Rock legends dominate The Sunday Times Music Rich List 2021
Pink Floyd, Queen and Rolling Stones stars all feature
The 33rd edition of The Sunday Times Rich List has been released today (21st May) and once again rock legends dominate the Music Rich List countdown thanks to the soaring value of their back catalogues.
According to the newspaper, The Beatles’ Sir Paul McCartney tops the list of the richest musicians in Britain and Ireland this year after his wealth apparently soared by £20 million to a massive £820 million.
Irish rock giants U2 are in second spot with a combined estimated wealth of £620 million, while The Rolling Stones’ Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are fifth and sixth with £310m and £295m respectively.
Other rock icons on the list include Queen’s Brian May and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters in joint 13th place with a £210m in the bank, Eric Clapton at no.16 (£195m), Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne at no.23 (£150m), Phil Collins at no.24 (£145m) and Jimmy Page at no.25 (£142m).
The Sunday Times says that despite there being no tours due to the coronavirus, these established music icons have continued to make vast amounts of money thanks to the depth of their back catalogues.
They write: ‘Starved of tours, this older generation of performers have fared well on music streaming services instead and also seen the value of their back catalogues soar after a number of eye-catching sales in the past year.
‘This has led our music valuer to attach greater value to the more extensive back catalogues, gains which may be realised in future years if they are sold.’
Explaining how the list is collated, The Sunday Times says: ‘The list is based on identifiable wealth, including land, property, other assets such as art and racehorses, or significant shares in publicly quoted companies. It excludes bank accounts, to which the paper has no access.’
The Sunday Times Rich List 2021: Music Rich List
1) Sir Paul McCartney: £820m
Up £20m
2) U2: £620m
Up £37m
3) Lord Lloyd-Webber: £525m
Down £275m
4) Sir Elton John: £375m
Up £15m
5) Sir Mick Jagger: £310m
Up £25m
6) Keith Richards: £295m
Up £25m
7) Olivia and Dhani Harrison: £290m
Up £20m
8) Sir Ringo Starr: £280m
Up £20m
9=) Calvin Harris: £220m
Up £40m
9=) Ed Sheeran: £220m
Up £20m
9=) Sting: £220m
Up £20m
12) Sir Rod Stewart: £215m
Up £15m
13=) Brian May: £210m
Up £20m
13=) Roger Waters: £210m
Up £20m
15) Michael Flatley: £206m
No change
16=) Eric Clapton: £195m
Up £20m
16=) Robbie Williams: £195m
Up £10m
18) Roger Taylor: £190m
Up £20m
19=) Sir Tom Jones: £175m
Up £5m
19=) Charlie Watts: £175m
Up £10m
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