The Rolling Stones are Britain’s first billion dollar band: Rockers are the only musicians to gross 10 figures as they top up their bank balance with first album release in 18 years
Over the course of their career, while most famous faces will gain heavy pockets and a healthy bank account, not many walk away with a billion dollars.
Sitting at the top of the rich list are The Rolling Stones, who are the first band in Britain to gross a billion dollars.
The iconic band have struck gold through electrifying live performances and shifting over 250 million album sales.
Their concerts have hauled in a jaw-dropping $2billion in ticket sales over the years, and in 2021, fans splurged $130.9million on just 14 gigs during the No Filter tour in the U.S.
Cliff Dane, the money whiz who ranked the rockers for The Sunday Times Rich List, applauded the Stones, alongside Led Zeppelin, for kickstarting mega stadium tours.
Kerching! The Rolling Stones are the first band in Britain to gross a billion dollars thanks to their live performances, album sales and savvy business partnerships
Performers: Frontman Mick Jagger always knew how to put on a show and it’s these concerts that have hauled in a jaw-dropping $2 billion in ticket sales over the years
Even though the remaining members, made up of Ronnie Wood, 76, Mick Jagger, 80, and Keith Richards, 79, now play fewer shows, their devoted fans happily part with top dollar for tickets as they’re generally older with more disposable income and the Stones can now roll in more cash from the box office.
The person behind the Stones’ financial affairs today is Joyce Smyth, who rejigged the U.S, leg of the Stones’s tour after Mick’s heart surgery four years ago.
She’s been their secret financial weapon and was introduced to the rock stars by Prince Rupert, a private banker the band hired who later became known as ‘Rupie the Groupie’.
And despite Mick dropping out of his finance and accounting degree at the London School of Economics, he has consistently displayed a sharp entrepreneurial instinct.
He recently opened up saying: ‘I don’t actually really like business, I just have to do it. Because if you don’t do it, you get f***ed.’
Not one to shy away, the band have happily cashed in on partnerships with corporate giants like Budweiser, LVMH, Chase Manhattan, and more.
Microsoft even reportedly dished out millions to use ‘Start Me Up’ in a Windows 95 commercial and Mercedes shelled out $1.5 million to use ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ in a 2013 Super Bowl ad.
On Saturday, FC Barcelona debuted their limited edition match shirt which featured the infamous tongue and lips logo of the iconic band and retails at an eye watering $400.
Limited ed: On Saturday, FC Barcelona debuted their limited edition match shirt which featured the infamous tongue and lips logo of the iconic band and retails at an eye watering $400
Iconic: Despite the band now playing fewer shows, their devoted fans pay top dollar for tickets and the Stones can now roll in more cash from the box office (pictured (Top) Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts. (Bottom) Brian Jones and Bill Wyman)
Savvy: The band have happily cashed in on partnerships with corporate giants like Budweiser, LVMH, Chase Manhattan, Microsoft and Mercedes
Here for it: Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood put on a very animated display during the tense Barcelona and Real Madrid football match where the limited edition shirt was debuted
Gripping match: There was a huge turnout of fans who watched Barcelona take on Real Madrid
It comes after the three remaining members, Ronnie Wood released their first original album on October 20 after 18 years.
Hackney Diamonds, the bands twenty-fourth studio album, went straight in at number one – the 11th time the band have achieved this feat.
It is already the fifth fastest-selling album of the year and is currently the third most streamed album on Apple Music.
Six tracks from the new record — Angry, Sweet Sounds of Heaven, Get Close, Bite My Head Off, Depending on You and Mess it Up — made this week’s top 100 singles midweek chart.
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