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The 20 richest drummers in the world

By Joe Bosso
published 27 August 2012

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

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The 20 richest drummers in the world
Keep practicing. Those double stroke rolls can really pay off one day!
(Image credit: Louie Psihoyos/CORBIS)

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)
Net worth: $45 million
(Image credit: Paul R. Giunta/Corbis)

Tre Cool (Green Day)

Page 2 of 21
Page 2 of 21
Rick Allen (Def Leppard)
Net worth: $50 million
(Image credit: David Bergman/Corbis)

Rick Allen (Def Leppard)

Page 3 of 21
Page 3 of 21
Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band)
Net worth: $55 million
(Image credit: Amy Harris/Corbis)

Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band)

Page 4 of 21
Page 4 of 21
Jon Fishman (Phish)
Net worth: $60 million
(Image credit: Paul R. Giunta/Corbis)

Jon Fishman (Phish)

Page 5 of 21
Page 5 of 21
Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)
Net worth: $65 million
(Image credit: Kevin Estrada ./Retna Ltd./Corbis)

Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)

Page 6 of 21
Page 6 of 21
Tommy Lee (Motley Crue)
Net worth: $70 million
(Image credit: Jason Moore/ZUMA Press/Corbis)

Tommy Lee (Motley Crue)

Page 7 of 21
Page 7 of 21
Nick Mason (Pink Floyd)
Net worth: $75 million
(Image credit: Hubert Boesl/dpa/Corbis)

Nick Mason (Pink Floyd)

Page 8 of 21
Page 8 of 21
Alex Van Halen
Net worth: $75 million
(Image credit: Joe Bosso)

Alex Van Halen

Page 9 of 21
Page 9 of 21
Stewart Copeland (The Police)
Net worth: $80 million
(Image credit: Brendan McDermid/Reuters/Corbis)

Stewart Copeland (The Police)

Page 10 of 21
Page 10 of 21
Travis Barker (Blink-182)
Net worth: $85 million
(Image credit: Daniel Reinhardt/dpa/Corbis)

Travis Barker (Blink-182)

Page 11 of 21
Page 11 of 21
Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Net worth: $90 million
(Image credit: Jan Knoff/dpa/Corbis)

Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Page 12 of 21
Page 12 of 21
Joey Kramer (Aerosmith)
Net worth: $100 million
(Image credit: Igor Vidyashev/ZUMA Press/Corbis)

Joey Kramer (Aerosmith)

Page 13 of 21
Page 13 of 21
Roger Taylor (Queen)
Net worth: $105 million
(Image credit: Peter Kollanyi/epa/Corbis)

Roger Taylor (Queen)

Page 14 of 21
Page 14 of 21
Larry Mullen Jr (U2)
Net worth: $150 million
(Image credit: STEVE C. MITCHELL/epa/Corbis)

Larry Mullen Jr (U2)

Page 15 of 21
Page 15 of 21
Charlie Watts (The Rolling Stones)
Net worth: $160 million
(Image credit: A2748/_Ursula Düren/dpa/Corbis)

Charlie Watts (The Rolling Stones)

Page 16 of 21
Page 16 of 21
Lars Ulrich (Metallica)
Net worth: $175 million
(Image credit: NILS MEILVANG/epa/Corbis)

Lars Ulrich (Metallica)

Page 17 of 21
Page 17 of 21
Don Henley (The Eagles)
Net worth: $200 million
(Image credit: Jared Milgrim/Corbis)

Don Henley (The Eagles)

Page 18 of 21
Page 18 of 21
Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters)
Net worth: $225 million
(Image credit: Henry Ruggeri/Corbis)

Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters)

Page 19 of 21
Page 19 of 21
Phil Collins (Solo, Genesis)
Net worth: $250 million
(Image credit: Steve Marcus/Reuters/Corbis)

Phil Collins (Solo, Genesis)

Page 20 of 21
Page 20 of 21
Ringo Starr (The Beatles)
Net worth: $300 million
(Image credit: Henry Ruggeri/Corbis)

Ringo Starr (The Beatles)

Page 21 of 21
Page 21 of 21
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Joe Bosso
Joe Bosso
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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.

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