The 20 richest lead singers in the world

(Image credit: Andreas Gebert/dpa/Corbis)

20 Richest Lead Singers

Every band needs a singer. At the very least they need to be able to hold a tune in a bucket, but the very best can whip a crowd up into a frenzy and look good doing it. While the rest of the band toils away behind them, putting in the hard yards required to bring both the rock and the roll, the singer is at the front taking all the glory and, as it turns out, all the cash.

According to the folks at Celebrity Networth, these are the singers that have amassed the greatest fortunes on the back of good looks, a decent voice and hips that don't lie. The calculations that follow are based on publicly available information (including sources such as Forbes and The Sunday Times) and include salaries and real estate holdings. The final totals include deductions for taxes, manager and agent fees, and lifestyle.

It's almost enough to make you want to step behind the mic yourself...

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Sammy Hagar (Van Halen)

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Anthony Keidis (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

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Steven Tyler (Aerosmith)

(Image credit: Andreas Gebert/dpa/Corbis)

David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)

(Image credit: Brian Hineline ./Retna Ltd./Corbis)

Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)

(Image credit: DOMENECH CASTELLO/epa/Corbis)

Axl Rose (Guns N' Roses)

(Image credit: DANIEL KARMANN/epa/Corbis)

James Hetfield (Metallica)

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Bruce Springsteen

(Image credit: David W Cerny/Reuters/Corbis)

David Bowie

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Rod Stewart

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Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters)

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Prince

(Image credit: Daniel Knighton/ZUMA Press/Corbis)

Dave Matthews (Dave Matthews Band)

(Image credit: LAURENT GILLIERON/epa/Corbis)

Phil Collins

(Image credit: Viktor Vasenin/ZUMA Press/Corbis)

Sting (The Police)

(Image credit: Denis Balibouse/Reuters/Corbis)

Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones)

(Image credit: ANDREW KRAVCHENKO/epa/Corbis)

Elton John

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Jimmy Buffett

(Image credit: GARY HERSHORN/Reuters/Corbis)

Bono (U2)

(Image credit: Yui Mok/epa/Corbis)

Paul McCartney (The Beatles)