Ringo Starr – $350 million
In response to being asked if Ringo Starr was one of the best drummers in the world, John Lennon allegedly quipped that he wasn’t even “the best drummer in The Beatles.” Regardless of whether that story is true, one thing is for certain: with a net worth of over $350 million, Starr is easily the wealthiest drummer in the world.
Phil Collins – $260 million
While most of Phil Collins’ considerable wealth comes from his career as a singer, he actually got his start drumming for the bands Genesis and Brand X. After a number of years with these bands, Collins went solo, achieving stratospheric success and a net worth of $260 million.
Dave Grohl – $280 million
Like Phil Collins, Dave Grohl isn’t particularly known for his drumming these days. However, before becoming the Foo Fighters frontman, Grohl was the drummer for Nirvana. With his name in the credits of some the most iconic albums in music history, Grohl’s net worth is unsurprisingly high, with most estimates putting it around $280 million.
Lars Ulrich – $300 million
As the drummer of Metallica – arguably the most influential heavy metal band of all time – Lars Ulrich has racked up a number of impressive accolades and bragging rights. These include induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, nine Grammy Awards and a massive net worth of over $300 million.
Don Henley – $200 million
As well as drumming for The Eagles, Don Henley also serves as the band’s lead vocalist. He’s also achieved considerable success as a solo artist, releasing four well-received albums under his own name. As a result, Henley is one of the wealthiest musicians in the world, with a net worth of over $200 million.
Travis Barker – $45 million
Drummers are often the least prominent members of the bands they’re in, but Travis Barker is arguably the most famous name in Blink-182’s lineup. As well as his lucrative music career, Barker has also hosted reality TV shows and started his own clothing line, and his net worth is estimated at around $45 million.
Tre Cool – $50 million
While Tre Cool – real-name Frank Edin Wright III – attained fame and fortune as the drummer of Green Day, he wasn’t actually in the band’s original lineup. The first Green Day drummer was John Kiffmeyer, but after he dropped out to focus on his studies, Wright replaced him, a decision which directly led to his current net worth of $50 million.
John Fishman – $65 million
Jon Fishman co-founded Phish with Mike Gordon while the pair were studying at the University of Vermont. While not quite as well-known as some of the other bands on this list, Phish has released an impressive total of 16 studio albums, all of which have sold well. As a result, Fishman is worth around $65 million.
Carter Beauford – $65 million
While his career has seen him work with a number of artists and groups, Carter Beauford is best known as the drummer of the Dave Matthews Band. With credits on a number of hit albums – six of which hit the top spot on the Billboard 200 – Beauford is reportedly worth at least $65 million.
Tommy Lee – $70 million
Thanks to his high-profile, tumultuous marriage to Baywatch star Pamela Anderson, Tommy Lee is easily the most famous of Motley Crue’s notorious members. As well as drumming for one of the most successful bands of all time, Lee also hosted his own reality show for a while, which helped contribute to his sizable net worth of $70 million.
Stewart Copeland – $80 million
While not as well-known as his bandmate Sting, Stewart Copeland has amassed a not-so-small fortune over the course of his music career. Outside of his drumming duties for The Police, Copeland has released a number of solo projects and scored several movies, and his net worth is estimated at $80 million.
Rick Allen – $50 million
Rick Allen was just 16 years old when he dropped out of school to go on tour with Def Leppard. Across a long, illustrious run, Def Leppard has become one of the best-selling bands of all time, enriching all their members, including Allen, who is estimated to be worth at least $50 million.
Charlie Watts – $200 million
While not as eccentric as his bandmates, Charlie Watts was every bit as successful. Prior to his death in 2021, Watts had been drumming for the Rolling Stones for more than five decades, racking up a net worth of over $200 million in the process. Keith Richards has also stated on multiple occasions that the band’s success is largely due to Watts.
Chad Smith – $90 million
In 1988, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer Jack Iron decided to quit and focus on his solo career, and – after a successful audition – Chad Smith was brought in to replace him. The following year, the band released Mother’s Milk, an album which turned them into global superstars. Over two decades later, the Chilis are still going strong, and Smith is worth around $90 million.
