Elton John net worth is something that many fans want to know. As one of the biggest music stars of all time, he has made a huge impact on the world with his songs and performances. Over the years, he has written and sung many famous songs that people still love today.
So, let’s take a closer look at how he made his money and what keeps his fortune growing.
Full Name | Elton Hercules John |
Date of Birth | March 25, 1947 |
Place of Birth | Pinner, Middlesex, England |
Occupation | Singer, Songwriter, Composer, Pianist |
Height | 5 feet 8 inches (172 cm) |
Weight | 200 lbs (90 kg) |
Spouse | David Furnish (m. 2014) David Furnish (m. 2005–2014) Renate Blauel (m. 1984–1988) |
Children | Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John |
Net Worth | $650 million |
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What Elton John Net Worth?
Elton John is a British singer, songwriter, and pianist with an estimated net worth of $650 million. His fortune comes from album sales, touring, music royalties, and business ventures. Over the years, he has sold more than 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time.
One of his biggest money-makers has been live performances. His Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, which began in 2018, became the highest-grossing tour in history, earning over $900 million. Elton has also made millions from royalties, as he owns the rights to most of his music.
Beyond music, Elton John has made smart investments in real estate, fashion, and charity work, ensuring his wealth continues to grow even after he steps away from performing.
Wealth
In April 2009, Elton John was worth £175 million (around $265 million) and was ranked as the 322nd richest person in Britain. By 2019, his fortune grew to £320 million, making him one of the top 10 wealthiest people in the British music industry.
Elton John owns many homes in places like Old Windsor, London, Los Angeles, Nice, and Venice. His home in Nice is on Mont Boron. He is also an art collector with one of the largest private photography collections in the world.
In 2000, Elton John spent £30 million in almost two years. This was about £1.5 million every month. Between 1996 and 1997, he spent over £9.6 million on property and £293,000 on flowers. In 2001, he sold 20 of his cars at auction for nearly £2 million. Some of these cars included expensive models like a 1993 Jaguar XJ220.
Since 2004, Elton John has sold his secondhand clothes at a shop called “Elton’s Closet.” In 2003, he sold items from his home to make space for more art.
In October 2021, Elton John was linked to the Pandora Papers, which revealed secret financial deals used to avoid paying taxes.
Early Life
Elton John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex, grew up as the only child of Stanley Dwight and Sheila Eileen. He was raised by his maternal grandparents in a council house. Elton went to Pinner Wood Junior School and Pinner County Grammar School but dropped out at 17 to pursue a music career. His father wanted him to have a traditional job, like banking, but Elton chose music.
Elton’s parents were musically inclined. His father played trumpet in a big band, and his mother loved music. Elton started playing piano at a young age and was quickly able to play songs by ear. He won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at age 11, where he studied for five years. Despite not always enjoying his classical lessons, he showed strong musical talent.
At home, Elton’s mother was lively and supportive, while his father was distant. His parents divorced when he was 14, and his mother remarried Fred Farebrother, a supportive stepfather. Elton wrote many of the songs that would make him famous while living in a flat at Frome Court, where he began his career in rock music.
Career
At 15, Elton John, helped by his mother and stepfather, became a pianist at the Northwood Hills Hotel. He played popular songs and his own. He joined a band called Bluesology and spent his days running errands and nights performing. By the mid-1960s, Bluesology played with big American soul stars like The Isley Brothers and Patti LaBelle.
In 1967, John met Bernie Taupin, who wrote lyrics for him. This marked the start of their famous partnership. John adopted the name “Elton John” in honor of two band members. In 1972, he legally changed his name to Elton Hercules John.
Elton and Bernie started writing songs for other artists before focusing on John’s music. Their early hits included “Your Song”, which became a top hit. Elton’s albums like Elton John 1970 and Tumbleweed Connection 1970 were successful in the US and UK.
In 1972, Honky Château reached number one in the US, with hits like “Rocket Man” and “Honky Cat”. He went on to release more popular albums such as Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 1973, which included hits like “Bennie and the Jets” and “Candle in the Wind”.
Elton formed his label, The Rocket Record Company, in the 1970s, and signed acts like Kiki Dee. His 1974 album Elton John’s Greatest Hits became a huge success. His music continued to chart with songs like “Crocodile Rock” and “Daniel”.
In the 1980s, Elton released albums like The Fox 1981 and Jump Up! 1982. He had hits like “Blue Eyes” and “I’m Still Standing”. He also performed at major events like Live Aid 1985 and worked with artists like Dionne Warwick on “That’s What Friends Are For”.
