Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • 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
Don't miss these
Text banner saying He's the fastest drummer in the world
Drummers “I can play up to 20 hits per second”: Meet Jason Barnes – the AI-assisted one armed drummer
Sly Dunbar at the kit, circa 1984
Drummers “True icon … one of the greatest drummers of all time”: The world mourns the passing of Sly Dunbar
The Who
Artists “I have to be careful what I say": Pete Townshend on Zak Starkey’s protracted dismissal from The Who
Vanilla Fudge
Artists “We could have been as big as Led Zeppelin”: The heavy rock innovators whose drummer was a star before John Bonham
Chad Smith stood behind a surprised drum student
Drummers “Ignore the Hall Of Fame drummer sitting next to you”: Chad Smith is replacement drum teacher for the day
AUSTIN, TX - DECEMBER 09:  Displayed in public for the first time is John Lennon's piano, used to write numerous Beatles songs and part of Indianapolis Colts CEO and Owner Jim Irsay's "Jim Irsay Collection" during a reception at the Four Seasons Hotel on December 9, 2021 in Austin, Texas.  (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)
Keyboards & Pianos "Lot after lot, we felt like we were making history”: John Lennon’s Broadwood piano goes for £2.5 million
Harry Styles arrives at Valentino Pavillon des Folies Show as part of the Paris Fashion Week on September 29, 2024
Singers & Songwriters You're Working For No-One But Me: Harry Styles is the UK pop’s biggest contributor to the taxman
Rush's Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee perform in 2015; on the right, Anika Nilles, the drummer who will be playing drums for the band's reunion tour.
Artists Geddy Lee on how he and Alex Lifeson chose Anika Nilles to fill the late, great Neil Peart’s role in Rush reunion tour
American historic producer of British singer David Bowie, Tony Visconti, poses during a photo session in Paris on November 19, 2019
Singers & Songwriters “Afterwards he sent David an invoice for $10,000”: Tony Visconti on Dave Grohl’s “ludicrious” Bowie session fee
Josh Freese playing DW drums
Drummers “Any band graced with his presence was fortunate indeed”: Josh Freese to be given a Lifetime Achievement Award by DW
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush perform live in 2015.
Artists Geddy Lee on honouring Neil Peart and why he and Alex Lifeson are getting back together as Rush
The Police - Stewart Copeland, Sting And Andy Summers, black and white photo 1983
Bands Police royalties case – Sting has paid $800,000 to Summers and Copeland
Derek Trucks [left] plays his Dickey Betts SG live onstage; [right] a portrait close-up of Jerry Garcia's Tiger guitar, which recently sold for $11,560,000.
Artists Derek Trucks reveals what it’s like to play Jerry Garcia’s record-breaking $11.6mn Tiger guitar
Carl Palmer
Artists “We had three prog musicians from big bands playing bubblegum songs, really”: Carl Palmer on his ’80s supergroup Asia
Texan guitar phenom Eric Johnson plays a Fender Stratocaster in a Tropical Turquoise finish during a 2016 performance with the Experience Hendrix Tour.
Artists “It would be way better if drummers weren’t reduced to nothing”: Eric Johnson on the one thing he doesn’t like about modern pop music
More
  • Sly and Survivor
  • In My Life
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • One chord Diamond
  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
Text banner saying He's the fastest drummer in the world
Drummers “I can play up to 20 hits per second”: Meet Jason Barnes – the AI-assisted one armed drummer
 
 
Sly Dunbar at the kit, circa 1984
Drummers “True icon … one of the greatest drummers of all time”: The world mourns the passing of Sly Dunbar
 
 
The Who
Artists “I have to be careful what I say": Pete Townshend on Zak Starkey’s protracted dismissal from The Who
 
 
Vanilla Fudge
Artists “We could have been as big as Led Zeppelin”: The heavy rock innovators whose drummer was a star before John Bonham
 
 
Chad Smith stood behind a surprised drum student
Drummers “Ignore the Hall Of Fame drummer sitting next to you”: Chad Smith is replacement drum teacher for the day
 
 
AUSTIN, TX - DECEMBER 09:  Displayed in public for the first time is John Lennon's piano, used to write numerous Beatles songs and part of Indianapolis Colts CEO and Owner Jim Irsay's "Jim Irsay Collection" during a reception at the Four Seasons Hotel on December 9, 2021 in Austin, Texas.  (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)
Keyboards & Pianos "Lot after lot, we felt like we were making history”: John Lennon’s Broadwood piano goes for £2.5 million
 
 
Latest in Drummers
Dave Grohl and Josh Freese in 2023
Drummers “It didn’t seem like it was going to benefit anybody”: Why the reasons for Josh Freese’s sacking from Foo Fighters were kept vague
 
 
Text banner saying He's the fastest drummer in the world
Drummers “I can play up to 20 hits per second”: Meet Jason Barnes – the AI-assisted one armed drummer
 
 
American historic producer of British singer David Bowie, Tony Visconti, poses during a photo session in Paris on November 19, 2019
Singers & Songwriters “Afterwards he sent David an invoice for $10,000”: Tony Visconti on Dave Grohl’s “ludicrious” Bowie session fee
 
 
Chad Smith stood behind a surprised drum student
Drummers “Ignore the Hall Of Fame drummer sitting next to you”: Chad Smith is replacement drum teacher for the day
 
 
Phil Collins
Artists “That was a big mistake. I underestimated just how difficult it would be”: When Phil Collins played drums with a Genesis tribute act
 
 
Close-up of a gorilla mask
Drummers “Definitely one of the biggest highlights of my career”: The Cadburys ad gorilla remembers his “dream job”
 
 
Latest in News
Paul McCartney
Artists How an unfamiliar guitar chord proved to be the catalyst for Paul McCartney’s new album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane
 
 
Chaka Khan (left), and Whitney Houston perform during the finale of the VH1 DIVAS LIVE '99 at the Beacon Theatre in New York on Tuesday, April 13.  Other performers include Brandy, Tina Turner, and Cher, with a special performance by Elton John. Photo by Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect.
Artists Chaka Khan on her early encounter with the ‘80s star who would later cover one of her biggest hits
 
 
deadmau5
Synths “I have severe Gear Acquisition Syndrome”: Deadmau5 shows off his insane synth collection
 
 
Guitars baggage handler LAX
Guitars Viral footage shows a baggage handler throwing multiple guitars to the ground at LAX
 
 
spotify
Streaming Spotify's new SongDNA feature reveals the "complex web of people, stories and inspirations" behind each song
 
 
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy Carter look onprior to the start of Super Bowl LX  between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Artists Jay-Z says that his daughter Blue Ivy is a “crazy pianist” who has a rare musical gift
 
 

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

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • 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...