Elton John

Elton John net worth in 2024 is a big topic of interest for fans around the world. Known for his legendary music career, Elton has been one of the biggest names in entertainment for over five decades. His songs, like Rocket Man and Your Song, have touched millions of hearts and earned him countless awards.

Let’s explore how this music icon built his wealth and became one of the most successful artists of all time.

Full NameSir Elton Hercules John
Date of BirthMarch 25, 1947
Place of BirthPinner, Middlesex, England
OccupationSinger, Songwriter, Pianist, Composer
Height5 ft 7 in (172 cm)
SpouseDavid Furnish (m. 2014)
Renate Blauel (m. 1984–1988)
ChildrenZachary and Elijah
Net Worth$350 million

What is Elton John Net Worth in 2024?

Elton John Net Worth

Elton John, the iconic British singer, songwriter, and pianist, has an estimated net worth of $650 million as of 2024, according to Celebrity Net Worth. His wealth is largely attributed to his legendary music career, including over 300 million record sales, decades of sold-out tours, and lucrative Las Vegas residencies.

Elton John’s wealth mostly comes from his music career. He is one of the best-selling artists in history, with over 300 million records sold worldwide. His biggest albums, like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and hit songs like “Rocket Man” and “Your Song,” earned him millions.

Another big part of his income comes from concerts. His Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which started in 2018, became one of the highest-earning tours ever. He also made a lot of money from writing songs for musicals, like The Lion King, which brought in huge royalties.

Elton John’s Wealth

Elton John has built an incredible fortune and a fascinating lifestyle. In The Sunday Times Rich List, he was valued at £175 million, ranking among Britain’s wealthiest. A decade later, his wealth grew to £320 million, making him one of the top 10 richest in British music. Elton owns homes in Old Windsor, Berkshire, Atlanta, London, Los Angeles, Nice, and Venice. His Nice home is in Mont Boron. Elton also collects art, especially photography, and owns one of the largest private collections worldwide.

Elton is known for his lavish spending. In less than two years, he spent £30 million, including £9.6 million on property and £293,000 on flowers. In 2001, he sold 20 cars, including a Jaguar XJ220 for £234,750, raising nearly £2 million. In 2003, he auctioned off his Holland Park home’s contents to redecorate and showcase his modern art collection. Since 2004, he has run a shop, Elton’s Closet, selling secondhand clothes for charity.

Elton John’s Early Life

Elton John was born on 25 March 1947, in Reginald Kenneth Dwight, and grew up in Pinner, London. His parents, Stanley Dwight and Sheila Eileen, were musically inclined. His father played trumpet in a band, and the family enjoyed popular music at home. Elton spent much of his childhood with his mother and grandmother since his father, a Royal Air Force member, was often away. After his parents’ divorce, his mother remarried a kind man named Fred Farebrother, whom Elton affectionately called “Derf.”

From a young age, Elton showed a gift for music. He began playing his grandmother’s piano and could pick out tunes by ear, like “The Skater’s Waltz.” At seven, he started piano lessons and impressed his teachers with his natural talent. By 11, he earned a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied for five years. Though not a diligent student, Elton excelled in playing pieces by composers like Bach and Chopin. Sometimes, he skipped classes to explore London, but his teachers described him as a “model student.”

Elton’s early life was marked by tension with his father, who wanted him to pursue a stable career in banking. Elton, however, turned to music as an escape, often expressing himself through flamboyant stage costumes and performances. He started writing songs in a small flat with his stepfather’s support. Songs from this period helped him achieve fame with albums that reached the American Top 40.

Elton John’s Career

Playing in Pubs

Elton John Music Career

Elton John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, started his music journey at 15. With help from his mom, Sheila, and stepdad, Fred, he played piano at the Northwood Hills Hotel. He performed popular songs by artists like Jim Reeves and Ray Charles, earning the nickname “Reggie.” Inspired by Buddy Holly, he wore horn-rimmed glasses. Elton later joined a band called Bluesology, which backed big names like the Isley Brothers and Patti LaBelle.

