Top 20 Richest Musicians and Their Net Worth in 2017
Forbes ranked the top 20 richest musicians and their net worth in 2017 based on earnings, assets, and business holdings. The list combined music royalties, touring income, and ownership stakes in companies and brands. The figures reflect publicly available data and Forbes estimates for the year 2017.
The rankings highlight artists whose careers generated income across albums, streaming, live performances, and licensing deals. Many of these musicians also built wealth through investments, record labels, and tech or consumer brands. Forbes and other financial outlets update these estimates annually using tax filings, contracts, and public disclosures.
Rankings, Earnings, and Business Holdings
Paul McCartney topped the 2017 list with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion, followed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jay-Z. These musicians earned income from songwriting royalties, catalog ownership, and touring. Jay-Z also built wealth through Roc Nation, his entertainment company, and early investments in companies like Uber and Spotify.
Other top names included Madonna, Celine Dion, and Bono, whose wealth came from music sales, shares in companies, and real estate. Many of these artists created holding companies or trusts to manage royalties and business interests. Forbes and Bloomberg tracked these holdings and reported the figures in their annual richest musicians lists.
Sources, Methods, and Public Data
Forbes compiled the 2017 net worth figures using interviews, financial disclosures, and public records. The magazine also referenced SEC filings for publicly traded investments and earnings reports for touring and merchandise revenue. These sources help verify income streams such as publishing rights, record royalties, and brand partnerships.
Artists with large catalog ownership, such as Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan, saw their net worth rise as streaming increased the value of their song rights. The data in the Forbes list reflects the period before major catalog sales in 2020 and later years, so the 2017 rankings remain a useful benchmark. You can read the full Forbes article on richest musicians and their net worth at Forbes.