Rock’s Young Multi-Millionaires: Ed Sheeran, Stormzy & Harry Styles make their mark

Ed Sheeran and Stormzy are the two major talking points of Britain’s annual Sunday Times Rich List to be published this weekend.

Sheeran doubled his fortune in the last 12 months to £160 million (A$298 million), finally toppling Adele.

In the major Richest Musicians list, 28-year old Sheeran was at #17 after a tremendous year where his world tour broke records all over and his global record sales tipped 150 million.

Adele marked in at #22 despite a relatively quiet two years. She managed to generate £10 million ($18.6 million) in 2018 to hit £150 million ($279.4 million).

She remains Britain’s wealthiest female artist.

“A perfect year for Ed Sheeran has seen the flame-haired singer-songwriter earn more than any other musician has ever done in a year,” comments Robert Watts, who compiles the list.

“Modest, hard-working and still only 28 we believe he has the potential to become the first British musician to reach (in £ currency) billionaire status.”

Robbie Williams was at #13 with £175 million ($326 million) after making £10 million ($18.6 million) last year and Calvin Harris at #15 with £165 million ($307.3 million) after remarkably boosting his fortune in 12 months by £25 million ($46.5 million).

Grime pinup star Stormzy, currently #1 in the UK with ‘Vossi Bop’ entered the Young Musicians rich list for the first time with £16 million ($29.8 million).

The younger musicians though are a far cry from the elder statesmen of music who’ve been generating their fortunes for at least 50 years and generating millions with hit-struck shows in stadiums.

Paul McCartney slipped from top spot this time: he’s listed with his heiress wife Nancy Shevell, and one of the Shevell family’s businesses in the US went bust.

THE RICHEST MUSICIANS’ LIST

1. Lord (Andrew) Lloyd-Webber, £820 million ($1.52 billion), up £80 million ($149 million).

2, Sir Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell, £750 million ($1.39 billion), down £70 million ($130.4 million)

3. U2, £583 million ($1.08 billion), up £14 million ($26 million)

4. Sir Elton John, £320 million ($596.1 million), up £20 million ($37.2 million)

5. Sir Mick Jagger, £275 million ($512.2 million), up £15 million ($27.9 million)

6. Keith Richards, £260 million ($484.2 million), up £15 million ($27.9 million)

7. Olivia and Dhani Harrison, £250 million ($465.6 million), up £20 million (($37.2 million)

8. Sir Ringo Starr, £240 million ($446.9 million), up £20 million (($37.2 million)

9. Michael Flatley. £204 million ($379.9 million), up £2 million ($3.72 million)

10. Sting, £200 million ($372.4 million) up £10 million ($18.6 million)

WEALTHIEST YOUNG MUSICIANS

1, Ed Sheeran, £160 million $297.9 million), up £80 million ($148. 9 million)

2. Harry Styles, £58 million ($108 million), up £8 million ($14.9 million)

3. Niall Horan, £49 million ($91.2 million) up £3 million ($5.5 million)

4. Little Mix, £45 million ($83.8 million), up £5 million ($9.3 million)

5. Louis Tomlinson, £44 million ($81.9 million), up £2 million ($3.72 million)

6. Liam Payne, £42 million ($78.2 million), no change

7. Zayn Malik, £36 million ($67 million), up £1 million ($1.8 million)

8. Sam Smith, £32 million ($59.5 million), up £8 million ($5.5 million)

9. Rita Ora, £18 million ($33.5 million), up £2 million ($3.72 million)

10. Stormzy, £16 million ($29.8 million), new