In 1967, Elton responded to an ad from Ray Williams, who introduced him to Bernie Taupin. Their partnership began when Elton wrote music for Bernie’s lyrics. They co-created their first song, Scarecrow. Elton changed his name, inspired by saxophonist Elton Dean and singer Long John Baldry. Bernie and Elton became a songwriting team at DJM Records, writing hits like I Can’t Go On (Living Without You).

Elton’s career soared with the release of the album Elton John. It included Your Song, his first big hit. His US debut at the Troubadour in LA was a success, leading to albums like Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across the Water, featuring songs like Levon and Tiny Dancer. He achieved major success with Honky Château, which had the hit Rocket Man.

The Glam Rock Star

By 1973, Elton was a global star with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, featuring hits like Bennie and the Jets and Candle in the Wind. His wild stage costumes, including platform boots and sequins, became iconic. Albums like Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player and Caribou kept him at the top, with songs like Daniel and The Bitch Is Back.

In 1974, Elton collaborated with John Lennon on Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. They performed together at Madison Square Garden. Elton also played Pinball Wizard in the film Tommy. His Greatest Hits album became a massive success. In 1975, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy was the first album to debut at number one in the US.

Elton faced challenges but continued to create hits like Someone Saved My Life Tonight and Don’t Go Breaking My Heart with Kiki Dee. In 1980, he made a comeback with Little Jeannie. The 1980s included collaborations with stars like Dionne Warwick on That’s What Friends Are For. He also performed at Live Aid, singing Rocket Man and Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me with George Michael.

Rise of Hits and Iconic Collaborations

In the early 1990s, Elton John achieved his first UK solo number one with “Sacrifice” from the album Sleeping with the Past. It stayed at the top for five weeks. Elton performed with George Michael on “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”, which became a global hit. He won Best British Male at the Brit Awards and released the album The One with the title track becoming a hit. Collaborations included “Runaway Train” with Eric Clapton and a major deal with Warner/Chappell Music.

Elton performed at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, teaming with Queen and Guns N’ Roses. His Duets album featured artists like Tammy Wynette and Kiki Dee. He worked on charity music, including “Up the Revolution” for The Bunbury Tails. Axl Rose praised Elton for his music and AIDS advocacy when inducting him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Elton co-wrote songs for Disney’s The Lion King, winning an Oscar for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”. The soundtrack topped the charts, selling millions. His album Made in England had personal themes, and the single “Believe” gained acclaim. Elton also performed duets like “Live Like Horses” with Luciano Pavarotti.

Elton faced personal losses with the deaths of Gianni Versace and Princess Diana. He reworked “Candle in the Wind” to honor Diana, performing it at her funeral. The song sold over 33 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling single in history. Proceeds supported Diana’s charities. That year, Elton also appeared in the movie Spice World and at charity concerts like Music for Montserrat.

Elton composed music for Disney’s Aida, earning a Tony and Grammy for the production. He released Elton John One Night Only – The Greatest Hits and a concept album for Aida. Collaborations included “Written in the Stars” with LeAnn Rimes.

Elton worked on musicals like Billy Elliot the Musical, inspired by the movie Billy Elliot. The show was a global hit, winning multiple awards. His Las Vegas residency included The Red Piano, featuring grand props and visuals. Elton’s song “Ghetto Gospel” with Tupac topped the charts. He also joined Alice in Chains on “Black Gives Way to Blue”, a tribute to their late singer.

Farewell Tour

Elton John Career

Elton John announced his retirement from touring in January, starting the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. The first show was in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and the last in Stockholm, Sweden. He wanted to spend more time with his family, including his husband David and their children. The tour had over 300 shows and faced delays due to COVID-19 and health issues.

In 2019, the movie Rocketman, about Elton’s life, was released. It starred Taron Egerton and included a new song, “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again,” which won an Academy Award. Elton also released his autobiography Me, narrated by Egerton in the audiobook version.

During the pandemic, Elton worked on The Lockdown Sessions, collaborating with artists like Dua Lipa, Miley Cyrus, and Stevie Wonder. The hit song “Cold Heart” with Dua Lipa became a major success, reaching number one in the UK and Australia. He also joined Miley Cyrus on “Nothing Else Matters” for The Metallica Blacklist.

Elton and Ed Sheeran created the festive single “Merry Christmas,” inspired by the movie Love Actually. The song topped the UK charts, and a comedy version called “Sausage Rolls for Everyone” also hit number one.

