Knopfler…list keeps going..
Hi Johnathon,
Here you are again!
I used to think that if anybody wanted to know what type of guitar player I was somehow remotely like, it would be Eric Clapton Particularly so on acoustic.
If Mahavishnu got paid per the amount of notes he plays, one could line up the dollar bills from New York to the planet Saturn and still have enough left over to pay for one of Santana’s Dumble amps.
Imagine that, an accomplished artist who has not managed to become rich! This must be a first.
Hahaha. .So funny, huh. ? And it’s a shame. ..most of these early bands, re: Beatles, Etc…, were “ripped off ” by Music Industry and Taxman, ..!!! ( Mr. Wilson and Mr. Heath. …) !! LOL.? Plus, I agree on the “inherited “part, as a lot of FANTASTIC GUITAR PLAYERS , are deceased ( SRV, JIMMY, …). Unfortunately, a lot of “genius”, was ruined by people ( leeches), and drugs !! Either to their demise, or bankruptcy.
We’ll never know the $ worth, these musical geniuses, would have achieved.
A quote from Sir Paul McCartney : ” To achieve success, you have to survive it “!
Oddly enough, I happen to look up how much McLaughlin is worth about a half hour before reading your comment. He’s worth 12 million. Not a bad lifetime haul for spending one’s life in the pursuit of creating and expanding music. I was told he lives in the south of France, too. Not bad at all.
Totally agree. He is the best guitarist alive. Which begs the question; when compiling the greatest guitar players list, how come John McLaughlin is never mentioned? People like Rick Beato, waffle on about Van Halen, Zappa, Holdsworth, etc. But, totally ignore McLaughlin.
Strange, no mention of Jimmy Page, rumoured to be worth between 125 and 275 million
i was surprised too. it could b that he contributes a lot of his money to worthy causes.
Exactly! ! Was wondering that, too. Come on. ..it’s The Who !!! Maybe, it’s his lifestyle.
When You said “Top 10 Richest” I thought the list would be of the “Top Ten Richest Sounding”, guitar players? The Guitar Players that can make their guitar sing and wail !!!!
But this is for their money, I find it hard to believe that the sons of John and George are making that kind of money, making music.
Paul he’s an icon, but concert wise its the same old songs over and over, I Love him, but paying to see him more than once, not!!!!
Rich Guitar Players: Carlos Santana, Lindsey Buckingham, Steve Howe, Neal Schon??????
Corporate manufactured images, parasites, posers, talent and all of the above.
The exceptions, IMHO are Keith and EC. Paul deserves equal credit, but not for guitar playing.
I think Springsteen came from the Village People, originally hired to play the homosexual contraction worker. Soon, he mastered three chords, the pentatonic scale, posing for the camera, got the grunting, drooling, screaming and yelling down, made easy passages look difficult, and the rest is history.
Well, didn’t say most accomplished, just the wealthiest. No mention of Leo Kottke, John Fahey, or Carlos Santana.
http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/rock-stars/jimmy-page-net-worth/
Jimmy Page
Thanks for the link – I see they’ve pegged him in at 170M.
I haven’t made nearly that much money and I’m a super star on the flute circuit here in Boise.
What about Mark Knophler. Surely one of the world’s best guitarists. But for me unfortunately can’t sing half as good
Also how about Hank B Marvin. What a player
I was surprised to see Hank B Marvin mentioned. I liked his playing way back when and often wondered what became of him over the years.
