Richest Guitar Players in the World

Music taste is deeply personal, and debates about the greatest guitar players of all time have been going on since the early days of rock and roll. Fans may never fully agree on who played the best solo, wrote the most unforgettable riff, or changed music the most.

What is easier to measure is financial success. Legendary guitarists can earn enormous fortunes through record sales, songwriting royalties, touring, licensing, solo projects, production work, and other creative ventures. Here is a look at some of the richest guitar players in music history and how they built their wealth.

15. Robbie Robertson

Net worth: $50 million

Bands: The Band

Bottom Line: Robbie Robertson

Robbie Robertson played a major role in shaping the sound of Americana and country rock. Without The Band, those genres may not have developed in quite the same way.

The Band was originally known as The Hawks and toured with rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins across Canada and the United States in the early 1960s. They later became Bob Dylan’s backing band during his famous electric period.

After stepping out on their own, The Band released “Music from Big Pink” in 1968. The album influenced major artists, including Pink Floyd, the Beatles and Eric Clapton. Clapton was reportedly so taken with the group that he wanted to join them after leaving Cream.

Robertson received full writing credit for many of The Band’s songs, although drummer Levon Helm maintained throughout his life that the music was created through a group effort. After The Band, Robertson worked as a solo artist, producer and film composer. He also collaborated with director Martin Scorsese on several scores, with “Killers of the Flower Moon” marking his final work with the filmmaker.

Robertson died on August 9, 2023.

14. Slash

Net worth: $90 million

Bands: Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver

Bottom Line: Slash

Slash, born Saul Hudson, became one of rock’s most recognizable guitarists as a founding member of Guns N’ Roses. He played with the band until 1996 before spending about two decades away from the group.

During that period, he co-founded Velvet Revolver with Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots and former Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan. Much of Slash’s fortune comes from touring and live performances.

He returned to Guns N’ Roses in 2016, and the band launched one of the biggest tours of its career. By the end of the run, the tour had grossed more than $584 million.

13. Mark Knopfler

Net worth: $105 million

Bands: Dire Straits

Bottom Line: Mark Knopfler

Mark Knopfler was the frontman, guitarist and songwriter for Dire Straits. Known for his distinctive fingerpicking style, he was ranked No. 27 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.”

Dire Straits sold more than 120 million records before disbanding in 1995. Knopfler also holds three honorary doctorates in music from universities in the United Kingdom.

After Dire Straits, he released several solo albums and composed film scores for movies including “The Princess Bride” and “Wag the Dog.”

12. Tony Iommi

Net worth: $140 million

Bands: Black Sabbath

Bottom Line: Tony Iommi

As the guitarist for Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi helped define the sound of heavy metal. His career almost ended before it began. At 17, while working in a factory, he lost the tips of his middle and ring fingers in a press machine accident.

Iommi adapted his technique and developed a heavier, darker guitar sound that became central to Black Sabbath’s identity. The band released 20 studio albums, sold about 70 million records worldwide and continued playing major arenas well into the 2000s.

11. Pete Townshend

Net worth: $150 million

Bands: The Who

Bottom Line: Pete Townshend

Pete Townshend has written more than 100 songs and is responsible for some of rock’s most famous anthems. As a co-founder of The Who, he helped create a catalog that remains influential decades later.

His rock operas “Tommy” and “Quadrophenia” became successful films and stage productions. The Who has sold more than 100 million albums since the 1960s, and the band’s songs continue to generate income through use in films and television.

Townshend has also built a strong solo career and is a best-selling author. Alongside Roger Daltrey, one of the band’s surviving members, he continued touring in 2022.

10. Angus Young

Net worth: $160 million

Bands: AC/DC

Bottom Line: Angus Young

Angus Young is famous for his schoolboy uniform, high-energy stage presence and hard-driving guitar riffs. He co-founded the Australian hard rock band AC/DC with his brother in 1973.

Across its career, AC/DC has sold about 200 million units from 16 studio albums. After frontman Bon Scott died in 1980, the band continued with singer Brian Johnson and released “Back in Black” the same year.

“Back in Black” became AC/DC’s best-selling album, with more than 50 million copies sold. The band released an album in 2020 and has continued to tour. In 2010, AC/DC earned $226 million across 99 performances.

9. David Gilmour

Net worth: $180 million

Bands: Pink Floyd

Bottom Line: David Gilmour

David Gilmour joined Pink Floyd in the late 1960s as a replacement for Syd Barrett, whose health prevented him from continuing with the band.

By the early 1970s, Pink Floyd had become a major commercial and critical force with albums such as “The Dark Side of the Moon,” “Wish You Were Here” and “The Wall.” Gilmour became one of the band’s key songwriters and one of its most recognizable musical voices.

“The Dark Side of the Moon” alone sold about 45 million copies and remained on the U.S. charts for 917 weeks, or roughly 14 years. After tensions with co-founder Roger Waters led Waters to leave Pink Floyd in the late 1980s, Gilmour continued performing under the band’s name. He also released successful solo albums into the 2000s.

6. Jimmy Page (Tied)

Net worth: $200 million

Bands: Led Zeppelin

Bottom Line: Jimmy Page

Jimmy Page is best known as the guitarist and a principal songwriter for Led Zeppelin, one of the most successful rock bands of all time. Before Led Zeppelin, he was a prolific studio musician and also played with The Yardbirds, a band that also included Eric Clapton at one point.