In 2022, Elton resumed his tour after a pandemic break, celebrated his 75th birthday by re-releasing his Diamonds album, and teamed up with Britney Spears on “Hold Me Closer.” That year, he also wrote music for the musical Tammy Faye.

Elton’s 2023 Glastonbury Festival performance broke TV records with millions watching him play hits like “Pinball Wizard”. His final tour concert in Stockholm was emotional, but Elton said he might still do occasional shows and is planning a new album.

In October 2024, Elton surprised fans at the premiere of his documentary Elton John: Never Too Late. He updated the audience on his health and performed “Tiny Dancer” for the first time since retiring from touring.

Elton John’s Personal Life

Relationships

Elton John and David Furnish

In the late 1960s, Elton John was engaged to his first lover, Linda Woodrow. Linda helped John and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin financially. However, just two weeks before their wedding, John ended the relationship with Linda after advice from Bernie and Long John Baldry. Despite not being in contact for 50 years, John helped pay for Linda’s medical bills in 2020. This is mentioned in his song Someone Saved My Life Tonight.

In 1970, after his first U.S. show in Los Angeles, John started his first gay relationship with John Reid. Reid was the UK manager for the Tamla Motown label and later became John’s manager. Their relationship ended after five years, but Reid stayed on as John’s manager until 1998.

Marriage to Renate Blauel

In 1984, John married Renate Blauel, a German recording engineer, in a grand ceremony in Australia. However, their marriage ended in 1988, after a difficult time. John later explained that he was living a lie. Renate sued him in 2020 over his autobiography, Me, where he mentioned their marriage. The case was settled that year.

John came out as bisexual in 1976. By 1992, he identified as gay. In 1987, John won a lawsuit against The Sun newspaper for false accusations about his private life. John is also known for his strong views on religion. In 2000, he criticized the Catholic Church’s stance on homosexuality, and in 2006, he expressed his wish to ban religion, calling it hateful towards gay people. Despite this, John admires the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Life with David Furnish

In 1993, John began a relationship with David Furnish, a former advertising executive and filmmaker from Canada. They became a couple, and in 2005, they were among the first to enter a civil partnership in the UK. They married in 2014 when same-sex marriage became legal. They have two sons, Zachary and Elijah, born through surrogacy in California.

John used to prefer civil partnerships but later changed his mind and became a supporter of same-sex marriage. He described the word “husband” as much stronger than “partner.” He believes that Jesus would have supported same-sex marriage. John and David have ten godchildren, including Sean Lennon, Brooklyn and Romeo Beckham, and Damian Hurley.

Elton John’s Real Estate

Woodside Estate, England

Elton John’s main home is Woodside in Old Windsor, Berkshire. This 37-acre estate, built in the 1750s, became his in 1974 when he paid 400 thousand pounds, equal to around $5 million today. Before moving to Woodside, he lived with his mom and stepdad in a small apartment. In 1988, he sold all the furniture in the house for $8 million at auction. Later, he redesigned and refurnished the estate.

Homes in Other Locations

Elton owns properties in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Nice, London, and Venice. His Beverly Hills estate, bought in 2015 for $33 million, is on 20 acres and features a 25,000-square-foot house with an 11-car garage, wine cellar, gym, and screening room. This home was previously listed for $63 million. He also purchased another house nearby for $7.2 million in 2012 and spent $8.5 million on a property next door in 2021.

In Atlanta, Georgia, Elton combined six penthouse units into one 13,000-square-foot home. He liked how easy it was to travel in and out of Georgia for his tours. In September 2023, he listed this penthouse for nearly $5 million and sold it the next month for almost $14 million. In 2022, Elton added a penthouse in Toronto to his growing real estate portfolio.

A Ferrari Birthday Gift

For his 40th birthday, MCA Records gave Elton a red Ferrari Testarossa, made popular by the show Miami Vice. This iconic car could hit 180 mph and go from 0-60 in 5.2 seconds. Elton sold the car at auction in 2001. By then, it had only 12,427 miles on it.

Nishant Wagh
Nishant Wagh is a content strategist focused on celebrity net worth and financial insights. With a straightforward style, he helps readers understand the stories behind high-profile wealth.