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
  • Bridge Over Troubled Water
  • World in Motion
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • The genius of Clive Davis
  1. Artists
  2. Guitarists

The 10 Highest-Earning Guitarists 2011

News
By Matthew Parker
Published 17 June 2011

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Matt Bellamy (Muse)

Matt Bellamy (Muse)

America’s Forbes magazine released its annual rich list recently. Here we present you with the 10 highest-earning guitarists to appear in the list, along with their band earnings from the last 12 months (to the nearest million dollars).

According to Forbes, the figures are pre-tax and management fees. Although we realise not all of these figures will be recognised as guitarists first and foremost, they are all guitar-players and use the instrument live and in their recordings.

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Tim McGraw

Tim McGraw

America’s Forbes magazine released its annual rich list recently. Here we present you with the 10 highest-earning guitarists to appear in the list, along with their band earnings from the last 12 months (to the nearest million dollars).

According to Forbes, the figures are pre-tax and management fees. Although we realise not all of these figures will be recognised as guitarists first and foremost, they are all guitar-players and use the instrument live and in their recordings.

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Angus Young (AC/DC)

Angus Young (AC/DC)

America’s Forbes magazine released its annual rich list recently. Here we present you with the 10 highest-earning guitarists to appear in the list, along with their band earnings from the last 12 months (to the nearest million dollars).

According to Forbes, the figures are pre-tax and management fees. Although we realise not all of these figures will be recognised as guitarists first and foremost, they are all guitar-players and use the instrument live and in their recordings.

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Tom Petty

Tom Petty

America’s Forbes magazine released its annual rich list recently. Here we present you with the 10 highest-earning guitarists to appear in the list, along with their band earnings from the last 12 months (to the nearest million dollars).

According to Forbes, the figures are pre-tax and management fees. Although we realise not all of these figures will be recognised as guitarists first and foremost, they are all guitar-players and use the instrument live and in their recordings.

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Brad Paisley

Brad Paisley

America’s Forbes magazine released its annual rich list recently. Here we present you with the 10 highest-earning guitarists to appear in the list, along with their band earnings from the last 12 months (to the nearest million dollars).

According to Forbes, the figures are pre-tax and management fees. Although we realise not all of these figures will be recognised as guitarists first and foremost, they are all guitar-players and use the instrument live and in their recordings.

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Toby Keith

Toby Keith

America’s Forbes magazine released its annual rich list recently. Here we present you with the 10 highest-earning guitarists to appear in the list, along with their band earnings from the last 12 months (to the nearest million dollars).

According to Forbes, the figures are pre-tax and management fees. Although we realise not all of these figures will be recognised as guitarists first and foremost, they are all guitar-players and use the instrument live and in their recordings.

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Dave Matthews

Dave Matthews

America’s Forbes magazine released its annual rich list recently. Here we present you with the 10 highest-earning guitarists to appear in the list, along with their band earnings from the last 12 months (to the nearest million dollars).

According to Forbes, the figures are pre-tax and management fees. Although we realise not all of these figures will be recognised as guitarists first and foremost, they are all guitar-players and use the instrument live and in their recordings.

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Joe Walsh (The Eagles)

Joe Walsh (The Eagles)

America’s Forbes magazine released its annual rich list recently. Here we present you with the 10 highest-earning guitarists to appear in the list, along with their band earnings from the last 12 months (to the nearest million dollars).

According to Forbes, the figures are pre-tax and management fees. Although we realise not all of these figures will be recognised as guitarists first and foremost, they are all guitar-players and use the instrument live and in their recordings.

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi)

Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi)

America’s Forbes magazine released its annual rich list recently. Here we present you with the 10 highest-earning guitarists to appear in the list, along with their band earnings from the last 12 months (to the nearest million dollars).

According to Forbes, the figures are pre-tax and management fees. Although we realise not all of these figures will be recognised as guitarists first and foremost, they are all guitar-players and use the instrument live and in their recordings.

