Making Money To The Beat Of Their Drum: The Richest Drummers Of All Time
Drummers might be in the background of thebands, but that doesn't mean their net worth is any less impressive. From Nick Mason to Ringo Starr, these drummers are worth millions!
Scroll and read to the beat of the drum because here are the richest drummers of all time.
Stewart Copeland: $80 Million
Rising to prominence as the drummer for the English rock band The Police, Stewart Copeland is also a skilled composer. He has worked on numerous television shows, movies, and even videogame scores.
His more famous works include the 1987 film Wall Street, the 1997 movie Good Burger, and the Spyro videogame series. Copeland's musical contributions have led to his net worth growing to $80 million.
Nick Mason: $180 Million
Nick Mason isn't only the drummer for Pink Floyd, but he is one of the founders and the only original member to stick with the band since its formation in 1965. The years spent in the popular progressive rock band helped Mason's net worth reach astounding heights.
With best-selling albums such as Dark Side of the Moon, Mason's net worth has amassed to a fortune of $180 million, a sum that has allowed him to pursue another passion -- cars and motor racing!
Charlie Watts: $250 Million
Considered one of the greatest drummers of all time, Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones was also creative in other ways. In 1964, he published a cartoon titled Ode to a High Flying Bird, a tribute to musician Charlie Parker.
Playing with one of the best-selling music artists of all time from 1963 until 2021, Watts accrued a net worth of $250 million.
Rick Allen: $50 Million
Since 1978, Rick Allen has been in the background banging away on the drums for the English rock band Def Leppard. Known as "The Thunder God," Allen overcame an arm amputation and is now considered one of the greatest drummers of all time, playing for one of the world's best-selling music artists (bands).
The Thunder God is worth a whopping $50 million.
Chad Smith: $90 Million
In 1988, Chad Smith joined the rock band The Red Hot Chili Peppers as their drummer. He's also dabbled in projects with other well-known artists, including Post Malone, Johnny Cash, and even Ozzy Osbourne.
Smith's work with the Chili Peppers, one of the best-selling bands of all time, has definitely helped his net worth grow to $90 million.
Alex Van Halen: $95 Million
Co-founder and drummer of the rock band Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, alongside his bandmates, sold over 80 million albums worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling artists in the world.
Due to their popularity, Van Halen became the highest-paid live act in the entire world, which helped grow his net worth to a solid $95 million.
Joey Kramer: $100 Million
While being the drummer for the famous rock band, Aerosmith helped drummer Joey Kramer's net worth skyrocket; his business ventures are most likely how it became a solid $100 million.
In 2013, Kramer partnered with Comfort Foods, Inc. to distribute his coffee line, Rockin' & Roastin' Coffee. In 2015, he partnered with businessman Les Otten to open two cafes under Joey Kramer's Rockin' & Roastin' Café and Restaurant brand.
Dave Grohl: $320 Million
Dave Grohl first gained recognition as the drummer for the grunge band Nirvana. After the band disbanded, Grohl went on to found the rock band Foo Fighters, becoming the frontman.
He's also founded the band Them Crooked Vultures, published a book called The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music, and became a filmmaker, creating the documentaries Sound City and Sonic Highways. All of his projects have contributed to the musician's incredible net worth of $320 million.
Lars Ulrich: $350 Million
The drummer for the rock band Metallica, Lars Ulrich, helped raise the band to mainstream popularity. With his name on every song as a co-writer, Ulrich is responsible for hits such as "Enter Sandman," "Nothing Else Matters," and "Fade to Black."
A nine-time Grammy Award-winning band, Ulrich has capitalized off their popularity and earned a net worth of $350 million.
Carter Beauford: $65 Million
A founder and drummer of The Dave Matthews Band, Carter Beauford is also one of the most successful members of the band. During his time with the band, Beauford has recorded and sold more than 60 million records worldwide.
The Grammy Award-winning drummer had an estimated net worth of around $65 million.
Don Henley: $250 Million
With a net worth of $250 million, the Eagles drummer Don Henley is one of the wealthiest drummers in history. Popular tracks such as "Witchy Woman," "Hotel California," and "Life in the Fast Lane" shot the band to international fame.
Even so, Henley pursued a solo career where he found an equal amount of success, producing five studio albums, a live DVD, and two compilation albums.
Travis Barker: $50 Million
The drummer of the pop-punk band Blink 182, reality star, and clothing company founder Travis Barker is widely considered "punk's first superstar drummer." He's made his millions with popular albums such as Enema of the State, collaborating with artists like Yelawolf and Machine Gun Kelly, and creating bands like +44 and Box Car Race.
As of 2021, Barker's net worth is around a whopping $50 million, making him one of the wealthiest drummers in history.
Bill Ward: $70 Million
In 1968, Bill Ward founded the metal band Black Sabbath alongside Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler. The drummer and a vocalist, Ward, also had a successful solo career after leaving the band in the 1990s.
Due to all of his musical ventures, Ward has amassed a net worth of $70 million.
Tré Cool: $50 Million
Tré Cool is known for being the drummer for the pop-punk band Green Day, a gig that helped his net worth grow to astounding heights. The band's second album Dookie gained worldwide recognition, selling more than 20 million albums and making the band one of the biggest-selling punk bands of all time.
As of 2021, Tre Cool's net worth is $50 million.
Larry Mullen Jr.: $250 Million
Larry Mullen Jr. might be best-known as the drummer of the rock band U2, but the Irish musician has been a part of many projects during his life. For the 1990 FIFA World Cup, he produced the Ireland national football team's song "Put 'Em Under Pressure."
Mullen Jr. also appeared in a few films, including A Thousand times Goodnight and Man on a Train. His various projects in the entertainment industry led his net worth to amass to a fortune of $350 million.
Tommy Lee: $70 Million
A founding member and the drummer for the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, Tommy Lee's eccentric personality landed him many projects outside of the music industry. While the band's success definitely helped accrue his wealth, Lee was also the star of numerous television shows, including Tommy Lee Goes to College and Halloween In Hell.
Lee's various projects have allowed him to amass a net worth of $70 million.
Jon Fishman: $60 Million
Jon Fishman is best known for his drumming skills with the band Phish. But that's not all this rockstar has done to earn his millions. Since 2017, Fishman has hosted a radio show on a local Belfast, Ireland, station, WBFY-LP.
Between that, 12 live albums, 16 studio albums, and collaborating with other artists on projects, Fishman's net worth is around $60 million.
Roger Taylor: $200 Million
The drummer for the English rock band Queen, Roger Taylor, is considered one of the greatest drummers of all time. During his time with Queen, Taylor helped write some major hits, including "Under Pressure," "These Are The Days of Our Lives," and "The Invisible Man."
His musical contributions and projects with the band led Taylor to accrue a net worth of $200 million.
Phil Collins: $300 Million
The lead singer and drummer for the band Genesis, Phil Collins has had a stellar career throughout the entertainment industry. Aside from composing hits such as "In The Air Tonight," Collins composed the score for Tarzan while appearing in numerous television shows and movies, including Hook, Buster, and Miami Vice.
As of 2021, Collins's net worth is an astounding $300 million.
Ringo Starr: $350 Million
Ringo Starr rose to fame as the drummer of the rock band The Beatles, one of the most famous bands during the 60s and 70s. From there, Starr went on to have a successful solo career, moving from out behind his drum kit to take center stage.
He's also earned money doing various film appearances, including Son of Dracula, Candy, and The Last Waltz. In 2020, Starr was named one of the wealthiest drummers in history, with a net worth of $350 million.