Joey Kramer – $100 million
One of the founding members of Aerosmith, Joey Kramer has enjoyed a long, lucrative career. As well as manning the drums, Kramer also wrote many of the band’s best-selling records, and he’s been handsomely rewarded for his contributions. Kramer is also the founder of Rockin’ & Roastin’ Coffee, and his business ventures have helped him attain a net worth of $100 million.
Larry Mullen Jr – $300 million
Despite not being quite as recognizable as his bandmates Bono and The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. has been with U2 since the very beginning. Unsurprisingly, being a founding member of one of the most successful bands on the planet comes with some financial perks, and Mullen Jr. is worth around $300 million.
Mick Fleetwood – $30 million
Despite the fact that they all reportedly hate each other, the members of Fleetwood Mac managed to keep their grievances from interfering with an incredibly successful run of albums and tours. All the band’s members are multimillionaires – including drummer Mick Fleetwood – although his net worth was knocked down to $30 million in 2023 after a messy divorce.
Ginger Baker – $2 million
Regarded as one of the most influential drummers of all time, Ginger Baker spent years drumming for Cream, before forming the supergroup Ginger Baker’s Air Force. While Baker died in 2019 with a net worth of $2 million, it is believed that his personal fortune was once considerably larger, with his wild, often self-destructive lifestyle burning through much of his cash.
Questlove – $16 million
Best-known as the drummer for The Roots, Questlove has also provided beats for a number of other artists, and he’s recognized as one of the most influential musicians in hip hop. In recent years, Questlove has also been the drummer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, a well-paying gig which has boosted his net worth to $16 million.
Nick Mason – $150 million
Nick Mason is the only member of Pink Floyd to appear on every single one of the band’s records, and he also wrote many of their songs. In addition to being the drummer in one of the most iconic bands of all time, Mason is also a keen investor, which has helped him build a net worth of around $150 million.
Taylor Hawkins – $40 million
In 2022, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins was found having passed away in a hotel room in Bogotá, Colombia, with an autopsy subsequently revealing that he died of a substance-induced cardiac arrest. Prior to his tragic and untimely demise, Hawkins was one of the highest-paid drummers in the world, with a net worth of $40 million.
Alex Van Halen – $95 million
As you can probably guess from his name, Alex Van Halen is one of the founding members of Van Halen. While not quite as famous as his brother Eddie, Alex has still profited enormously from the band’s success. In 2008, Van Halen became the highest-paid live act in the world, and he’s currently worth $95 million.
Steven Adler – $10 million
One of the founding members of Guns N’ Roses, Steven Adler enjoyed a successful run as the drummer of the band before he was kicked out in the 90s due to his substance abuse problems. Although he never achieved the same level of success, Adler continues to drum for a number of bands, and his net worth currently sits at around $10 million.
Neil Peart – $22 million
Prior to his death in 2020, Rush drummer and lead singer Neil Peart’s net worth stood at around $22 million. Peart – who tragically succumbed to an aggressive form of brain cancer – was nicknamed “The Professor” due to his intricate, technical style of drumming, with the musician listing Ginger Baker and John Bonham as his influences.
Roger Taylor – $200 million
Although he’s best known as the drummer for Queen – one of the most iconic bands in the history of music – Taylor has also performed with a number of other artists and bands, including Eric Clapton, Boni Jovi, and Foo Fighters. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist, Taylor’s name can be found in the credits of many albums, and he’s worth about $200 million as a result.
Bill Ward – $65 million
After achieving modest success as the drummer of Mythology in the early 60s, Bill Ward quit the band to join the newly formed Black Sabbath. The move definitely paid off, with Black Sabbath becoming one of the most influential metal bands of all time. Ward, who also hosts the Rock 50 radio show, is currently worth $65 million.