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
The Edge (U2)

The Edge (U2)

America’s Forbes magazine released its annual rich list recently. Here we present you with the 10 highest-earning guitarists to appear in the list, along with their band earnings from the last 12 months (to the nearest million dollars).

According to Forbes, the figures are pre-tax and management fees. Although we realise not all of these figures will be recognised as guitarists first and foremost, they are all guitar-players and use the instrument live and in their recordings.

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
TOPICS
U2
CATEGORIES
Guitars
Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker

Matt is a freelance journalist who has spent the last decade interviewing musicians for the likes of Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, MusicRadar, NME.com, DJ Mag and Electronic Sound. In 2020, he launched CreativeMoney.co.uk, which aims to share the ideas that make creative lifestyles more sustainable. He plays guitar, but should not be allowed near your delay pedals.

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
 
 
Kirk Hammett of Metallica performs during the band's St. Anger tour
Guitars “These songs are played a lot. They’re often not played well”: Guitar Center reveal the Top Ten riffs played at their stores
 
 
Eric Johnson takes a solo onstage with his Gibson SG
Artists Eric Johnson on the $400,000 rig he hardly played, the Dumble that got away, and his masterplan for setting his playing free
 
 
Human brain listens to yellow headphones isolated view on blue background 3d render image
Bands Hot for teacher? It's MusicRadar's Quiz of the Week #10!
 
 
Ace Frehley plays his 1975 Les Paul Custom backstage in '77.
Guitars Ace Frehley’s iconic ‘Budokan’ Les Paul Custom sells at auction for $512,000
 
 
Jake Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet rips a solo on his '61 SG.
Artists Jake Kiszka on the time he went shopping for the world’s most expensive guitar amp in Japan
 
 
Latest in Guitarists
George Harrison of The Beatles pop group pictured at the Apple Headquarters in London, 2nd January 1969
Guitarists Did George Harrison contribute to more Beatles songs than he is given credit for?
 
 
Kirk Hammett plays his Mummy ESP signature guitar [left]; Neal Schon plays a Les Paul on a stage lit up in purple.
Artists Kirk Hammett felt so guilty after buying Neal Schon's Les Paul on the cheap he offered to return it
 
 
Brandon Ellis demos his signature Jackson Kelly in Gold Crackle
Artists Jackson and Brandon Ellis unveil a top-tier 27-fret Kelly that's designed especially for metal solos
 
 
The Beatles posing together. From left to right: musicians George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, circa 1965.
Guitarists Paul McCartney's favourite song he's ever written is possibly the only one John Lennon complimented him on directly
 
 
American jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery (1923-1968) performs with a Gibson L-5 semi acoustic guitar in a television studio during a recording for the television series 'Tempo' in 1965
Artists “When I heard Wes, it killed me”: Nile Rodgers’ favourite guitar track of all time
 
 
Steve Von Till and Steve Albini
Artists Steve Von Till on what Neurosis learned from Steve Albini
 
 
Latest in News
james blake
Artists Did James Blake really sample the Titanic's SOS signal on Death of Love?
 
 
George Harrison of The Beatles pop group pictured at the Apple Headquarters in London, 2nd January 1969
Guitarists Did George Harrison contribute to more Beatles songs than he is given credit for?
 
 
Dave Grohl recording in Hilversum Studios, posed at drums
Artists How Dave Grohl delivered his Smells Like Teen Spirit drum track
 
 
reloop
Tech DAWs for DJs, rotary mixers and the world's first standalone motorized controller: 5 of the coolest pieces of gear we saw at Thomann's DJ Days
 
 
Kirk Hammett plays his Mummy ESP signature guitar [left]; Neal Schon plays a Les Paul on a stage lit up in purple.
Artists Kirk Hammett felt so guilty after buying Neal Schon's Les Paul on the cheap he offered to return it
 
 
AlphaTheta CDJ-1500X
Dj Gear AlphaTheta’s CDJ-1500X is a WiFi equipped DJ player that lets your audience vote on track requests
 
 

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...