In 1990, Elton John reached his first solo UK number one hit with “Sacrifice” from Sleeping with the Past. The song stayed at the top for five weeks. The following year, he won a Grammy for Best Instrumental with “Basque”. He also performed at George Michael’s concert, where “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” became a hit in both the UK and US. John won Best British Male at the 1991 Brit Awards.
In 1992, John released The One, his first album recorded sober. “The One” and “Runaway Train”, a duet with Eric Clapton, were key tracks. John also signed a massive $39 million deal with Warner/Chappell Music. Later, in April, he performed at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert and appeared at the MTV Video Music Awards.
John’s song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1994. The Lion King soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 and went Diamond in 1999. That year, John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
John also worked on musicals like Aida and Billy Elliot, which became huge successes. His Billy Elliot the Musical grossed over $800 million worldwide. In 1997, he recorded “Candle in the Wind 1997” to honor Princess Diana, which became the best-selling single of all time.
In the 2000s, John released albums like Made in England and The Diving Board. He also performed in Billy Elliot and toured with The Million Dollar Piano. His charity work and performances continued, including concerts for causes like the Montserrat charity concert and Children in Need.
John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour started in 2018 and became the highest-grossing tour ever. He retired from touring in 2023 but planned to release new music. John also starred in the Rocketman biopic and released new songs like “Cold Heart” with Dua Lipa.
In 2024, John made a surprise appearance at a premiere for Elton John: Never Too Late in New York City, performing “Tiny Dancer”. He’s focused on spending time with his family but continues to plan for new music.
Personal life
In the late 1960s, Elton John was engaged to Linda Woodrow, who helped him and his partner Bernie Taupin financially. However, John ended the relationship just before the wedding. In 2020, he helped pay for Linda’s medical bills even though they hadn’t spoken in 50 years.
In 1970, after performing in Los Angeles, John started his first gay relationship with John Reid, his manager. Their relationship lasted five years, but Reid stayed as his manager until 1998.
John married Renate Blauel in 1984, but their marriage ended in 1988. Blauel later sued John over his autobiography, Me: Elton John Official Autobiography, which mentioned their relationship. The case was settled in 2020.
In 1976, John came out as bisexual, and in 1992, he openly said he was gay. He won a libel case in 1987 against The Sun for false claims about him.
In 1993, John started a relationship with David Furnish, a former advertising executive from Canada. They formed a civil partnership in 2005 and married in 2014. They have two sons, Zachary and Elijah, both born via surrogacy. John is also a godfather to ten children, including Sean Lennon and Damian Hurley.
John has been outspoken about religion. He is an atheist and has criticized the Roman Catholic Church’s views on homosexuality. In 2010, he called Jesus Christ “a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man.” Some Christian groups criticized him for this, but John continued to speak about the need for acceptance and love.
John once preferred civil partnerships but later supported same-sex marriage. He has said that the term “husband” better describes his love for David than the word “partner.”
Charity work
Elton John and his husband David Furnish started the Elton John Charitable Trust in 2007. It has helped over 100 charities. In 2014, John created the Elton John Sports Fund to support people with training and competition costs for over 50 sports.
John also performed I’m Still Standing during the One World: Together at Home TV special. This concert, organized by Lady Gaga, raised money for the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
Real Estate
Elton John has lived in a big house called Woodside in Old Windsor, England, since 1974. It’s a 37-acre estate built in the 1750s. He bought it for 400 thousand pounds, which is about $5 million today. Before moving there, he lived with his mom and stepdad in a small apartment. In 1988, Elton sold everything in the house for $8 million. He later fixed up the whole property.
Elton also owns other homes in places like Atlanta, Los Angeles, Nice, London, and Venice. In 2015, he bought a house in Beverly Hills for $33 million. It’s a huge, 20-acre property with a big house, a 25,000-square-foot main building, and a lot of cool features like a garage for 11 cars. He also bought nearby houses, including one in 2012 for $7.2 million and another in 2021 for $8.5 million.
In 1992, Elton bought a 2,500-square-foot penthouse in Atlanta. Over the years, he bought more units and turned them into a huge 13,000-square-foot home. He sold the place for nearly $14 million in 2023, after listing it for just under $5 million.
In 2022, Elton added a penthouse in Toronto to his collection of homes.
In 1987, MCA Records gave Elton a special birthday gift: a red Ferrari Testarossa. This car, famous from Miami Vice, could go 180 miles per hour and was a symbol of 80s coolness. Elton kept it in Australia for years before selling it in 2001 with just 12,427 miles on it.