Page earned much of his fortune through Led Zeppelin’s album sales and tours. The band sold about 300 million records worldwide and, at its peak in the 1970s, earned around $1.5 million per show.

Led Zeppelin’s original run ended in 1980 after the death of drummer John Bonham. Page later worked on soundtracks and toured with singer Robert Plant performing Led Zeppelin songs. He continues to earn royalties from the band’s enduring catalog.

6. Kirk Hammett (Tied)

Net worth: $200 million

Bands: Metallica

Bottom Line: Kirk Hammett

Kirk Hammett joined Metallica in 1983, replacing co-founder Dave Mustaine, who later formed Megadeth. Hammett became an essential part of Metallica’s sound and one of the most famous lead guitarists in metal.

Metallica has sold about 150 million albums worldwide. The band also reached a new generation of listeners when “Master of Puppets” was featured prominently in Season 4 of “Stranger Things.”

Hammett has invested in homes in and around San Francisco. He is also known for his love of horror film memorabilia. His collection includes early film art featuring Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, the Mummy and other classic horror figures. Some pieces have been loaned for traveling exhibitions.

6. Ronnie Wood (Tied)

Net worth: $200 million

Bands: The Rolling Stones, Faces

Bottom Line: Ronnie Wood

Ronnie Wood is often considered the “new kid” in the Rolling Stones, although his history with the band goes back many decades. He became a permanent member in 1990, but he had toured with the group and contributed to albums since 1976 as an employee of the Rolling Stones organization, earning a monthly salary.

Before joining the Stones, Wood was a member of Faces with Rod Stewart. Because he is not one of the band’s primary songwriters, his fortune is smaller than that of some other Rolling Stones members. Even so, touring and record sales have helped him build an estimated net worth of about $200 million.

Wood is also a respected visual artist, and his work has been shown in exhibitions around the world.

5. Brian May

Net worth: $210 million

Bands: Queen

Bottom Line: Brian May

Queen released its debut album in 1973 and went on to sell more than 300 million records. As of 2021, the band’s net worth was estimated at $600 million.

After frontman Freddie Mercury died in 1991, many believed Queen’s story had ended. However, Brian May, Roger Taylor and former bandmate John Deacon continued working with guest singers. Deacon left the group permanently in 1997, and May and Taylor later brought in “American Idol” alumnus Adam Lambert as frontman.

May consulted on the Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” for which actor Rami Malek won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Queen remains popular and continued touring in 2022. May is also an astrophysicist who earned his Ph.D. in 2007.

4. James Hetfield

Net worth: $300 million

Bands: Metallica

Bottom Line: James Hetfield

James Hetfield is the co-founder, rhythm guitarist and frontman of Metallica. He is the second-wealthiest member of the band behind drummer and co-founder Lars Ulrich.

Like the other members of Metallica, Hetfield has earned most of his fortune through touring and recording. As one of the band’s principal songwriters, he has also benefited from the long-term value of Metallica’s catalog.

Hetfield has invested in several areas, including property and a custom car collection. His collection includes 11 custom vehicles, which have been displayed at LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.

3. Eric Clapton

Net worth: $450 million

Bands: Solo artist, Yardbirds, Cream, Derek and the Dominos, Blind Faith, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers

Bottom Line: Eric Clapton

Much of Eric Clapton’s wealth comes from his highly successful solo career, which began around 1974. His solo hits include “You Look Wonderful Tonight,” which sold 4 million copies, “I Shot the Sheriff,” a Bob Marley cover, and “Tears in Heaven,” written after the death of his 4-year-old son, Conor, in 1991.

Before becoming a solo star, Clapton played and wrote on several classic songs, including “Can’t Find My Way Home” with Blind Faith, “Layla” with Derek and the Dominos, and “Sunshine of Your Love” with Cream.

Clapton is one of the best-selling musicians in history. He has sold more than 280 million records and continues to tour.

2. The Edge

Net worth: $400 million

Bands: U2

Bottom Line: The Edge

In the 1980s and 1990s, few bands were bigger than U2. The Edge, born David Evans, is a founding member of the group, which is notable for still having all of its original members.

U2’s commercial success places it among the biggest bands in rock history. The group is the second-highest-grossing touring act of all time, behind the Rolling Stones, with nearly $2.3 billion in ticket sales. U2 has also sold more than 175 million records.

All members of U2 contribute to songwriting, but the Edge and singer Bono are the band’s principal songwriters. U2 was also set for a months-long Las Vegas residency in 2023, adding another major chapter to the band’s live legacy.

1. Keith Richards

Net worth: $500 million

Bands: The Rolling Stones

Bottom Line: Keith Richards

The Rolling Stones formed in 1962, making them the oldest still-touring band on this list. The group has released 30 studio albums and dozens of singles, many of which became major hits. Since releasing their self-titled debut in 1964, the Rolling Stones have sold more than 200 million albums.

Keith Richards built his fortune as a co-founder, guitarist and principal songwriter of the band, working closely with longtime writing partner Mick Jagger. His riffs and songwriting helped define the sound of rock and roll for generations.

Richards has also released solo albums with the X-Pensive Winos, written a best-selling memoir titled “Life,” and appeared as the father of Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, in “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” in 2007.

The Rolling Stones also had an unfinished album scheduled for release in 2023. It was set to be their final album featuring drummer Charlie Watts, who died in 2021 at age 80.