Successful entertainers belong to the richest people of our society. Successful singers in particular belong to the richest within the general entertaniment industry. One successful single is usually enough to catapult a singer to millionaire status. The absolute richest music artists, however, brought out several well selling songs and albums. And most of them aren’t just successful nationally either, but have managed to sell their records all around the world. It is therefore no surprise that the following ranking of the Top 10 richest singers in the world includes several singers who belong to the best-selling music artists of all time, as well as to the best-selling bands of all time.

While their record sales certainly still do represent a large chunk of their overall net worth, singers nowadays have a lot more income streams. Concerts / Tours, commercials, sponsorship deals, social media influencing, TV appearances, etc. all are different ways of making money for a music artist once he or she gets his/her breakthrough. Oftentimes singers will also venture into completely different businesses which have nothing to do with the music industry and also add to their net worths.

In any case, the richest singers in the world are all easily multi-millionaires. The currently absolute richest singer in the world is even a billionaire as you will see in this following Top 10 singers ranking.

Note: The ranking ranks the Top 10 richest singers in the world. Other music artists, such as rappers, are therefore not included here.

The 10 Richest Singers in the World

(as of April 2020)

1. Paul McCartney

Net worth: ~ $1.2 billion

Born: June 18, 1942 in Liverpool, England, UK
Nationality: British

Source of wealth (music): Part of The Beatles & Solo career
Source of wealth (other): Founder & Owner of MPL Communications, Co-Owner of Apple Corps

2. Paul Hewson a.k.a. Bono

Net worth: ~ $700 million

Born: May 10, 1959 in Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Nationality: Irish

Source of wealth (music): Part of U2
Source of wealth (other): Co-Owner of the Clarence Hotel (in Dublin, Ireland), Author of poetry books, Board member of Elevation Partners & Zipline

3. Robyn Fenty a.k.a. Rihanna

Net worth: ~ $600 million

Born: June 18, 1942 in Bridgetown, Saint Michael, Barbados
Nationality: Barbadian

Source of wealth (music): Solo career
Source of wealth (other): Founder & Owner of Westbury Road Entertainment, Co-Owner of Tidal, Own fragrance lines (for Parlux Fragrances)

4. Madonna Ciccone

Net worth: ~ $570 million

Born: August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan, USA
Nationality: American

Source of wealth (music): Solo career
Source of wealth (other): Co-Owner of MG Icon, Own fashion lines (for H&M, Dolce&Gabbana & Macy’s)

5. Mariah Carey

Net worth: ~ $540 million

Born: March 27, 1969 in Huntington, New York, USA
Nationality: American

Source of wealth (music): Solo career
Source of wealth (other): Own frangrance line (for Elizabeth Arden), Own ornament line (for Swarovski)

6. Elton John

Net worth: ~ $520 million

Born: March 25, 1947 in London, England, UK
Nationality: British

Source of wealth (music): Solo career
Source of wealth (other): Founder and Owner of Elton’s Closet, Art collection (among the world’s biggest), Real estates, Shareholder of Watford FC

7. Dolly Parton

Net worth: ~ $510 million

Born: January 19, 1946 in Pittman Center, Tennessee, USA
Nationality: American

Source of wealth (music): Solo career
Source of wealth (other): Founder & Owner of Dixie Pixie Productions, Co-Owner of The Dollywood Company

8. Gloria Estefan

Net worth: ~ $500 million

Born: September 1, 1957 in Havana, La Habana, Cuba
Nationality: Cuban & American

Source of wealth (music): Solo career
Source of wealth (other): Co-Owner of Bongos Cuban Cafe & Larios on the Beach (restaurant chains), Co-Owner of the Costa d’Este Hotel (Vero Beach, USA) & The Cardozo Hotel (Miami Beach, USA), Co-Owner of the Miami Dolphins, Board member of Univision Communications, Book Author, Acting work

9. Bruce Springsteen

Net worth: ~ $490 million

Born: September 23, 1949 in Long Branch, New Jersey, USA
Nationality: American

Source of wealth (music): Solo career
Source of wealth (other): Broadway shows, Book author

10. Celine Dion

Net worth: ~ $450 million

Born: March 30, 1968 in Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada
Nationality: Canadian

Source of wealth (music): Solo career
Source of wealth (other): Co-Founder & Co-Owner of Les Productions Feelings, Co-Founder & Co-Owner of Nickels (restaurant chain), Co-Owner of Schwartz’s Restaurant (in Montreal, Canada), Co-Owner of Le Mirage Golf Club (Terrebonne, Canada), Co-Owner of Pure (night club in Las Vegas, USA), Own fragrance line (for Coty)