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
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Easy Lover
  • Yes
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Music theory tricks
  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
Liam Gallagher (L) and Noel Gallagher (R) of Oasis perform during the opening night of their Live 25' Tour at Principality Stadium on July 04, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales
Singers & Songwriters Gallaghers accumulated £375 million last year and have made Sunday Times Rich List
 
 
Dave Grohl visits SiriusXM Studios on April 29, 2026
Drummers “I was like ‘That’s not my one’”: Dave Grohl recalls the time Nine Inch Nails laughed at him
 
 
British rock band Blur's drummer Dave Rowntree poses during a photo session in Paris on June 19, 2025
Music Industry Blur drummer loses legal action against PRS over distribution of royalties
 
 
Dave Grohl recording in Hilversum Studios, posed at drums
Artists How Dave Grohl delivered his Smells Like Teen Spirit drum track
 
 
Vanilla Fudge
Artists “We could have been as big as Led Zeppelin”: The heavy rock innovators whose drummer was a star before John Bonham
 
 
Sting and Stewart Copeland of The Police backstage at The Police: Concert to Benefit Thirteen/WNET & WLIW21 at Madison Square Garden on August 7, 2008 in New York City.
Drummers “I’m happy that we get along just fine”: Stewart Copeland says he and Sting are still talking
 
 
Latest in Drummers
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11:  (L-R) Musicians Chris Cornell, Matt Cameron, Kim Thayil and Ben Shepherd of Soundgarden attend the premiere of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" held at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California.
Bands Drummer Matt Cameron confirms that a final Soundgarden album is currently being mixed
 
 
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Drummers “It’s one of the first classic rock ’n’ roll videos”: Carl Palmer on ELP’s greatest hit
 
 
Frank Ferrer and Axl Rose of Guns N Roses performs onstage on Day 2 of the Download Festival at Donington Park on June 9, 2018 in Donington, England.
Drummers “Generous and super funny”: Who could ex-GNR drummer Frank Ferrer be talking about?
 
 
British rock band Blur's drummer Dave Rowntree poses during a photo session in Paris on June 19, 2025
Music Industry Blur drummer loses legal action against PRS over distribution of royalties
 
 
Sting and Stewart Copeland of The Police backstage at The Police: Concert to Benefit Thirteen/WNET & WLIW21 at Madison Square Garden on August 7, 2008 in New York City.
Drummers “I’m happy that we get along just fine”: Stewart Copeland says he and Sting are still talking
 
 
Anika Nilles of Rush performs during the opening night of their first American tour in 11 years at The Kia Forum on June 07, 2026 in Inglewood, California
Drummers “I thought, 'I have no idea how I'm learning that'”: How Anika Nilles prepared for the Rush tour
 
 
Latest in News
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 18: Steve Hackett performs at Fox Theater on November 18, 2025 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images)
Guitarists “I would even play harmonica or do a walk on”: Steve Hackett is still open to a hypothetical Genesis reunion
 
 
Richie Sambora performs onstage at the 33rd Annual Race to Erase MS Gala held at Fairmont Century Plaza on June 05, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Variety via Getty Images)
Guitarists Richie Sambora offers some eyebrow-raising advice to aspiring guitarists
 
 
sub bass speakers
Samples SampleRadar: 473 free sub bass samples
 
 
(MANDATORY CREDIT Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images) Duran Duran at photo studio in Tokyo, May 2, 1982. (Photo by Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images)
Artists “Mick said ‘You know you really do need to stick together'”: How Jagger stopped Duran Duran from splitting
 
 
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11:  (L-R) Musicians Chris Cornell, Matt Cameron, Kim Thayil and Ben Shepherd of Soundgarden attend the premiere of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" held at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California.
Bands Drummer Matt Cameron confirms that a final Soundgarden album is currently being mixed
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up July 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s July 2026 guitar gear roundup: featuring Orange Amps, Harley Benton, Epiphone and more
 
 

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...