Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Recording Week 25
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • As It Was preset
  • Don't Give Up
  • Ron Wood's drum secret
  • 95k+ free music samples
Don't miss these
Man plays Alesis Nitro Max drum kit with black sticks
Electronic Drums Best beginner electronic drum sets 2025: top-rated entry-level e-drums, reviewed by experts
Drummer sat at an e-kit places a pair of headphones over his head
Drummers Best headphones for drummers 2025: sound isolation for the studio, rehearsal room and stage
Kids hands on a beginner keyboard
Keyboards & Pianos Best keyboards for beginners 2025: Get started with our expert pick of beginner keyboards for all ages
Earplugs being tested at a loud band rehearsal
Tech Best earplugs for musicians 2025: protect your hearing with these essential audio attenuators, for the practice room to your next gig
Danny Carey
Drummers 6 of the most inspirational drummers of all time
There's a joke here somewhere
Drummers 21 of the best drummer jokes ever
Drummers Listen to 11 isolated drum tracks from rock's drumming legends
Amen Break
Drums When sampling ruled the world - and drummers didn’t get paid!
Jeff Porcaro
Artists Exploring the genius of Jeff Porcaro's Rosanna Shuffle
From Bobby Z to Hannah F
Drummers The many drummers of Prince
Drummers When British rock drumming ruled the world
Clem Burke, Ancienne Belgique (AB), Brussels, Belgium, November 1998
Drummers Clem Burke's 10 essential drum albums
Side profile of a person playing a drum kit
Drum Lessons & Tutorials 13 easy drum songs every beginner should learn
Electronic drum set pioneers: Neil Peart
Electronic Drums 11 trailblazing players who raised the bar for electronic and hybrid drumming
The Beatles Get Back
Drummers 11 great movies, documentaries and shows that drummers should check out
  1. Artists
  2. Drummers

The 20 richest drummers in the world

News
By Joe Bosso published 27 August 2012

Keep practicing. Those double stroke rolls can really pay off one day!

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

The 20 richest drummers in the world

The 20 richest drummers in the world

Let's face it: drummers are the Rodney Dangerfields of rock. They get no respect. Shoved in the back, many of them faceless to the general public, and hey, let's not forget all those drummer jokes. (Example: What do you call a drummer without a girlfriend? Homeless.)

Except for these guys. According to Celebrity Networth, what follows are the 20 richest drummers in the world. Their calculations are based on public information (from sites such as Forbes and The Sunday Times) including salaries, real estate holdings and divorces. The final totals come from a formula that takes out taxes, managers' fees, agents' fees and lifestyle.

All of which means one thing: The next time your parents, friends or neighbors complain about that unbearable racket you're making, you can show them this list and let them know that the phrase "give the drummer some" can be taken quite literally.

Page 1 of 21
Page 1 of 21
Tre Cool (Green Day)

Tre Cool (Green Day)

Page 2 of 21
Page 2 of 21
Rick Allen (Def Leppard)

Rick Allen (Def Leppard)

Page 3 of 21
Page 3 of 21
Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band)

Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band)

Page 4 of 21
Page 4 of 21
Jon Fishman (Phish)

Jon Fishman (Phish)

Page 5 of 21
Page 5 of 21
Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)

Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)

Page 6 of 21
Page 6 of 21
Tommy Lee (Motley Crue)

Tommy Lee (Motley Crue)

Page 7 of 21
Page 7 of 21
Nick Mason (Pink Floyd)

Nick Mason (Pink Floyd)

Page 8 of 21
Page 8 of 21
Alex Van Halen

Alex Van Halen

Page 9 of 21
Page 9 of 21
Stewart Copeland (The Police)

Stewart Copeland (The Police)

Page 10 of 21
Page 10 of 21
Travis Barker (Blink-182)

Travis Barker (Blink-182)

Page 11 of 21
Page 11 of 21
Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Page 12 of 21
Page 12 of 21
Joey Kramer (Aerosmith)

Joey Kramer (Aerosmith)

Page 13 of 21
Page 13 of 21
Roger Taylor (Queen)

Roger Taylor (Queen)

Page 14 of 21
Page 14 of 21
Larry Mullen Jr (U2)

Larry Mullen Jr (U2)

Page 15 of 21
Page 15 of 21
Charlie Watts (The Rolling Stones)

Charlie Watts (The Rolling Stones)

Page 16 of 21
Page 16 of 21
Lars Ulrich (Metallica)

Lars Ulrich (Metallica)

Page 17 of 21
Page 17 of 21
Don Henley (The Eagles)

Don Henley (The Eagles)

Page 18 of 21
Page 18 of 21
Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters)

Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters)

Page 19 of 21
Page 19 of 21
Phil Collins (Solo, Genesis)

Phil Collins (Solo, Genesis)

Page 20 of 21
Page 20 of 21
Ringo Starr (The Beatles)

Ringo Starr (The Beatles)

Page 21 of 21
Page 21 of 21
Categories
Drums
Joe Bosso
Joe Bosso

Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar World, Guitar Player, MusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.

Read more
Danny Carey
6 of the most inspirational drummers of all time
 
 
There's a joke here somewhere
21 of the best drummer jokes ever
 
 
Listen to 11 isolated drum tracks from rock's drumming legends
 
 
Amen Break
When sampling ruled the world - and drummers didn’t get paid!
 
 
Jeff Porcaro
Exploring the genius of Jeff Porcaro's Rosanna Shuffle
 
 
From Bobby Z to Hannah F
The many drummers of Prince
 
 
Latest in Drummers
Lars Ulrich of Metallica performs at Levi's Stadium on June 20, 2025 in Santa Clara, California.
"Stick with it. Focus…You've gotta put the time in”: Lars Ulrich’s advice to young artists
 
 
Simon Phillips performing with Toto in 2007
“Everybody knew Jeff was a great drummer”: How Simon Phillips succeeded in replacing Jeff Porcaro in Toto
 
 
Blue Carpet held at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 06, 2025 in Queens
The one where Courteney Cox plays Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit on the drums and goes viral
 
 
Simon Phillips
“I didn't recognise him. I found out later it was Dave Gilmour!”: Simon Phillips' chaotic session with Pete Townshend
 
 
DarWin
“Most pop music is rubbish now”: Legendary drummer Simon Phillips on producing supergroup DarWin
 
 
Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam performs live on stage during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at Fair Grounds Race Course on May 03, 2025
Matt Cameron explains why he left Pearl Jam and insists that the final Soundgarden album is coming
 
 
Latest in News
A selection of IK Multimedia plugins for music production on a purple background
Buy one $49.99 IK Multimedia plugin and get a whopping 38 free with the best plugin deal of the year so far
 
 
Rick Rubin, D'Angelo and Eric Clapton
When Rick Rubin and Eric Clapton got to hear D’Angelo’s Voodoo album before it was released, they were blown away
 
 
Shirley Manson of Garbage performs during the Ohana Music Festival held at Doheny State Beach on September 26, 2025 in Dana Point, California
“You’re gonna get f***ing white bread”: Shirley Manson takes aim at the music industry, Spotify and Ticketmaster
 
 
Zultan Alaris cymbals
“Deliver a light, open sound with exceptional stick definition and a gentle, airy wash: Zultan unveil new ALARIS cymbal range
 
 
BLOW RECORDS Spotify header
Meet the AI 'artist' that's earning four times the average wage in the UK
 
 
INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 19: Prince performs live at the Fabulous Forum on February 19, 1985 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
How Prince embraced The Beatles and recorded one of the most vulnerable ballads of his career
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...