Ed Sheeran could become the first British billionaire musician after another “golden year” saw his wealth reportedly increase by £40 million, according to the Sunday Times Music Rich List.
The Suffolk singer-songwriter, 31, places 10th on the annual list of UK and Irish artists with an estimated total wealth of £260 million.
Sir Paul McCartney, 79, claims number one in the rankings with a fortune of £865 million, which he shares with his American wife Nancy Shevell, but the list’s compiler believes Sheeran may beat him to £1billion if he continues his current trajectory.
Composer and impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber, 74, has seen his wealth drop by £30 million to £495 million amid the impact of Covid-19 on the theatre world, but is still at number three.
He recently announced the closure of his new West End musical, Cinderella, after it was repeatedly delayed due to the pandemic.
As he releases his third solo album, former One Direction star Harry Styles, 28, adds £25 million to his fortune, making him the wealthiest musician under the age of 30 with £100 million.
The last few years have seen the singer embark on a North American tour and release his second album Fine Line to positive reviews.
After boosting her fortune by £24 million to a total of £60 million, singer Dua Lipa rises to second place on the young musician list, drawing equal with girl group Little Mix.
Sting, former front man of The Police, has boosted his personal fortune by £100 million to some £320 million after selling his music rights to Universal Music earlier this year.
He was the latest high-profile artist to sell the rights to their back catalogue.
In December 2020, Universal acquired Bob Dylan’s entire song collection for a reported 300 million US dollars.
Dublin stadium rockers U2 are the top Irish entry in the list, jointly worth £625 million, while former One Direction member NiallHoran, 28, is the country’s wealthiest young musician, worth £52million.
Robert Watts, compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List, said: “Selling their music rights has proved extremely lucrative for many of the older acts on the Music Rich List - especially those who had quiet pandemics.
“We expect the post-Covid return to touring will see many of these singers and bands earn well this year and next. It seems old musicians never retire, they just get richer.
“Another golden year for Ed Sheeran leads us to believe he may in time pip Paul McCartney to become the first British billionaire musician.” -- dpa
FAQs
Ed Sheeran remains the richest young musician in the UK and the richest person under 40 in the East of England. The singer/songwriter, from Framlingham, Suffolk, paid himself £62 million for the first half of his Mathematics world tour, taking his total wealth to £340 million.
Is Ed Sheeran British yes or no? ›
Ed Sheeran (born February 17, 1991, Halifax, West Yorkshire, England) is a British singer-songwriter known for his genre-crossing style infused with elements of folk, rock, rhythm and blues (R&B), pop, and hip-hop.
Is Ed Sheeran one of the biggest artist in the world? ›
Sheeran has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling music artists.
How much is Ed Sheeran worth in 2024? ›
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ed's net worth is an estimated $200million (£159million). It's thought that the musician's sixth album, Subtract, which was the UK's fastest-selling album in 2023, contributed massively to his wealth.
Who is richest, Adele or Ed Sheeran? ›
For those under 35, Ed Sheeran, 32, is ranked the seventh wealthiest with a fortune of £300m, helped by his fast-selling sixth album "Subtract". Adele, who is now 35, is in ninth place with £165m.
Is Ed Sheeran richer than Paul McCartney? ›
Sir Paul McCartney's wealth is poised to pass £1 billion while Ed Sheeran is fast catching Sir Elton John's fortune, the Sunday Times Rich List 2023 reveals. Sir Paul McCartney is poised to pass £1bn in wealth whilst Ed Sheeran is closing in on the riches amassed by his mentor Sir Elton John, new figures show.
How many Brits has Ed Sheeran had? ›
His achievements include seven BRIT Awards; two in 2012 for British Breakthrough Act and British Male Solo Artist, two in 2015, British Male Solo Artist and MasterCard British Album of the Year for 'x' and for Global Success in both 2018 and 2019.
Did Ed Sheeran date Taylor Swift? ›
During an interview with The Rolling Stone in 2017, he criticised an article that claimed he dated the singer while on tour together in 2013. “I found that aspect quite lazy journalism,” he said “There wasn't any truth to it whatsoever.”
Is Ed Sheeran a lord? ›
Ed Sheeran: The Musical Baron of Sealand
In December 2012, the world was fascinated to learn that the Suffolk-born singer-songwriter had been conferred the title of "Baron von Edward Sheeran of Sealand." This unique honour was bestowed upon him by Sealand, the world's smallest independent sovereign state.
Is Adele bigger than Ed Sheeran? ›
But who's on top for combined album sales between Ed Sheeran and Adele? Across studio album releases, Music Week can reveal that Adele is in the lead with 12,493,940 sales across four LPs, compared to 12,053,318 for Ed Sheeran across five.
The richest musicians in the world are:
- Sir Paul McMarthy – $1.2 Million.
- Andrew Lloyd Webber – $1.2 Million.
- Rihanna – $1.7 Million.
- Jay Z – $1.3 Billion.
- Kanye West – $1.3 Billion.
- Madonna – $850 Million.
- Dr. Dre – $800 Million.
- Herb Alpert -$850 Million.
Ed Sheeran has been named the UK's most played artist of 2022. It's not the first time he's taken home this crown. He claimed the Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) title last year, and a whopping five times before that.
Is Ed Sheeran richer than Harry Styles? ›
Harry Styles beats Ed Sheeran to become richest UK celebrity aged 30 and under - IMDb. Singer Harry Styles has topped the list of the richest UK celebrities aged 30 and under for the first time, according to the Heat Rich List.
Will Ed Sheeran be a billionaire? ›
Ed Sheeran is set to be a billionaire before his thirtieth birthday - less than two years away. The singer has doubled his wealth in recent years, his recent Divide tour reportedly raking in a staggering £493million. Experts predict if his success continues, his personal wealth will top the £1billion mark.
Is Taylor Swift a billionaire? ›
The financial news outlet said she is the first artist to achieve billionaire status solely on the basis of her music, and estimated she has a $1.1 billion fortune.
Has Ed Sheeran had a number 1 in America? ›
Ed Sheeran was at No. 1 on the UK singles chart with 'Shape of You'. The song peaked at No. 1 on the singles charts of 34 countries, including the US Billboard Hot 100.