How about dead guitarists as in Jimi Hendrix. I m sure his estate has to be on this list somewhere. The city of Seattle, who have claimed him now, arrested him then, are gathering money to build a memorial to Jimi, who incidentally my own father shared a plot right next to in Greenwood memorial park in a Seattle suburb, Renton, WA. also known as the practice field of the SEAHawKS 2ND GREATEST NFL TEAM, 1ST IN BAD DECISIONS. I sincerely doubt whether my father who also died tragically via the drug alcohol at age 50, which I myself passed 15 years back, was terribly enamored with having Jimi as an eternal neighbor, The first time I brought a friend home in 65 with long hair, he was flabbergasted even sober. At any rate they moved Jimi to a cooler spot as he was making my DAD’s neighborhood look like the Woodstock mess, with beer bottles, joints left for Jim to smoke in the afterlight (very soggy joints) and constructed a memorial of sorts, which matters not to him I am sure. Nor does his money for that matter. Interesting aside to a conversation that has little meaning in their guitar playing. Elvis wasn’t even mentioned and if you look closely in his lamer movies his guitars, acoustic look like something from JC Penneys or SeARS & FUNNY THEY ARE MAGIC, NO STRINGS. Bossa NOVA HOOTCHIE KOO!
Oh, come on . . . John mclaughlin! Hasn’t anyone heard: Yngwei Malmsteen, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Guthrie Govan and the list goes on.
Strange that Vai and Satriani, along with other great guitarists, who attended the guitar night. At Expo’91 in Seville, all stated that they were there to see John McLaughlin. When Zappa was been touted as the fastest guitarist on the planet, in the early seventies, He was cut down to size by the speed and accuracy of McLaughlin. Yngwie is nothing more than a Ritchie Blackmore clone.
first off bowie was worth well over a half a billion . whatever mclaughlin makes he keeps
as monaco is a tax free country. the numbers thrown around here have little i common !
would you rather make lets say 50 million and keep all of it or live in the uk and lose
90% of it ? its not what you make its what you keep that’s the important part of
the equation !
Ernie Isley is better than them all but not as rich as none of them
Thank you, Jonathan Boetcher !! I follow you on my Gmail and took the free courses you provided. …!! Always lookin’ for a challenge, too !! I don’t know, but I think I have ” song block ” !! LOL.? Any remedies for that ?? Have much enjoyed your emails and have learned a lot from your instructions, tips, and funny stories. ..
Thank you for sharing !!. Ruth Watson
Hi Ruth, glad to hear you’re enjoying the lessons! I’m not sure exactly what you mean by song block – do you mean in regards to learning new songs, or to writing your own? I suppose the answer would be quite different, depending on which it is.
expected bib dylan to make the list
hes pretty good & has lots of fans
Outstanding Achievement
all the surviving successful greats should get together and help the starving musicians throughout the world. create a fund to be used for the unknowns to go forward, and become successful.. Hire creative, smart people to work and scout the starving talented musicians. The outcome would certainly boost the economies throughout the world.Ii myself did cross paths with at least three extremely talented musicians that would have added to a monetary value and music value in this creative successful world of talent. So as already said., just do it!
as I already commented, however, off, I have one eye, and it is difficult for me to see what I am actually doing. It seems as though my comment was not fully posted I said in this world of ours is many many successful people, especially in the music world of talent all the greats of the world, especially the guitarists, singers and performers should get together and create a fund for all the starving musicians throughout the world hire creative and smart people to work for this fund and scouts throughout the outcome would certainly be a boost to the economies of this failing world .I myself in my travels have come across many great talented people who were starving like most it is not a given that talented artists of the world will be found sooner or later with this idea of mine I repeat it will boost the economies of this failing world by discovering more talented greats that deserve to be on the charts, like others of the past for instants down in East Coast Florida in a popular club that’s frequented by many there’s this young kid who plays as if it were Jimi Hendrix on stage there are many places to donate money and if you believe what I believe this could be a successful,idea, put forward to reality let’s boost our failing world’s economy and find all the starving, talented musicians and performers, and give them a chance to spend their money along with the other greats
Paul McCartney is by far the greatest and the most talented musician songwriter that ever was and ever is to be he is a legend and he is writing icon songs like yesterday blackbird Eleanor Rigby happiness is a warm gun Martha my dear dear Prudence back in the USSR in the list goes on and on he is the music axis
Paul McCartney is by far the greatest songwriter that ever lived
Richards crap little better than armature guitar player in a pub band
bowie not a guitar player of any worth
eric clapton lives on his past reputation