Bill Kreutzmann – $25 million
Widely celebrated for their eclectic, psychedelic take on rock ‘n’ roll, the Grateful Dead had the unusual distinction of having two drummers, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart. Kreutzmann was one of the founding members of the group, and he amassed a net worth of around $25 million during his years performing and recording with them.
Max Weinberg – $30 million
While he’s best known as the drummer for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, Max Weinberg is also the bandleader on Late Night With Conan O’Brien. Weinberg – who is the father of Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg – is currently estimated to be worth around $30 million.
Phil Rudd – $50 million
Phil Rudd has been drumming for AC/DC since the 70s, amassing a personal fortune of $50 million in the process. Rudd was temporarily replaced as the group’s drummer in 2015, when legal troubles in New Zealand, where he is a resident, prevented him from going on tour. In 2020, the band announced that Rudd was back behind the drum kit.
Tico Torres – $40 million
In 2018, Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As well as drumming for Bon Jovi and a couple of other bands, Torres is also a talented painter, and his artworks regularly sell for considerable sums. As of 2023, Torres’ net worth is believed to be $40 million.
Danny Carey – $40 million
In their list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time, Rolling Stone listed Danny Carey as number 26. Primarily known as the drummer for Tool, Carey frequently collaborates with other artists, with credits on albums by Skinny Puppy, Pigface, Adrian Belew, and many, many more. Carey is currently worth $40 million.
Ola Brunkert – $49 million
While he was never an official part of the group’s lineup, Ola Brunkert was one of only two session musicians to appear on every single ABBA album, excluding 2021’s Voyage. Unsurprisingly, Brunkert was paid handsomely for his services, and – prior to his death in 2008 – the drummer’s net worth stood at $49 million.
John Bonham – $10 million
Prior to his tragic death in 1980, John Bonham was the drummer for Led Zeppelin, one of the most celebrated bands of all time. Bonham’s net worth at the time of his death was $10 million, which – adjusted for inflation – is equivalent to about $43 million in today’s money.
Mickey Hart – $30 million
The second drummer of the Grateful Dead, Mickey Hart has also enjoyed a successful career as an author, primarily writing about drumming and music in general. This has allowed him to amass a slightly greater fortune than Bill Kreutzmann, and he’s currently worth about $30 million.
Keith Moon – $70 million
Before his untimely passing at the age of 32, Keith Moon was one of the most respected drummers in the world. During his time with The Who, Moon developed a reputation for his unique playing style, which made heavy use of intricate drum fills. At the time of his death in 1978, Moon’s net worth was estimated to be between $70 million and $100 million.
Hal Blaine – $6 million
Hal Blaine is believed to have been the most prolific session musician ever, having played in over 35,000 sessions. The drummer worked with a number of acclaimed groups and artists including The Beach Boys, The Supremes, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley, and his net worth at the time of his death was around $6 million.
Bill Bruford – $10 million
Throughout his long, distinguished career, Bill Bruford has demonstrated a capability to master any genre he tries his hand at. Best-known as the drummer on the first five studio albums of Yes, Bruford – who has now retired from performing live – currently has a net worth of $10 million.
John Dolmayan – $16 million
The second drummer of the thrash metal band System of a Down, John Dolmayan is known for his signature drum kit, which is comprised of almost 20 individual drums and cymbals. Regularly included on lists of the greatest drummers of all time, Dolmayan’s net worth is around $16 million.
Mike Portnoy – $10 million
In 2010, after 25 years as the drummer and backing vocalist of Dream Theatre, Mike Portnoy announced he was leaving the band. For the next 13 years, Portnoy drummed with a number of bands, including Avenged Sevenfold, Sons of Apollo, and Flying Colors. In 2023, Portnoy – who is worth a reported $10 million – rejoined Dream Theatre.
Karriem Riggins – $10 million
Lauded as one of the most technically gifted drummers working today, Karriem Riggins’ rhythmic talents are often sought by some of the most innovative musicians in the business. As well as regularly collaborating with artists like Kaytronada and Kayne West, Riggins has also released a number of successful solo projects, building a net worth of around $10 million.
